EMCORE Corporation to supply PV modules for lunar mission

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 17:38 (Solarserver)

On October 31st, 2011, EMCORE Corporation (Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.) announced that it has been awarded a contract by ASRC Research and technology Solution (ARTS, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.) to create solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for a robotic mission to orbit the moon. NASA Ames' Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer mission is scheduled to launch in early 2013, and will utilize 32 EMCORE PV modules. Read more

ONYX announces ?Plug-N-Play? all-in-one PV panel

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 17:25 (Solarserver)

On October 31st, 2011 Onyx Service & Solutions, Inc. (Greenwood Village, Colo.) announced a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel to be attached to a roof with 4 screws and plugged to the extension cord right into it for instant 24-hour power. The company?s newly sourced 280 watt high efficiency PV panel is the base component to this new product in development. The new Plug-N-Play already has the properly rated micro-inverter designed into the panel, alleviating complicated wiring and separate installation requirements, the company emphasizes. Read more

PV manufacturing: Photowatt to reduce PV output to one-third

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 13:04 (Solarserver)

On October 28th, 2011, ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (Cambridge, Canada) announced that subsidiary Photowatt France (Bourgoin-Jallieu, France) will lower the output at its solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing facility in Bourgoin-Jallieu to roughly one-third of total capacity. The company will accomplish this by reducing the number of work days at the factory. ATS states that this is a response to decreased demand for PV modules and systems. Read more

Suntech CEO Dr. Zhengrong Shi chosen as head of Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 12:58 (Solarserver)

On October 31st, 2011, Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) announced that its CEO and Founder Dr. Zhengrong Shi has been appointed as the first chief chairman of the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA). Dr. Shi was chosen by the 670 PV companies, 23 industry associations and 15 research institutes which comprise the organization. He will serve as chief chairman for two years, with the goal of driving the strategic growth of APVIA and promoting the advancement of the Asian PV industry. Read more

ESA Renewables to build 20 MW PV plant in Pennsylvania

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 12:49 (Solarserver)

On October 27th, 2011 ESA Renewables LLC (Lake Mary, Florida, U.S.) announced that it will build a 20 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Washington County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The company plans to commission the plant, which is larger than any currently operational PV plant on the East Coast of the United States north of Florida, in August 2012. Read more

SolFocus completes 53-kW concentrating PV project in Texas for El Paso Electric

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 12:39 (Solarserver)

On October 28th, 2011, SolFocus (San Jose, California) announced that it has completed a 53-kW concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) installation in Texas. The CPV system, which will be owned by El Paso Electric, was developed by El Paso-based Solar Smart Living using six SolFocus SF-1100S tracking CPV systems. The installation is located at El Paso Electric's substation facility. Read more

FiT cut deadline: what does it really mean?

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 12:32 (Solarpowerportal)

Since the new proposed feed-in tariff rates were revealed on Monday one question has been asked more than any other: what does the December deadline really mean? In a bid to provide some much-needed clarity in this area, I’ve done a bit of digging to find out. Read more

Advanced Energy benefits from rising inverter sales as utility-scale projects pick up

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 12:13 (PV-Tech)

Despite PV module manufacturing overcapacity issues, Advanced Energy reported sales from its Solar Energy Business Unit had increased 26.7% from US$40.8 million in the second quarter of 2011 to US$51.7 million in the third quarter. Its central inverter sales to utility-scale projects, particularly in the US were responsible for the sales growth, according to the company. AE posted total third quarter sales of US$128.5 million, below previous guidance levels. Read more

Advanced Energy benefits from rising inverter sales as utility-scale projects pick-up

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 12:13 (PV-Tech)

Despite PV module manufacturing overcapacity issues, Advanced Energy reported sales from its Solar Energy Business Unit had increased 26.7% from US$40.8 million in the second quarter of 2011 to US$51.7 million in the third quarter. Its central inverter sales to utility-scale projects, particularly in the US were responsible for the sales growth, according to the company. AE posted total third quarter sales of US$128.5 million, below previous guidance levels. Read more

Innotech Solar launches US sales unit for customers in the Americas

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 23:37 (PV-Tech)

Innotech Solar has officially debuted the US arm of the company, Innotech Solar USA, which will focus on providing sales services to customers in the US and Latin America. Based in Vista, California, the new division extends Innotech?s presence into the American market with the office joining other Innotech entities, including its cell processing facilities in Norway and Germany and sales offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Read more

IKEA plans to install 10,000 solar panels across three US stores by next spring

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 23:19 (PV-Tech)

With help from REC Solar and Gehrlicher Solar, IKEA will be installing approximately 10,000 solar panels across the rooftops of its Draper, Utah, New Haven Connecticut and Portland, Oregon stores. The three new installations will generate 3,156MWh of electricity per year and bring IKEA?s solar program to 23 store installations in the US. Read more

President Obama: "Questionable Competitive Practices Coming Out of China"

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 21:47 (Renewable Energy World)

President Obama for the first time Tuesday weighed in on the growing divide between American and Chinese solar panel and cell manufacturers, saying that there are "questionable competitive practices coming out of China." Read more

NLP Solar Sales Training Live Webinar November 9th & 10th

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 20:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Read more

Outsourcing Our Chagrin: China's Reaction to Solar Trade Complaint

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 19:56 (Renewable Energy World)

One of the pleasures of covering China is the opportunity to encounter rich and colorful language. This certainly is due to the vibrancy of the Chinese language, but it also is a commentary on the heat that a given topic generates. Normally, subjects like wind turbine installations, feed-in tariffs, import/export statistics on solar products and other bread and butter developments in the renewable energy industry do not lend themselves to such literary heights. Read more

