Cheap Photovoltaics Are Eating Solar Thermal's Lunch

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 21:03 (Renewable Energy World)

According to a recent report from Pike Research, of the 6,886 MW of CSP projects awarded in the United States since 2004, 36 percent have been replaced with PV. That's more than the number which are actually under construction (1,532 MW, or 21 percent of announced projects), and all of those required the backing of the U.S. DOE loan guarantee program. Read more

Sanyo HIT modules are rebranded under the Panasonic name

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 16:33 (Solarpowerportal)

Sanyo Component Europe, a subsidiary of Sanyo Electric, has revealed that as of April next year the branding of its well-known HIT1 solar modules will change from Sanyo to Panasonic. The move comes as part of a wider strategic move to consolidate branding across multiple areas under the Panasonic brand. Read more

Salt River Project signs PPA for 19 MW PV plant in Arizona

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 13:08 (Solarserver)

On December 8th, 2011 Salt River Project (SRP, Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) announced that it has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Juwi Solar Inc. (Boulder, Colorado, U.S.) for the output of a 19 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant to be built in the U.S. state of Arizona. Juwi estimates that it will commission the Queen Creek PV plant by the end of 2012. The plant will be comprised of roughly 90,000 PV modules mounted on single-axis tracking systems. Read more

Rush of applications to beat U.K. FIT cut deadline causes MCS database delays

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 12:39 (Solarserver)

On December 9th, 2011 the U.K.'s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) announced that it has made several changes to its database to improve performance. The announcement follows reports that the database was experiencing extended delays due to very heavy traffic from customers attempting to beat the nation's December 12, 2011 feed-in tariff (FIT) reduction deadline. The MCS states that its database continues to function, though it is taking longer than in the past to email out certificates. On December 12th, 2011 the U.K.'s FIT levels for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems up to 250 kW will be cut roughly in half to between GBP 0.210/kWh (USD 0.329/kWh) and GBP 0.129/kWh Read more

Fraunhofer ISE, CEA-LETI researchers receive Franco German Business Award for work with multi-junction PV cells

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 1:12 (Solarserver)

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (Freiburg, Germany) and the Carnot-Institut Laboratoire d'électronique des technologies de l'information (CEA-LETI, Grenoble, France) have received the Franco German Business Award for developing reusable substrates for III-V multi-junction solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. The Franco-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry AHK (Paris, France) bestowed the award on the researchers on December 5th, 2011. Read more

Photovoltaics in Australia: Scheuten Solar delivers 600 BIPV modules for rooftop system at football stadium

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 1:11 (Solarserver)

Scheuten Solar (Venlo, Netherlands), has provided 600 PV-modules for a building-integrated System at the Carrara football stadium on Australia?s Gold Coast (Queensland). The rooftop PV system is covering the inner rim of the stadium with a lenght of 450 meters and a has a total capacity of 220 kWp. Read more

Rooftop PV system completed at Royal Wine Corp. headquarters, warehouse site in New Jersey

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 23:07 (PV-Tech)

Royal Wine Corp?s (RWC) Bayonne, New Jersey corporate headquarters is home to a new 1.15MW rooftop solar installation. Installed across 4 acres of rooftop space, the solar system, owned and operated by RWC, holds the ability to produce up to 65% of the power needs for the company over its 20-year lifetime. Read more

Phoenix Solar, Dow Corning complete proof-of-concept PV installation using BOS structural adhesives

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 22:56 (PV-Tech)

The collaboration between Phoenix Solar and Dow Corning to bring a proof-of-concept PV installation to Dow Corning?s Michigan headquarters has been completed. The installation will allow both companies to work on commercializing a total solution using Dow Corning?s structural adhesives, which replace metal clamps, clips and bolts used to secure PV modules to mounting rails and are claimed to lower the total cost of labor and installation for a PV project. Read more

Element Power opensMW PV power plant in Sicily

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 22:43 (PV-Tech)

Element Power Solar celebrated its newly completedMW ground-mounted PV plant in Sicily. Located near Gela, the plant is anticipated to produce over 1,570 equivalent hours of production per year. Element Power, which closed a lease-and-sell-back agreement with an unnamed Italian clean energy projects lender, will manage and operate the PV plant. Read more

1603: Hope is Not a Business Plan

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 20:59 (Renewable Energy World)

If you're one of the many solar developer who's just hoping the 1603 Cash Grant will be extended, we have some news for you: hope is not a business plan. Read more

Duke Energy buys 20MW Arizona solar portfolio

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 18:49 (PV-Tech)

Duke Energy Renewables has bought two utility-scale PV systems in Arizona from Recurrent Energy. The total capacity of the two systems is 20MW and the electricity generated will be sold to Arizona Public Service under a 25-year power purchase agreement. Financial terms were not disclosed. Read more

Fraunhofer ISE confirms Schott Solar?s copper-based contact cell with 19.7% efficiency

