Cosma International?s Arizona manufacturing facility set to begin production in December

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 22:28 (PV-Tech)

Cosma International, a unit of Magna International, has advised that it is opening a manufacturing facility, named Cosma Power Systems, in Phoenix, Arizona. The 166,000 square foot site is anticipated to be ready for production in December and will manufacture metal structures and roll-formed components and systems for the PV, CPV and CSP markets. Read more

French PV roof integration with aleo solar modules: On grid with 1 megawatt BIPV installation in Aveyron

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 22:23 (Solarserver)

aleo solar AG (Oldenburg/Prenzlau, Germany) has supplied modules for a 1 megawatt roof-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system in Aveyron (France, department 12) - the largest "Solrif" project by aleo to date. The modules, which are framed with custom aluminum profiles, are ideal for roof-integrated solar installations and replace traditional roofing materials, aleo emphasizes. Read more

Consumers happy with feed-in tariff scheme

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 19:05 (Solarpowerportal)

A new Consumer Focus report – entitled ‘Keeping FiT’ – highlights the high level of satisfaction among consumers who have taken up the feed-in tariff. Read more

Solon fails to restructure finances, files for insolvency

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 16:05 (PV-Tech)

Carrying significant net debt of over ?400 million and an urgent need to restructure its finances with lending banks would seem to have failed for Solon as the company said in a brief statement it would be starting insolvency proceedings. The PV manufacturer and project developer noted that debt restructuring negotiations had failed to provide an amicable solution, providing no alternative to attempt restructuring via the insolvency court. Read more

French Senersun secures a 10 MW contract to supply modules for residential PV applications in the Benelux region

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 12:15 (Solarserver)

Senersun (Bordeaux, France), manufacturer of premium quality solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, announces that it has signed a contract with a Belgian local partner securing the supply 10 MW of solar panels. Under this contract, Senersun will deliver more than 4,000 of its perfect-for-rooftops ?All Black? modules, which will be used for residential applications across the Benelux region throughout 2012. Following this agreement, Senersun has opened a Benelux office in Luxembourg, further increasing the company?s presence in Europe. Read more

Tata Power secures financing for 25 MW PV plant in Gujarat

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 12:04 (Solarserver)

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd. (Mumbai, India) has secured financing for a 25 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant which it is developing in the Indian state of Gujarat. The company received the first loan disbursement on December 8th, 2011, and expects to complete the plant by the end of December 2011. Tata Power additionally announced that it has completed a 3 MW PV plant at Mulshi in the state of Maharashtra. Read more

SEIA, GTM report: U.S. installs 449 MW of PV in 3Q 2011; Large CSP plants expected in 2012, 2013

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 11:55 (Solarserver)

On December 14th, 2011 the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.) and Greentech Media Research (GTM, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) released a new report which estimates that the U.S. has installed 449 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in the third quarter of 2011, its best quarter to date. The organizations' "U.S. Solar Market Insight: 3rd Quarter 2011" notes that these numbers represent a 39% increase over the previous quarter and a 140% increase over the third quarter of 2010. SEIA and GTM Research credit the extension of the U.S. Treasury Department's Section 1603 program, also called the Treasury Grant Program, as a leading factor. Read more

Phoenix Solar builds proof-of-concept PV arrays for Dow Corning in Michigan

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 22:29 (Solarserver)

Phoenix Solar (San Ramon, CA.) and Dow Corning Corporation (Midland, Michigan) on December 12th, 2011 jointly announced the completion of a solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at Dow Corning?s world headquarters and for both companies to collaborate on efforts to commercialize a total solution using Dow Corning?s structural adhesives. Read more

U.S. Geological Survey calls for more study of large solar projects' impacts on wildlife

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 22:11 (Solarserver)

On December 9th, 2011 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced the publication of a review that calls for more peer-reviewed scientific studies of the impact of large-scale solar projects on wildlife, especially in the desert of the U.S. Southwest. Authors of the scientific literature review published in the journal "BioScience" state that they found only one peer-reviewed study of the impacts of large-scale solar development and operations on wildlife. Read more

SolarMax Technology plans to open 25 retail sites throughout Southern California by the end of 2012

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 22:08 (PV-Tech)

