FiT cuts 2011: UK committees call for evidence

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 18:24 (Solarpowerportal)

In response to Government’s recent solar policy proposals the Environmental Audit Committee and Energy and Climate Change Committee are calling for evidence on the feed-in tariffs for small-scale solar photovoltaic energy, with a view to hearing oral evidence later this month. Read more

Advanced Energy PV inverter sales grow 27% in 3Q 2011

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 18:05 (Solarserver)

On November 1st, 2011 Advanced Energy Industries Inc. (Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.) released financial results for the third quarter of 2011, reporting a 27% increase in sales from its solar energy business unit to USD 51.7 million. The company states that its inverter sales have grown again during the third quarter due to utility-scale shipments from large project contracts secured earlier in the year. Including its thin-film business division, the company achieved total sales of USD 128 million during the quarter, an operating margin of 8.3% and net income of USD 6.59 million. Read more

Chinese PV producer CNPV to supply Soltas with 175 MW of PV modules

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 18:04 (Solarserver)

On November 3rd, 2011, CNPV Solar Power SA (Dongying, China), annnounced that it has signed a contract to deliver 175 MW of its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Soltas Energy Corporation (New York, New York, U.S.). CNPV will supply the PV modules over a 27-month period, starting in October 2011. Read more

SmartestEnergy calls for a single rate feed-in tariff

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 16:29 (Solarpowerportal)

In the wake of Government’s recent feed-in tariff announcement independent generation consolidator SmartestEnergy is calling for a single rate for all FiT projects in the UK. Read more

Lux Research: New European building norms can drive building-integrated photovoltaics mainstream, with 6.6 GW market in 2021

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 14:11 (Solarserver)

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) will likely move beyond its current aesthetic niche much sooner, by 2016 with a market size of USD 6 billion, says Lux Research (Boston, MA). Due to Lux Research BIPV can become mainstream with an estimated 6.6 gigawatts (GW) installed in 2021 as the European Commission?s Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) standards lead to likely widespread adoption across the continent. Read more

BIPV Poised for Explosive Growth

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 14:04 (Renewable Energy World)

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) currently make up a small but increasing part of the world PV market, and many analysts predict a growth explosion in the sector, resulting in a multibillion-dollar annual market segment. The global BIPV market was estimated at 1201 MW in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 56% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach a capacity of 11,392 MW in 2015, according to Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): Technologies and Global Markets, a new report from analysis firm BCC Research. Read more

IMS Research expects PV capacity expansion to slow to 10% in 2012; 2011 expansion exeeds 50%

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 13:42 (Solarserver)

The expansion of solar photovoltaic (PV) module, cell and wafer manufacturing capacity will slow dramatically throughout the rest of 2011 and the first half of 2012 according to the latest quarterly report from IMS Research (Wellingborough, U.K.). Production capacity has been added at a frantic pace for the last two years and almost 30 gigawatts (GW) of capacity has been added since the start of 2010, the market researchers report. But expansions have finally slowed in response to slowing demand in many key regions and a severe oversupply of PV products, IMS Research notes. Read more

KLNE appoints Trilight as UK distributor

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 11:52 (Solarpowerportal)

KLNE has appointed Trilight, Scotland’s largest independent supplier in the lighting industry, as the distributor and service partner for KLNE’s ‘Sunteams’ line of inverters in the UK and Ireland. Read more

KLNE appoints Trilight as distributor for UK

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 11:52 (Solarpowerportal)

KLNE has appointed Trilight, Scotland’s largest independent supplier in the lighting industry, as the distributor and service partner for KLNE’s ‘Sunteams’ line of inverters in the UK and Ireland. Read more

NLP Solar Sales Training Live Webinar November 8th & 9th

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 19:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Read more

Victor Lee joins Ascent Solar?s board of directors

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 18:41 (PV-Tech)

Victor Lee, current managing director and founder of Tertius Financial Group, has been selected as the newest member of Ascent Solar Technologies? board of directors. Holding over 17 years of experience in corporate banking, real estate finance, investment management and corporate advisory services at worldwide financial institutions, Lee will be a Class 3 director for Ascent Solar and stand for election at the company?s 2014 stockholder meeting. Lee was named to the board as the designee of TFG Radiant Investment Group following the stockholder?s agreement between Ascent Solar and TFG Group this past August. Read more

Senersun joins CERES module recycling program

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 18:22 (PV-Tech)

Senersun announced that it had officially become a member of The European Centre for the Recycling of Solar Energy (CERES), joining several other EU-based solar companies. CERES is a non-profit association, which aims to create a voluntary commitment take-back program for the PV community. The organization has already accumulated over 150,000 tons of end-of-life solar panels for recycling purposes. Read more

Q-Cells begins construction of Europe's largest PV plant; 91 MW solar array on the site of a former military airbase in Brandenburg, Germany

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 18:06 (Solarserver)