Energy savings and solar: SunRun partners with Demand Management Installation Services

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 17:45 (Solarserver)

On October 31st, 2011 Demand Management Installation Services (DMIS) announced that it has entered a partnership with SunRun Inc. (San Francisco, California, U.S.), wherein DMIS will assist customers in accessing solar power services from SunRun. DMIS conducts in-home energy consultations, and states that the new partnership will allow it to offer another dimension to its offerings. DMIS will offer SunRun services throughout California's San Francisco Bay Area region, from Napa County to the city of San Jose, and including Alameda County. Read more

IDC Energy Insights evaluates North American residential solar inverter market: Standard string inverters are becoming commoditized, innovative products are also gaining traction in the market

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 17:32 (Solarserver)

IDC Energy Insights (Framingham, Mass.) on October 31st, 2011 announced the availability of a new IDC MarketScape report designed to help installers of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems evaluate PV inverter technologies and make informed decisions about which vendors to avoid and which to engage. According to the report, standard string inverters are becoming commoditized, with the cost leader gaining market share. However, vendors with innovative products, such as micro-inverters, are also gaining traction in the market, particularly for installations exposed to partial shading, or where panels are installed with multiple orientations. Read more

Carbon Disclosure Project names Solar World renewable energy industry leader for sustainable corporate management

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 17:17 (Solarserver)

On October 28th, 2011, SolarWorld (Camarillo, California) announced that it has been named as the global renewable-energy industry's leader by the Carbon Disclosure Project for its sustainable corporate management. SolarWorld has been recognized as the "Sector Leader" among its renewable energy peers by the 2011 annual report of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for Germany. The report was released in Frankfurt in mid-October. Read more

SunPower and North County Watch reach settlement over California Valley Solar Ranch

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 15:00 (PV-Tech)

Following the many obstacles which blocked SunPower?s route to completing its plant in San Luis Obispo County, it seems that now the path is clear and plans can move forward. Read more

Trina Solar to establish Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Singapore

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 14:32 (Solarserver)

Trina Solar Limited (Changzhou, China), an integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, on November 1st, 2011 announced the establishment of its Asia Pacific operating headquarters in Singapore. The new Asia Pacific headquarters are expected to provide management functions covering administration, sales, project development, R&D, logistics and purchasing operations to further strengthen Trina Solar's growing presence and customer base in the region. Read more

French Solar PV Installations Now Rival Those in California

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

France, on a per capita basis, has installed more than twice the solar PV as the United States through mid year. The United States remains a major world market for solar PV though it continues to fall further behind Germany and Italy. Read more

CNPV responds to CASM trade action filed in the United States

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 12:58 (PV-Tech)

CNPV Solar Power, has become the next target of accusations levied at it from The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM). The China-based integrated manufacturer of solar PV products has denied the allegations made in a trade action against suppliers of crystalline silicon PV cells and modules from the People?s Republic of China. Read more

LDK breaks ground on 30,000 MTY polysilicon plant in Inner Mongolia

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 12:45 (Solarserver)

On November 1st, 2011, the City of Hohhot in China's Inner Mongolia region held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new polysilicon production facility, which will have an annual output capacity of 30,000 metric tons. The new facility will be built by LDK Solar Company Ltd. (Xinyu, Jiangxi, China) subsidiary LDK Silicon & Chemical Technology Company Limited. The company expects to bring the full capacity online by the end of 2013. Read more

BTU International reduces headcount on weak solar equipment sales

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 11:34 (PV-Tech)

Thermal processing equipment specialist, BTU International is reducing its US-based workforce in response to the slowdown in demand from PV manufacturers as the industry tackles overcapacity and weaker than expected second-half year demand. Workforce reductions started in June, 2011, which included full-time and contracted workers. The company did not disclose the actual number of jobs lost. Temporary furloughs were also being initiated. Read more

Solarcentury?s installer network trebles within eight years

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 11:28 (Solarpowerportal)

The Solarcentury Network of installers has trebled in size this year since it was established in 2003. Based in London, the company’s installer network caters for demands across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including a  network of installers in France and Italy. Read more

Solarcentury?s installer network grows trebles within eight years

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 11:28 (Solarpowerportal)

The Solarcentury Network of installers has trebled in size this year since it was established in 2003. Based in London, the company’s installer network caters for demands across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including a  network of installers in France and Italy. Read more

Survey by Kelton Research finds that 89% of Americans support use and development of solar energy

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 0:11 (PV-Tech)

In the fourth consecutive Schott Solar Barometer survey, conducted by Kelton Research on behalf of Schott Solar, US-based respondents expressed a significant support for the use and development of solar energy and federal investments for solar. According to Kelton, nine out of 10 Americans, or 89%, responded that they felt it was important for the US to develop and use solar energy. Breaking the results down by political party, 80% of Republicans, 90% of Independents and 94% of Democrats, agreed for furthering solar in the US. Read more

Should the Renewable Fuel Standard be Scrapped, or Revised?

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In Chicago, BP Biofuels North America president Susan Ellerbusch, in addressing congressional attempts to re-write the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, asked: "Are you any less worried about energy security today than you were 4 years ago?" Read more

Indonesia Works To Secure Lead in "Ring of Fire" Geothermal Market

Wednesday, 11.2.2011 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Indonesia is aggressively moving to build up its geothermal industry with plans add as much as 9,000 MW of installed capacity by 2025. However, industry observers say the Southeast Asian country's government must do more to attract foreign investment if it wants to achieve that target. Read more