SolarMax Technology advised that its plans to expand its retail business are well underway. The company intends to open five office branches in Southern California, including sites in Orange County and Inland Empire, by the end of this month. Even more ambitiously, the company aims to have 25 retail locations open throughout Southern California by the end of 2012. Read more

NADB to finance up to $88.5 million loan to SunEdison for 20MW solar park in Arizona

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 21:57 (PV-Tech)

The North American Development Bank (NADBank) revealed that it is lending up to US$88.5 million to SunEdison for the development of a 20MW solar park in Picture Rocks, Arizona. This is the largest, and second, solar project financed by the NADBank. The solar park is expected to generate enough electricity for nearly 3,500 homes in the metropolitan area of Tucson. Read more

Chicago receives USD 750 million DOE grant to help residents and businesses install PV

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 21:54 (Solarserver)

In December 2011 City of Chicago (Illinois) Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that a solar-development project team led by the City of Chicago has received a USD 750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge. Read more

Tata Power orders solar panels from Suntech, Canadian Solar for its US$68 million solar project

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 21:38 (PV-Tech)

Bloomberg is reporting that Suntech Power Holdings and Canadian Solar will be providing their solar panels to Tata Power for its US$68 million solar project. The 25MW plant in western Gujarat state will use crystalline silicon-based modules to power the solar array. Read more

U.S. Solar Industry Posts Best Quarter Ever

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 20:52 (Renewable Energy World)

Judging by the headlines, the American solar industry is going through some rocky times. The Solyndra bankruptcy, the solar trade complaint filed against China and the pending expiration of a wildly popular grant program continue to provided fodder for an increasingly politicized discussion. Read more

TATA secures funding for 25MW solar system

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 18:56 (PV-Tech)

Having secured funding, Tata Power is continuing with its three-fold project in cooperation with BP Solar installing plants located in the Patan, Kutch and Mithapur areas of the state of Gujarat to be completed under its Solar Power Policy 2009. Read more

Poll: the British public wants more solar power

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 16:55 (Solarpowerportal)

A recent YouGov poll conducted for the Sunday Times has revealed that the British public strongly support the implementation of renewable technology in order to meet the country’s future energy requirements. Read more

Isofoton completes its first HCPV in China

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 16:38 (PV-Tech)

The first HCPV plant developed by a company of non-Chinese origin has been built in the Qinghai province. The 100kWp facility is located on the outskirts of the town of Golmud which receives over 7kWh/m2 a day of direct solar radiation in an area with very little rain. Read more

Solar PV Outlook 2012: The Race To Go Mainstream

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

As the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry races to get bigger, its ability to make the technology smaller - and in some cases transparent - may be what ultimately gives it broader consumer appeal. Read more

Conergy to build its fourth solar park in Thailand

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 13:50 (PV-Tech)

Bloomberg reported the worst floods in Thailand for 70 years, yet, this has not stopped Conergy?s continued installation of solar parks in the kingdom. It has secured a contract for a 9MW solar park in Pak Thong Chai in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima, 250km north east of Bangkok. The company will be acting as general contractor for the project as well as taking responsibility for the planning, engineering and for supplying the components for the 79,000 square metre park. Read more

More senior staff changes at First Solar as business groups combined

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 13:47 (PV-Tech)

There has been a wave of changes at First Solar over the last few months, indicative of the challenging business environment and the return of Mike Ahearn as interim CEO after the ousting of former CEO Rob Gillete. A less than complimentary view of the way the CEO had been running the company was aired by the chairman in the Q3 conference call. Read more

More senior staff changes at First Solar as combines business groups

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 13:47 (PV-Tech)

There has been a wave of changes at First Solar over the last few months, indicative of the challenging business environment and the return of Mike Ahearn as interim CEO after the ousting of former CEO Rob Gillete and a less than complimentary view aired in the Q3 conference of the way the CEO had been running the company, by the Chairman. Read more

First Solar lowers 2011 revenue guidance, restructures core business with job losses

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 13:25 (PV-Tech)

