?Withdraw the petition?: China?s PV industry issues strong rebuttal to CASM dispute - exclusive

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 20:34 (PV-Tech)

The Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association, China Photovoltaic Society, Industrial Commission of China Renewable Energy Academy and the China Photovoltaic Industry Alliance have issued a joint statement on The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing?s (CASM) petition regarding allegations of unfair trading practices on the part of Chinese cell and module manufacturers. Read more

Saint Charles Solaire completes world?s largest BIPV system in Perpignan, France

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 16:40 (PV-Tech)

A fruit and vegetable distribution centre in the south of France is now the site of the world?s largest building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) system, after 97,000 Solaire France Sunstyle PV roofing tiles were installed on the Saint Charles International in Perpignan. Read more

Odersun PV cells receive 'Made in Europe' designation allowing for a 10% higher feed-in tariff rate in Italy

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 15:11 (Solarserver)

On November 1st, 2011, Odersun AG (Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany) announced that the VDE Institute has approved its German-made copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for the 'Made in Europe' certificate. As a result of this certification, PV plants comprised of Odersun modules can realize a 10% higher feed-in tariff rate in Italy under the latest Conto Energia. Read more

PV Manufacturing: Nanometrics metrology system selected by CIGS manufacturer

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 15:11 (Solarserver)

On October 31st, 2011, Nanometrics Inc. (Milpitas, California, U.S.) announced that an un-named "major" thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer has successfully installed the latest generation of its TSM metrology system. The TSM is a metrology system for in-line process monitoring and control of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) PV films. Nanometrics states that the tool offers rapid thin-film thickness measurement, and includes photoluminescence scanning. Read more

CNPV appoints Ponsekar Periyanadar VP of sales and marketing for South Asia

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 15:10 (Solarserver)

On November 1st, 2011, CNPV Solar Power SA (Shandong, China) announced that it named Ponsekar Periyanadar as vice president sales and marketing, South Asia. Ponsekar will be located in Bangalore, India, to best serve the South Asian solar photovoltaic (PV) market. Ponsekar will report directly to CNPV COO Bypina Veerraju Chaudary. He will increase the effectiveness of the regional support and the efficiency of the company as a whole, the company said. Read more

Heraeus set to open Asian Photovoltaics Center in Singapore

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 13:09 (PV-Tech)

Heraeus is set to unveil its latest full-service facility on Friday. In addition to manufacturing Heraeus?s front and back-side silver pastes for crystalline solar cells, the Singapore-based Asian Photovoltaics Center will also house sales, R&D and technical service teams. Read more

SERIS places order for Singular PECVD tool for ARC coating applications

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 12:22 (PV-Tech)

German manufacturer Singulus Technologies has received an order for its Singular PECVD tool, a coating tool for the application of ARCs on crystalline silicon solar cells, from the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS). The SINGULAR is part of a multi-million dollar project headed by SERIS focusing on silicon wafer heterojunction solar cells and their mass production. Read more

American Honda Motor completes installation of 100kW CIGS project in Santa Clarita

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 21:27 (PV-Tech)

American Honda Motor revealed that its 100kW solar-cell demonstration project at Honda Performance Development (HPD) in Santa Clarita, California was completed, featuring 800 thin-film CIGS solar panels manufactured by Honda Soltec. The project includes a roof, carport and load dock canopy installation at the HPD headquarters and is said to be one of Honda?s largest solar installations to date. Read more

Cogenra Solar to build 60kW cogeneration array at Facebook?s Menlo Park campus

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 21:10 (PV-Tech)

Social media giant, Facebook, is entering the solar cogeneration arena with help from Cogenra Solar, which will be developing a renewable hot water and electricity solar cogeneration array on the rooftop of Facebook?s Menlo Park campus fitness centre. Cogenra advised that this is not only Facebook?s first venture into solar energy at its corporate campus, but that the company will be the first corporate campus to use solar cogeneration. Read more

Solaria employs Camstar?s software to manage manufacturing practices at Fremont headquarters

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 20:55 (PV-Tech)

Solaria and Camstar Systems announced that Solaria had begun use of the Camstar Enterprise Platform at its Fremont, California headquarters to help maintain quality initiatives throughout its manufacturing process. Solaria?s use of Camstar Manufacturing has allowed the company to access real-time product and process data as well as process and quality control across its global locations. Read more

IBM launches first solar array designed for high-voltage data centres

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 19:04 (PV-Tech)

Spread over more than 6,000ft2 of rooftop in Bangalore, India, is the first solar power array designed specifically to run high-voltage data centres, integrating AC- and DC-based servers, water-cooled computing systems and related electronics. Read more