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 17:38 (PV-Tech)

Using standard production processes but with inclusion of copper electroplating, replacing silver-screen printing techniques, Schott Solar has achieved an efficiency of almost 20%. Using PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact) techniques combined with previous developments using nickel-copper plating on the front side of a multicrystalline cell, 19.7% efficiencies were achieved and verified by Fraunhofer ISE last week. Read more

JA Solar awarded TMP certificate by TÜV SÜD

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 17:05 (PV-Tech)

JA Solar has announced that testing and certification services provider, TÜV SÜD, has awarded the solar cells company a Testing at Manufactures? (TMP) certificate. Under the terms of the agreement, JA Solar and TÜV SÜD will cooperate on a range of product and system testing and certification initiatives, including the establishment of a TÜV SÜD-accredited testing facility at JA Solar?s Fengxian facility in Shanghai. Read more

Chromasun installs hybrid PV/solar thermal panel cooling system

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 16:22 (Solarserver)

Industrial rooftop solar solutions company Chromasun (San Jose, calif.) on December 9th, 2011 announced that it has installed the world's first hybrid photovoltaic (PV) panel coupled with a solar thermal cooling system. The project was deployed in San Jose, CA in September 2011. Chromasun expects to formally launch the MCT Hybrid collector in 2012. Read more

SunPower signs module supply agreement with NRG Solar

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 16:16 (PV-Tech)

SunPower has signed a 54MW module supply agreement with NRG Solar. The first 24MW of these modules will be delivered by the end of the year, with the remaining 30MW shipped at a yet-to-be-confirmed later date. Read more

Q-Cells opens solar technology test-field, expands sales presence in Malaysia

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 16:14 (Solarserver)

On December 8th, 2011 Q-Cells Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Cyberjaya, Malaysia) ran a "solar showcase" to display its products for the Malaysian solar photovoltaic (PV) industry at its manufacturing facility in Selangor Science Park 2, Cyberjaya. Q-Cells states that it is expanding this production site into a regional sales hub for the Asian Pacific market. As part of the event, the company launched a new test field, consisting of multiple solar technologies, located next to its facility. Read more

South Africa Department of Energy awards 75 MW solar PV projects to consortium of SolarReserve, Kensani and Intikon

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 16:09 (Solarserver)

The joint venture of SolarReserve (Santa Monica, California, U.S.), developer of utility-scale solar power projects, the Kensani Group (Johannesburg, South Africa), an infrastructure player in the Southern African market, and Intikon Energy, a South African developer of renewable energy projects, on December 9th, 2011 announced that the South Africa Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded the consortium preferred bidder status for their two 75 megawatts (MW-DC) Letsatsi and Lesedi solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. Read more

Southwest Solar Technologies announces on-sun testing and proof of concept of CPV technology

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 16:02 (Solarserver)

On December 8th, 2011, Southwest Solar Technologies Inc. (Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.) announced the on-sun testing and proof of concept of an innovative concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) technology. "This new product introduction utilizes the Company's core competencies in our solar dish concentrator designs and structures, thermodynamics, optics, and electronics. Leveraging our competencies into a diverse product portfolio is key to our business strategy," CEO Brad Forst said. Read more

Leading Japanese solar brand to be replaced

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 13:31 (PV-Tech)

One of the most recognised solar brands, Sanyo ?HIT? technology will be dropped next year and come under the Panasonic brand. The move by Panasonic, which acquired Sanyo was said to be part of a bigger strategic move to consolidate branding across multiple areas under the Panasonic name. Sanyo remains responsible for key areas in the energy sector of the Panasonic Group, according to the company. Read more

Concentrating solar power: U.S. Interior Department approves transmission for 150 MW Rice Project

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 12:33 (Solarserver)

On December 8th, 2011, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) approved a transmission line, access road and substation on U.S. public lands to serve a 150 MW Rice Solar Energy Project, a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant planned for Riverside County, California. The Rice project will be built on 5.71 square kilometers of previously disturbed, privately owned agricultural land near Blythe, California. The project's above-ground 230 kV transmission line will cross eight miles of land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and connect to the Western Area Power Administration's Parker-Blythe #2 transmission line. Read more

Deadline day: solar feed-in tariffs reduced by 50 percent

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 12:12 (Solarpowerportal)

Today marks deadline day for solar photovoltaics installations in the UK, which will receive heavily reduced feed-in tariff payments from April next year if Government pursues its latest policy proposal. Read more

Kyocera supplies further modules for 16MW Italian solar park

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 10:51 (PV-Tech)

Kyocera has delivered a further 10MW of modules to the Cigliano PV park near Turin in Italy. The additional 41,280 modules will be distributed equally between the Lotti and Petiva sites and takes the park?s total capacity to 16MW. Read more

Solrico puts out map of global solar thermal industry; Dramatic expansion of production capacities in China

