Magna International announces new Arizona production facility for metal structures, components and systems for the PV and CSP industry

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 18:02 (Solarserver)

Magna International Inc. (Aurora, Ontario, Canada) on December 13th, 2001 announced that its Cosma International operating unit will strengthen its manufacturing presence in the renewable energy market by opening a manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona. The new facility, to be called Cosma Power Systems, is expected to be ready for production in December 2011. This 166,000-square-foot facility will produce metal structures and roll-formed components and systems for the photovoltaic (PV), concentrating photovoltaic (CPV), and concentrating solar power (CSP) solar markets. Read more

Judge grants High Court hearing over FiT cuts

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 17:24 (Solarpowerportal)

A judge has ordered an urgent hearing of a High Court challenge over Government plans to cut financial incentives afforded to solar photovoltaic technology. Read more

Imec and partners demonstrate inverted designed organic solar cell with 8.3% efficiency

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 16:12 (PV-Tech)

A new world-record efficiency of 8.3% has been claimed for a polymer-based single junction organic solar cell in an inverted device stack. Research house, imec and industrial partners Polyera and Solvay developed the proprietary inverted bulk heterojunction architecture, which resulted in achieving much higher efficiencies that other organic thin film cells have to date. Work is ongoing to increase the cell size and lifetime, a key challenge for organic-based cells. Read more

Solar photovoltaic manufacturing equipment book-to-bill ratio falls to 0.35

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 13:15 (Solarserver)

On December 13th, 2011 the global trade association Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI, San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that the world-wide solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing equipment book-to-bill ratio has fallen to 0.35, its lowest level in at least seven quarters. This figure was announced with the release of SEMI's "Third Quarter 2011 Worldwide Photovoltaic Equipment Market Statistics Report". The report notes that while global billing levels declined 24% from the second quarter to USD 1.6 billion, bookings fell 70% during the quarter. Read more

German PV producer, project developer SOLON to open insolvency proceedings

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 13:07 (Solarserver)

On December 13th, 2011 SOLON SE (Berlin, Germany) applied to open insolvency proceedings, stating that negotiations with investors, financing banks and guarantors to carry out a financial restructuring have failed. The company states that it will now pursue restructuring through the insolvency process. Solon also has filed to open insolvency proceedings for subsidiaries SOLON Photovoltaic GmbH, SOLON Nord GmbH, and SOLON Investments GmbH. Read more

Soitec introduces portable CPV mini-tracker, begins "Sunidarity" aid program for remote regions

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 13:05 (Solarserver)

On December 13th, 2011 Soitec SA (Bernin, France) unveiled a new portable concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) mini-tracker system for remote locations. The company's "Plug & Sun" product will incorporate three square meters of CPV modules and dual-axis tracking in a system with up to 2.3 kW generation capacity. Also on December 13th, 2011 Soitec announced that it will donate Plug & Sun systems to three development aid organizations to support electrification, as the first edition of its new Sunidarity program to promote economic and human development in remote regions. Read more

ECD defers interest payments to note holders

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 12:42 (PV-Tech)

Troubled thin film veteran, Energy Conversion Devices has deferred interest payments to note holders of its Senior Convertible Notes due 2013 as it continues talks with some of the holders over restructuring debt and raising funds to continue operations. Read more

Southern California Edison completes 4.9MW DC solar project at Kimberly-Clarks California site

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 23:06 (PV-Tech)

Kimberly-Clark?s Redlands, California distribution center has expanded its initial 100kW solar array, installed in 2009, with help from Prologis and Southern California Edison (SCE). The companies claim that the new 4.9MW (DC), 3.5MW (AC), project is one of the largest single rooftop solar projects in the country. Read more

SunPower, Gilbane celebrate groundbreaking for 1.5MW solar system at Evergreen Valley College

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 22:52 (PV-Tech)

SunPower, along with construction company Gilbane, announced that they had broken ground on a 1.5MW ground-mounted solar project at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, California. The solar project is anticipated to produce one-third of the college?s annual electricity needs once completed. Read more

Gehrlicher Solar America?s US solar portfolio shows consistent growth

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 22:06 (PV-Tech)

Gehrlicher Solar?s US branch, Gehrlicher Solar America, advised that one year after it officially began operations in the US, the company has completed two systems and has six more under construction. Headquartered in Springfield, New Jersey, the company has worked with NJR Clean Energy Ventures to install the two solar systems, totaling 1.35MW, which are located in Edison, New Jersey. Together they will produce around 1,543,450kWh of electricity using 5,520 Yingli Green Energy solar modules and seven inverters from PV Powered. Read more