Ventus Solaris submits EIA for 110MW plant in Chile

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 18:55 (PV-Tech)

Ventus Solaris has submitted an environmental impact assessment for a 110MW PV project near Quillagua in northern Chile. If approved, installation will begin in April 2012, with initial grid connection expected before the year?s end. Read more

First Solar doubles production in Germany

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 18:39 (PV-Tech)

In June, First Solar predicted its plant in Frankfurt (Oder) would reach full capacity during the third quarter of 2011. This prediction was realised in October when the plant reached full production. Read more

First Solar Doubles Production in Germany

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 18:39 (PV-Tech)

In June, First Solar predicted its plant in Frankfurt (Oder) would reach full capacity during the third quarter of 2011. This prediction was realised in October when the plant reached full production. Read more

Trina Solar shipment and margin guidance cut for Q3

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 18:03 (PV-Tech)

The anticipated pick-up in demand elasticity proved elusive for what is expected to be a common theme of the next few weeks as major PV manufacturers report third quarter results. Another short-term trend will be guidance revisions along the lines announced by Trina Solar, which has cut shipment guidance by approximately 100MW and margins reductions by a few percentage points. Read more

Listed building goes solar with Solarcentury?s solar electric slates

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 17:47 (Solarpowerportal)

Many buildings in the UK are often overlooked in terms of their suitability for solar photovoltaics as they are placed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, or classed as a ‘listed building’. However, The Greener Group, a Chester based solar installer, has completed a groundbreaking solar photovoltaic installation on a listed building. It is one of the first installations of its kind in the country. Read more

Q-Cells Building Europe's Largest Solar Park

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 17:39 (Renewable Energy World)

Q-Cells has announced that it is building what it claims is Europe's largest solar park in Brandenburg-Briest, Germany. When completed the park will have a capacity of 91 MW. In addition, two sub-projects, Brandenburg-Briest West and Brandenburg-Briest Ost, are under construction and will have a total capacity of 60 MW. Read more

FiT cut consultation: STA urges industry to respond

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 17:14 (Solarpowerportal)

In light of the recent feed-in tariff announcement the UK Solar Trade Association (STA) is working on a response to the consultation which it will circulate early next week. This response will be followed by a members' meeting where the response and the Associations' position will be finalised.  Read more

Orchard Supply Hardware hosts SunPower solar power systems

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 16:41 (PV-Tech)

SunPower?s latest endeavours in California includes partnering with Orchard Supply Hardware, a chain of 89 hardware and garden retail stores located throughout the state, in order to reach a wider audience through information displays and at www.OSH.com. Read more

Sunlogics acquires Energizer Brand, to be used for solar business

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 15:10 (Solarserver)

On October 31st, 2011, Sunlogics (Walnut Creek, California) announced that it has teamed up with Energizer to help accelerate adoption of renewable energy through solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. The companies' plan includes electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, commercial rooftop and ground mount solar PV panels and a Home Solar Program designed and built by Sunlogics and carrying the Energizer brand. Read more

SPI Solar names James Pekarsky CFO

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 15:10 (Solarserver)

On November 1st, 2011, SPI Solar (Roseville, California), a vertically integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) developer, announced that it appointed James Pekarsky as chief financial officer (CFO). Pekarsky is an experienced executive who brings extensive financial and operational expertise from public and private high-tech companies. His background includes substantial international business experience, acquisitions, venture capital and bank fund raising and initial public offerings. Read more

Bechtel receives notice to proceed construction on CVSR project

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 14:05 (PV-Tech)

With law suits finally settled, the California Valley Solar Ranch project is resuming construction. Read more

New GTM Research report concludes that India is set to be a global solar leader by 2016

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 14:00 (PV-Tech)

In the new reported conducted by GTM Research and Bridge to India, The India Solar Market: Strategy, Players and Opportunities, researchers have concluded that over the next five years India will become one of the major players in the solar industry with the installation of more than 9GW between 2011 and 2016. Read more

Emerging Utility Solar Business Models: Creating New Market Opportunities

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

U.S. electric utilities are participating in a growing number of solar projects with an expanding variety of utility solar business models (USBM). These USBMs can effectively, and often uniquely, align utility interests with policies favoring solar development. Many examples benefit both utility ratepayers and utility shareholders, while helping to further develop solar markets. Read more

Has Solar Market Fragmentation Continued in 2011?