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 1:13 (Solarserver)

In November 2011, Solrico (Bielefeld, Germany) issued its latest overview of the global solar thermal industry, including four world maps presenting the locations of 311 flat plate, vacuum tube and air collector manufacturers. The company notes that the global solar thermal industry has changed considerably since the first world maps were issued five years ago. Read more

A New Investment Era for Biofuels

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 15:27 (Renewable Energy World)

This has been a bad year for publicly-traded biofuel makers. The hope and promise that kept such issues buoyant in their post-IPO honeymoon has dissipated into a sentiment of "show me the money." Essentially shareholders and analysts began to wonder when revenue generation and profits would begin in earnest as the mantra of "be patient; good things around the corner" began to grow old. Let's be honest, many of these IPO's were rushed to market when optimism was high and the money from underwriters was easier to raise. Read more

Biomass Industry Outlook 2012: Cautiously Optimistic

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 14:29 (Renewable Energy World)

The long-awaited construction of four major biomass plants will make 2012 pivotal in the expansion of the wood-fired power industry. Three coal-to-biomass plant conversions awaiting permits in Virginia could also set the stage for a boom in local use of pelletized fuel. That could lead to a European-style scaling of biomass power if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blesses the industry with friendly regulations. Read more

Kansas Wind Power Delivered To the East: Clean Line Energy Gets Kansas Utility Status for Trans. Project

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 14:43 (Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy-focused transmission company Clean Line Energy received unanimous approval from the Kansas Corporation Commission this week to conduct business as a public utility, marking a step forward for the company's Grain Belt Express Clean Line?a 700-mile overhead, modern high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project that would move low-cost clean power from wind-rich Kansas to western Missouri and on to power-hungry Eastern states. Read more

REA denounce anti-renewables report

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 17:36 (Solarpowerportal)

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has today hit back at a report published by the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) and the Scientific Alliance, which states that renewable energy is unsuitable to meet the UK’s energy needs. Read more

Asia Report: Two Views on Durban Deal

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 20:46 (Renewable Energy World)

European negotiators wanted a binding agreement, and the United States seemed content to sit on the sidelines. The real focus of the U.N. climate talks, though, rested with China, India and Brazil ? nations destined for huge growth in their economies and their emissions. Read more

UK SMEs are put off buying renewable energy

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 18:18 (Solarpowerportal)

According to Opus Energy’s latest poll of UK SMEs a large percentage of businesses in the UK are put off buying electricity from renewable sources due to cost and perceived complexity. Read more

Baby Steps in Climate Negotiations are Still Steps in the Right Direction

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 16:36 (Renewable Energy World)

I wasn’t able to attend the [frustrating] climate change talks in Durban, South Africa this year, although I would have loved to.  South Africa is an incredible place to visit. I say the talks are frustrating because they always seem to go the same way.  The European nations and some smaller countries attend the meeting armed with Read more

Tigo Energy to use new funding to expand ?Energy Maximizer? production

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 15:23 (PV-Tech)

Having established several partnerships with leading PV module manufacturers for integrated power electronics, Tigo Energy has raised US$18 million in new financing. Led by Bessemer Venture Partners, Tigo Energy will use the funds to expand manufacturing and international sales efforts for its Energy Maximizer product solutions. Read more

New educational facility encourages the uptake of energy efficient, sustainable technologies

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 14:06 (Solarpowerportal)

A newly constructed City College Plymouth facility, supported by ABB, is set to encourage the uptake of energy efficient, sustainable technologies in industrial, commercial and residential projects in the UK. The ABB Energy Centre has been designed to connect education and industry with the latest low carbon technology and methods. Read more

Durban agreement outlines global strategy to tackle climate change

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 13:22 (Solarpowerportal)

After running a full 36 hours over the allotted time, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting, which was assembled in Durban, agreed on the “Durban Platform for Enhanced Action”. The legally enforceable agreement requires all nations to cut carbon emissions from 2020. Read more

COP17 conference ends with extension of Kyoto Protocol, progress on Green Climate Fund

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 12:50 (Solarserver)

On December 11th, 2011 the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa (COP17) concluded with an extension of the Kyoto Protocol, the launch of a USD 100 billion Green Climate Fund, and other agreements that build upon the work of past conferences. Read more

Dii, Sonelgaz to collaborate on renewable energy development in Algeria

Monday, 12.12.2011 - 12:25 (Solarserver)

On December 8th, 2011 the Desertec Industrial Initiative GmbH (Dii, Munich, Germany) and the Societe Nationale de Electricity et du Gaz SpA (Sonelgaz, Alger, Algeria) announced that they have signed an agreement to exchange technical expertise and collaborate on issues of market development and advancement of renewable energies in Algeria. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Algeria and the European Union (EU) on renewable energies and energy efficiency, and was signed in the presence of EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger and Algerian Minister for Energy and Mining Youcef Yousfi. Read more