On November 3rd, 2011 Q-Cells SE (Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany) announced that it has secured investors and begun work on a 91 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant on the site of a former military airbase in Brandenburg-Briest, Germany. The company states that it has obtained all approvals necessary for construction of the Brandenburg-Briest PV plant, and has signed contracts with investors LUXCARA GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) and MCG Management Capital Group (Berlin, Germany). Q-Cells expects to commission the plant by the end of 2011. Read more

Singapore to take solar to the water with US$8.6M floating solar system

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 18:01 (PV-Tech)

Singapore?s Economic Development Board (EDB) and national water agency PUB are literally launching solar into the water with a new US$8.6 million floating solar system in the Tengeh Reservoir. According to The Straits Times, the pilot project is a way for the country to look beyond its land constraints and expand their solar development beyond rooftops. The initiative was announced by Andrew Tan, chief executive of the National Environment Agency, who noted that the project will also allow for the study of the potential in using reservoir water surfaces for the construction of a solar system. Read more

Lanco Solar CEO speculates that solar power costs in India could drop as much as 40% by 2015

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 17:26 (PV-Tech)

One day after GTM Research and Bridge to India published a report concluding that India is on its way to being a global solar leader, Lanco Solar CEO V. Saibaba confirmed the progression of solar in India, giving his forecast on the dropping costs of solar in the country. According to Clean Technica, Saibaba commented that by 2015 he thinks the costs of solar power in India could come down 40% from current prices, making solar in the country a cost-competitive energy source. Saibaba noted that as the Indian solar market continues its evolution, the kilowatt-hour of power could reach 7 to 8 rupees a unit, compared to the current 11 to 12 rupees. Read more

Leominster defiant in face of Government FiT cuts

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 16:45 (Solarpowerportal)

Leominster Community Solar has taken the bold decision to proceed with the planned 50kWp installation on Leominster’s sports centre’s roof with the backing of the project’s installer Southern Solar. Read more

GTM Research publishes new report on India?s solar market, expects growth from 54 MW in 2010 to more than 9 GW by 2016

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 13:38 (Solarserver)

Over the next five years, India will become an anchor of global solar demand, installing more than 9 gigawatts (GW) between 2011 and 2016, according to the new report "The India Solar Market: Strategy, Players, and Opportunities" from GTM Research (Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.) and BRIDGE TO INDIA (New Delhi, India). The market?s gigawatt-scale emergence will be spurred by the maturing National Solar Mission (NSM) and a collection of state-level incentives, as well as an influx of expertise from global solar players entering India, the market research company and the India based strategic consulting company announced. Read more

First Solar expands German PV manufacturing, puts Vietnam factory on hold

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 13:33 (Solarserver)

On November 3rd, 2011, First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) opened a new factory expansion in Germany, doubling its German production capacity to nearly 500 MW, and announced that it will delay commissioning of a newly constructed production facility in Vietnam. On the same day, First Solar announced that it has been contracted by NRG Energy Inc. (Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.) to provide engineering, procurement and construction services for NRG's 66 MW-AC Alpine Solar project in Lancaster, California. Read more

ET Solar gains five-year US$1.27 billion credit facility to expand European market penetration

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Having previously used the banking services of China CITIC Bank?s Nanjing Branch (CITIC), module manufacturer ET Solar has signed a new agreement with the bank, obtaining a US$1.27 billion line of credit to run over the next five years. ET Solar said that the credit facility would support ongoing efforts to capture increased market growth in Europe. Read more

ET Solar gains 5-year US$1.27 billion credit facility to expand European market penetration

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Having previously used the banking services of China CITIC Bank, Nanjing Branch (CITIC), module manufacturer, ET Solar has signed a new agreement with the bank, obtaining a US$1.27 billion line of credit, running over the next 5-years. ET Solar said that the credit facility would support ongoing efforts to capture increased market growth in Europe. Read more

Solar-Markt Indien: Studie von GTM Research erwartet bis 2016 ein Wachstum auf mehr als 9 Gigawatt

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 12:58 (Solarserver)

Indien wird in den nächsten fünf Jahren einer der Schwerpunkte der weltweiten Nachfrage nach Solartechnik werden, berichten das Marktforschungsunternehmen GTM Research (Cambridge, Massachusetts) und BRIDGE TO INDIA, ein strategisches Beratungsunternehmen mit Sitz in Neu Dehli. Zwischen 2011 und 2016 sollen laut der Studie ?The India Solar Market: Strategy, Players, and Opportunities" neun Gigawatt (GW) installiert werden, derzeit sind es 54 Megawatt (MW). Der Gigawatt-Markt werde vorangetrieben von dem ausgereiften staatlichen Förderprogramm National Solar Mission (NSM) und weiteren finanziellen Anreizen auf der Ebene der Bundesstaaten. Außerdem drängten immer mehr internationale Read more

Capital Stage and Schott Solar to build 10.5MW solar park in Germany

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 12:49 (PV-Tech)

Last month, construction began on Solarpark Roitzsch in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Germany. 45,000 modules will be supplied by Schott Solar to the 10.5MW project developed and financed by Capital Stage. Read more