US Bancorp finances portfolio of solar projects by KDC Solar

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 21:29 (PV-Tech)

KDC Solar advised that it had closed the financing provided by a subsidiary of US Bancorp, which will go towards developing a portfolio of projects in New Jersey through KDC Solar?s wholly owned subsidiary. The financing will support long-term renewable energy tax equity financing for multiple distributed generation, net-metered solar projects with the first two solar projects totaling nearly 7MW. Read more

US Bancorp finances for portfolio of solar projects by KDC Solar

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 21:29 (PV-Tech)

KDC Solar advised that it had closed the financing provided by a subsidiary of US Bancorp, which will go towards developing a portfolio of projects in New Jersey through KDC Solar?s wholly owned subsidiary. The financing will support long-term renewable energy tax equity financing for multiple distributed generation, net-metered solar projects with the first two solar projects totaling nearly 7MW. Read more

Quantum Solar to submit NGD technology to NREL in 2012

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 18:21 (PV-Tech)

Two years of hard work has culminated in the development of a prototype for a next generation solar PV device. It will be submitted to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in early 2012 for certification. The NGD technology uses a novel approach combining a barrier oxide layer with a patent-pending absorber layer, replacing the traditional semiconductor layer used in crystalline silicon and thin-film PV. Read more

PV systems producer MAGE SOLAR expands to Australia

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 18:01 (Solarserver)

MAGE SOLAR (Dublin,Georgia), part of the globally operating MAGE GROUP, is continuing its growth strategy and is now serving the Australian solar photovoltaic (PV) market with its own sales team. Just this summer, the specialist for complete PV system solutions successfully entered the South and Central America market. With the most recent expansion to Australia, MAGE SOLAR?s high-quality product and service portfolio is now available on all seven continents. Read more

Striking Balance ? How the Solar Industry Benefits From the U.S. & China

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 16:53 (Renewable Energy World)

The trade case brought against Chinese solar manufacturers by U.S. solar-panel producer SolarWorld and six other domestic equipment makers could undermine the solar industry's significant progress at the very moment it is poised for success. Read more

Martifer Solar lines up 100MW pipeline for 2012

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 16:36 (PV-Tech)

Martifer Solar has completed its US expansion plan by establishing a downstream portfolio totalling 30MW and setting up offices across the country. Read more

GreenVolts returns from the ashes with US$35 million investment in fully integrated CPV system

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 16:19 (PV-Tech)

GreenVolts has remerged with seeming aplomb from the disaster of 2009 with its new CPV system that it has branded as the PV industry?s ?first complete and fully integrated solar system?. Read more

CSP Outlook 2012: Forging New Partnerships

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 15:18 (Renewable Energy World)

While the technology behind concentrating solar power (CSP) moves ahead incrementally, it's the partnerships that the industry builds that will likely lead to the biggest gains over the next year. Read more

solarhybrid receives planning permission for 150MW airfield system

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 13:23 (PV-Tech)

German project developer solarhybrid is preparing to start work on its largest PV project to date after Fürstenwalde?s municipal council awarded preliminary planning permission for its 150MW project. Read more

US solar market reaches record quarterly installations

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 13:18 (PV-Tech)

According to a report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the US solar market continues to boom but gloomy clouds are circling over future growth. The US installed 449MW in the third quarter and surpassed the 1GW level, exceeding last year?s level. GTM Research is forecasting fourth quarter installation figures to exceed those set in the third quarter. However, without an extension of the US Treasury?s 1603 program there is growing concern that installations will slowdown in late 2012 and into 2013. Read more

Concentrating solar power: CEC to begin review of 750 MW Rio Mesa project

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 13:10 (Solarserver)

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has begun a review of a proposed 750 MW concentrating solar power (CSP) project in Riverside County, California, consisting of three 250 MW plants using solar power tower designs. The CEC voted on December 14th, 2011 that developer BrightSource Energy Inc. (Oakland, California, U.S.) had provided sufficient information in the application for the Rio Mesa Solar Electric Generating Facility to begin the review process. If approved, construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2013 and finish in the second quarter of 2016. Read more

Conergy to build 9MW solar PV park in Thailand; still views Thailand as South East Asia?s best market for solar power

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 13:03 (Solarserver)