Blaming weaker than expected revenue earnings on poor weather and other factors, First Solar lowered its 2011 revenue guidance and separately announced a restructuring of its core business groups with the exit of TK Kallenbach, President of the Components Business Group, at the end of the year. Restructuring will lead to a workforce reduction of approximately 100 associates, around 1.5% of its workforce, according to the company. First Solar revised 2011 guidance in the range of US$2.8 to US$2.9 billion, down from a prior guidance range of between US$3.0 and US$3.3 billion. Read more

LGA warns that council solar scheme abandonment will leave thousands of families worse off

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 12:52 (Solarpowerportal)

The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that thousands of fuel-poor families living in social housing will face steeper electricity bills as a result of cuts to the feed-in tariff. Read more

ESA Renewables 1.3MW rooftop solar array to be completed this December

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 11:53 (PV-Tech)

This month will see the completion of ESA Renewables?s 1.3MW commercial rooftop solar project in New Bern, North Carolina, US. ESA claims this will be one of the largest rooftop PV arrays in eastern North Carolina. Read more

IHS iSuppli: Italy will surpass Germany as world?s leading solar PV market this year, set to install up to 6.9 GW

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 8:48 (Solarserver)

After two years at the top, Germany this year is likely to lose its place as the world?s top photovoltaic (PV) solar market, slipping to No. 2 behind former runner-up Italy, according to an IHS iSuppli PV Market Brief report from information and analysis provider IHS (El Segundo, California, U.S.). PV solar photovoltaic system installations in Germany during 2011 are expected to decline to 5.9 gigawatts (GW), down 20 percent from 7.4 GW in 2010. Meanwhile, Italy is set to install up to 6.9 GW worth of PV systems in 2011, nearly double the 3.6 GW from 2010. Read more

Top 10 Unanswered Biofuels Questions for 2011

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 17:53 (Renewable Energy World)

Your calls and emails are always the highlight of each day. Most questions can be answered johnny-on-the-spot. Some are still out there and well worth arguing over. Here are the Top 10 that are still unanswered. Read more

Engineers Study How Hills, Nearby Turbines Affect Wind Energy Production

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 19:40 (Renewable Energy World)

Hui Hu pulled a model wind turbine from the top of an office filing cabinet. The turbine tower was just 10 inches high. Its three blades were 10 inches in diameter. It was a perfect 1:320 scale reproduction of the 80-meter diameter wind turbines spinning across Iowa, the country's second-ranked state in installed wind power capacity. That mini turbine is helping a research team led by Hu, an Iowa State University associate professor of aerospace engineering, understand how hills, valleys and the placement of turbines affect the productivity of onshore wind farms. Read more

Latin America Report: International Firms Chart Course Into Region

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 17:31 (Renewable Energy World)

International corporations continue to look to the Latin American market for expansion opportunities as renewable energy cements itself as a viable solution for nations with an increased level of consumption. Read more

Only Two Weeks Left ? Submit Your Nomination for the 2012 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards!

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/awards/2012 Read more

Tigo Energy raises USD 18 million, will supply Energy Maximizer solutions for Eclipsall PV modules

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 12:09 (Solarserver)

Tigo Energy Inc. (Los Gatos, California, U.S.) and Eclipsall Energy Corporation (Toronto, Canada) have entered into an agreement through which Tigo will supply its Energy Maximizer solution for incorporation into Eclipsall high performance 60- and 72-cell solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, as announced on December 9th, 2011. Three days later, on December 12th, 2011, Tigo Energy announced that it has raised USD 18 million in its latest round of venture financing, bringing the company's total to over USD 50 million. Read more

Indian MNRE reports funding levels by state, villages served by rural electrification program

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 12:00 (Solarserver)

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released additional information on its Remote Village Electrification (RVE) program, including funding levels and the numbers of villages served in various states through the program over the last five years. This information was provided as a written reply to India's upper house of parliament on December 12th, 2011. The RVE provides financial support for lighting and basic electrification using renewable energy sources in remote villages where state governments have decided that grid extension is not feasible. Read more

SSE training centre creates 250 green jobs in South Wales

Wednesday, 12.14.2011 - 11:37 (Solarpowerportal)

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) is to open a state-of-the-art training and operational facility for the renewable energy sector in Treforest, Wales. The £7 million SWALEC Smart Energy Centre, which has received £2 million in business support from the Welsh Government, is expected to create 250 new jobs in South Wales. Read more