Activ Solar adds 20MW to Perovo Solar Power Station

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 12:31 (PV-Tech)

Just one week after completing an 80MW project in Ukraine, Activ Solar has added a further 20MW to the country?s burgeoning solar portfolio by installing Phase II of the Perovo Solar Power Station. Read more

KLNE selects Trilight as UK distributor

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 12:12 (PV-Tech)

Kinglong New Energy (KLNE) has chosen Trilight as its distributor and service partner for the UK and Ireland, reports Solar Power Portal. Under the agreement, which was formalised by Trilight?s senior management team on a recent trip to Beijing, the Glasgow-based lighting specialists will sell KLNE?s products to wholesalers and installers within the UK?s burgeoning PV industry. Read more

Return of ships captain to the helm of First Solar sets new course

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 9:15 (PV-Tech)

Capacity expansions are out, improving manufacturing line efficiencies and productivity is in, according to First Solar?s Chairman Michael Ahearn, who took over the CEO role from ousted Rob Gillete last week. Capacity expansions had seen average module efficiencies rates increase modestly in 2011, worse was production cost per watt merely flat-lined. Almost unheard of was the fact that manufacturing line utilization rates had dipped below 100% as capacity outstripped demand. Back at the helm, Ahearn said that First Solar would re-focus on markets without energy subsidies such as the Middle-East but also market with critical energy needs such as India, North Africa and China. Read more

Return of ship?s captain to the helm of First Solar sets new course

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 9:15 (PV-Tech)

Capacity expansions are out, improving manufacturing line efficiencies and productivity is in, according to First Solar?s chairman Michael Ahearn, who took over the CEO role from ousted Rob Gillete last week. Capacity expansions had seen average module efficiencies rates increase modestly in 2011; on the downside, production cost per watt merely flat-lined. Almost unheard of was the fact that manufacturing line utilization rates had dipped below 100% as capacity outstripped demand. Back at the helm, Ahearn said that First Solar would re-focus on markets without energy subsidies such as the Middle East as well as markets with critical energy needs such as India, North Africa Read more

NRG Energy, First Solar join forces on 66MW Alpine project in Lancaster, California

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 0:14 (PV-Tech)

NRG Energy and First Solar will be collaborating on the development of NRG?s 66MW Alpine solar project in Lancaster, California with First Solar agreeing to provide engineering, procurement construction, operation and maintenance services for the solar array. First Solar?s thin-film PV modules will be utilized in the installation, which is expected to start installation work before the end of the year and be completed by Q3 2012. The Alpine project will see the electricity it produces sold under a 20-year PPA with Pacific Gas and Electric. Read more

The SuperFriends and Their Planet-saving Microbial Biofuel Powers

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 14:59 (Renewable Energy World)

Mom taught you well, I'll bet. Swat the flies, pour disinfectant on a slimy mold, and shock a pool or pond that has algae in it. Never touch anything riddled with a fungus, avoid bacteria like the plague. If you see a termite, call Orkin, and if you see e.coli (well you wouldn't, unless you have Superman-like vision, but you get the idea), run screaming into the night. Of course, in biofuels, you don't avoid any of the above. Read more

DECC publishes FiT cut impact assessment report

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 18:55 (Solarpowerportal)

Shortly after the proposed feed-in tariffs were announced the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published its Impact Assessment (IA) which outlines the finer details of why the UK solar industry is facing such extreme cuts. Read more

Tenesol teams up with Morocco?s National Electricity Office to install PV systems on 26,000 homes

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 17:41 (PV-Tech)

According to a report by NewNet, a partnership between Tenesol and Morocco?s National Electricity Office will be bringing solar power systems to 26,000 homes in rural Morocco. The ?25 million project is set to provide over 163,000 people power, which up until the point of the PV installation, had no access to electricity. Temasol, a subsidiary of Tenesol, will supply, install and maintain the PV systems, which are expected to be completed by 2018. Read more

Western Wind: A Clean Energy Rodney Dangerfield?

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 14:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy power producer Western Wind Energy Corp (WNDEF.PK, WND.V) feels it gets no respect. In particular, they have long felt that the investing public does not recognize the value of the company's existing and nearly completed wind farms. Read more

Lab Grown Green Slice Seems Poised For Prime Time

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Once confined to laboratories and tiny test sites, the algal industry has begun to move aggressively into creating larger farms and sophisticated production facilities capable of manufacturing thousands of gallons of biofuels and oils for a wide range of products. Read more

Lab-grown Green Slice Seems Poised for Prime Time

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Once confined to laboratories and tiny test sites, the algal industry has begun to move aggressively into creating larger farms and sophisticated production facilities capable of manufacturing thousands of gallons of biofuels and oils for a wide range of products. Read more

FiT uncertainty forces Brighton Energy Co-operative to cancel share launch

Friday, 11.4.2011 - 13:30 (Solarpowerportal)

Following the Government’s recent FiT cuts, Brighton Energy Co-operative has been forced to postpone the launch of its share offer as it waits for the results of the FiT review for community schemes, which is due December 23.  Read more