On December 14th, 2011 Karnchang Public Company Limited (Bangkok; Thailand) announced the selection of German PV producer Conergy (Hamburg) to supply the components and jointly serve as the engineering and design consultants for its 9MW solar park in Thailand. Conergy will also work closely with local partner Ensys Co. Ltd who will provide the local engineering and installation services for this project. The solar park is being built in cooperation with CH. Karnchang Public Company Limited subsidiary Bangkehnchai Co Ltd. Read more

Wagner Solar appoints new technical manager

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 11:29 (PV-Tech)

Jan Stasik has moved from his post at the parent company Wagner & Co Solar Technology to join the UK technical division. Stasik has been appointed technical manager of the solar PV and solar thermal teams, whilst also leading the training programme at the company?s Wagner Academy solar training school. Read more

Wagner Solar UK expands solar thermal division, appoints new Technical Manager

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 11:03 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar technology distributor and systems integrator Wagner Solar UK has appointed a new UK Technical Manager, who will be responsible for managing the Solar PV and Solar Thermal technical division. Jan Stasik, who joins the UK branch from parent company Wagner & Co. will also lead the training programme at the company’s Wagner Academy solar training school. Read more

First Solar downgrades 2011 revenue guidance by 10%, announces 2012 guidance, restructures

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 8:44 (Solarserver)

Citing project delays due to bad weather and other factors, on December 14th, 2011 First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) downgraded its 2011 revenue guidance by 10%. The company also released its 2012 guidance, stating that it expects net sales of USD 3.7 to 4.0 billion and consolidated operating income of USD 425 to 450 million. "Our diverse business model and robust project pipeline will help generate a significant amount of cash in 2012 while improving operational efficiencies, but we are recalibrating our business to focus on building and serving sustainable markets rather than pursuing subsidized markets," said First Solar Chairman and CEO Mike Ahearn. Read more

High Court hears re-application for solar FiTs legal challenge

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 0:01 (Solarpowerportal)

Friends of the Earth, Solarcentury and HomeSun will today hand in an application to the High Court to challenge Government plans to slash financial incentives by more than 50 percent. The legal challenge focuses on supporting solar installations which were completed after the December 12 deadline this year. Read more

Full Steam Ahead: Kenya's Geothermal Production Picks Up Speed

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 21:35 (Renewable Energy World)

"GDC Strikes Steam in Menengai," exalts the cover of this spring's issue of Steam, the magazine of Kenya's Geothermal Development Company. A column of steam spurts high into a deep blue sky in the cover photo ? the geothermal industry's equivalent of the black column that spurts from a successful oil well. Read more

NREL validates 41% efficiency for Semprius? tiny triple-junction cells

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 23:27 (PV-Tech)

The US Department of Energy?s National Renewable Energy Laboratory advised that it recently validated Semprius? triple-junction cells at greater than 41% efficiency at a concentration of 1,000 suns ? said to be one of the highest efficiencies recorded at this concentration. The North Carolina company makes its cells from gallium arsenide with the lenses laying claim to concentrating the sunlight onto the small cells 1,100 times. Read more

Renewable Energy Adoption and the Increasing Cost of Electricity in the U.S.

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 20:55 (Renewable Energy World)

The health, environmental, and direct job creation benefits of renewable energy vs. traditional forms of power generation are widely accepted. All other things being equal, it would be a foregone conclusion that renewable energy should be chosen over other types of generation. Of course, all other things are not equal. To understand the total impact of integrating renewables into an electricity supply mix, the value of any benefits must be carefully weighed against the costs that may arise from choosing renewables. Read more

IDC Energy Insights: PV sales to shift to Asia as world-wide PV markets shows medium-term growth; global market to double by 2015

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 18:03 (Solarserver)

On December 13th, 2011, consulting company IDC Energy Insights (Framingham, MA) predicted that global solar photovoltaic (PV) module shipments will grow from 22.7 GW in 2011 to 43.8 GW in 2015, driven by ambitious plans to build capacity in large markets including India and China. The IDC's "Worldwide Quarterly Photovoltaic Module Tracker", also predicts that the geographical center of global PV markets will shift to Asia, which it estimates will represent 49% of global PV module sales in 2015 as opposed to 23% in 2011. Read more

DECC publishes Technical Update to Electricity Market Reform

Thursday, 12.15.2011 - 16:10 (Solarpowerportal)

The Government has published the Technical Update to its White Paper on Electricity Market Reform.The Government has published the Technical Update to its White Paper on Electricity Market Reform. Read more