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In March this year, we pointed out that there was a dramatically increasing number of installers and an increasingly fragmented installation market ? all signs of market growth and health. This trend, we argued, was positive for the American solar industry and the American economy to help drive down costs, create local jobs, and stimulate local wealth creation. Read more

SMA Solar UK celebrates HQ opening in Milton Keynes

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 13:25 (Solarpowerportal)

Hosting a celebratory launch party at its new headquarters in Milton Keynes, SMA Solar UK yesterday officially opened the base for its UK activities. Housing its new offices, local service stock, sales support and Solar Academy the new building secures SMA’s growing presence in the UK solar market. Read more

Construction resumes on 250 MW California Valley Solar Ranch following lawsuit settlement

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 12:31 (Solarserver)

On November 2nd, 2011 SunPower Corporation (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced an agreement with environmental and land use organizations to settle and dismiss a lawsuit against the 250 MW California Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR) solar photovoltaic (PV) project. Following this announcement, Bechtel Corporation (San Francisco, California, U.S.) reported that it has received Full Notice to Proceed on construction of the CVSR. Bechtel began working on the site in August 2011, and construction is scheduled to last roughly two years. Read more

REC Solar to distribute GE WattStation EV chargers

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 12:30 (Solarserver)

On November 1st, 2011, REC Solar Inc. (San Luis Obispo, California, U.S.) announced that it has partnered with GE Energy Industrial Solutions (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.) to distribute GE's solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charger. GE states that its WattStation can deliver a full charge in four to eight hours, significantly less than standard overnight charging. The WattStation also offers smart grid-enabled technology which GE says can help utilities manage the impact of EVs on local and regional grids. Read more

Singular machine ordered by Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 12:22 (PV-Tech)

German manufacturer Singulus Technologies has received an order for its Singular PECVD tool, a coating tool for the application of ARCs on crystalline silicon solar cells, from the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS). The SINGULAR is part of a multi-million dollar project headed by SERIS focusing on silicon wafer heterojunction solar cells and their mass production. Read more

52% FiT cut would kill the UK solar sector ?stone dead?

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 12:00 (Solarpowerportal)

The Cut Don’t Kill campaign, launched at  Solar Power UK 2011, has warned that the proposed 52% cut to the UK feed-in tariff could “kill the UK solar industry stone dead” – jeopardising the future of 4,000 companies and 25,000 jobs. Read more

Australian government chooses solar technology from Conergy

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 11:19 (PV-Tech)

In June this year, we reported that the Australian government had agreed to spend AU$770 million (US$819 million) on its Solar Flagships programme. In recognition of this, the Dandiiri Contact Center, which receives all emergency calls from the police, ambulances and fire service, will be equipped with solar components from one of the largest solar plants in the state. Read more

Nigeria?s NASENI to develop 7.5MW solar panel manufacturing plant in Karshi, Abuja

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 0:11 (PV-Tech)

Nigeria?s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) recently revealed plans to develop a 7.5MW solar panel manufacturing plant in Karshi, Abuja so that Nigeria can begin to cut its dependency on the importation of solar panels. The project is being developed through a joint venture with an undisclosed foreign partner. Read more

No-Kill Farming: The Rise of Low-cost, Low-carbon Biofuels Through Continuous Harvest

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 15:54 (Renewable Energy World)

Two years ago, in an essay titled "Drop In, Tune Out, Turn On," the Digest profiled the rise of a new generation of "drop-in" fuels, made from non-food biomass, that promised to move the debate over developing biofuels at scale beyond the 2008-09 debates over food-vs-fuel and the infrastructure challenges (e.g. tanks, engines, pumps, pipelines) associated with biodiesel and ethanol. Read more

U.S. Support for Renewables is Minuscule ? and Erratic

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It's time to ponder a rational comparison of historical U.S. energy incentives. In a thoughtful analysis called "What Would Jefferson Do?" authors Nancy Pfund and Ben Healey of DBL Investors offer some revealing insight to inform the debate. Read more

Boulder creates municipal electric utility, aiming to incorporate roughly 40% renewable generation

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 12:30 (Solarserver)

Emphasizing the opportunity to increase renewable energy generation, on November 1st, 2011 the city of Boulder in the U.S. state of Colorado narrowly approved two measures to create and fund a municipal electric utility. The soon-to-be-formed Boulder Power and Light will replace Xcel Energy Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.) as the city's electricity provider, following a buy-out of Xcel's transmission. Read more

Order Focus: Soltas Energy, CNPV sign module supply contract

Thursday, 11.3.2011 - 11:36 (PV-Tech)

Soltas Energy has signed a contract to purchase 175.5MW of CNPV Solar Power?s premium range modules. Delivery of the modules will be staggered over the next two years, with the first shipment being received in October. Read more