Arizona Western College commissions 5 MW PV plant using five different technologies

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 18:01 (Solarserver)

On December 6th, 2011 Arizona Western College (Yuma, Arizona) commissioned a 5 MW solar park at its campus, comprised of five 1 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plants utilizing different PV technologies. The project includes a concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) system with dual-axis tracking by SolFocus (Mountain View, California, U.S.) and GreenVolts Inc. (Fremont, California, U.S.), Sharp thin-film PV modules, SolarWorld monocrystalline silicon PV modules, Suntech polycrystalline silicon PV modules, and single-axis trackers from SunEdison LLC (Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.). Read more

Odersun PV modules recognized with iF Design Award

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 18:00 (Solarserver)

On December 6th, 2011 Odersun AG (Berlin, Germany) announced that its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules were recognized with the coveted iF material design award 2012. Odersun Solar modules are built entirely to the customer's requirements - their shape, size, material, layout and design can vary to suit any application. Read more

Eyelit and centrotherm?s joint venture into Indian market

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 15:21 (PV-Tech)

centrotherm, turnkey solutions provider, has entered into an agreement to use Eyelit?s Enterprise Manufacturing Execution suite (MES) for its PV module production, expanding Eyelit?s presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Read more

U.K. High Court to hear challenge to FIT cuts, European Commission may also take action

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 9:34 (Solarserver)

On December 6th, 2011, Solar Century Holdings Ltd. (London, U.K.) announced that the U.K.'s High Court has agreed to hear the challenge that it has brought against the government's plans to slash feed-in tariff levels for solar photovoltaics (PV) on December 12th, 2011. Two days later on December 8th, 2011, the European Commission (Brussels, Belgium) confirmed that it may take legal action against the U.K. government as well if the reduction in feed-in tariff levels impacts progress towards binding EU renewable energy targets. Read more

What Lawsuit? DOC-funded Program Facilitates U.S.-Chinese Trade for All Renewables

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 20:29 (Renewable Energy World)

There has been much tension in the renewables industry as the U.S.-China trade dispute progresses. Valid arguments for and against the suit have been made clear, and the ITC (International Trade Commission) has determined that Chinese solar panel imports are harming the U.S. solar manufacturing industry. Now all we can do is wait for the ITC and De Read more

Incredible UK solar installation figures revealed

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 18:14 (PV-Tech)

After Solar Power Portal last week reported that photovoltaic installations in the UK had begun to tail off, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has quietly updated its weekly data revealing shocking figures not even the most optimistic of us would have expected. Read more

Report Projects Massive Solar Growth in India

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 18:03 (Renewable Energy World)

As the American and European solar industries face continued uncertainty, India is aggressively ramping up its solar ambitions behind falling prices and growing energy needs. Read more

IKEA to build 10.7 MW of PV plants at ten stores in Southern U.S.

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 18:00 (Solarserver)

On December 5th, 2011, IKEA announced that it plans to install 10.7-MW of solar energy systems on 10 additional United States locations ? its entire presence in the Southern U.S. Subject to governmental permits, installation can begin this winter, with completion expected in summer 2012. Nearly 45,360 panels will be installed on the nine stores and one distribution center, generating a projected annual electricity output of 15,248,334 kWh. Read more

EnterSolar completes second solar power project for Dykes Lumber Company

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 17:32 (PV-Tech)

Commercial solar systems provider EnterSolar, has completed a 192.5kW PV system for Dykes Lumber Company located in Aberdeen, New Jersey, US. This is the second solar project that EnterSolar has completed for Dykes, following the 360kW installation at the Dykes facility in Weehawken, New Jersey. Read more

Report claims 50% of Chinese solar firms have ceased production

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 17:22 (PV-Tech)

Approximately half of China?s PV manufacturing firms have ceased production, according to a report on the Chinese newspaper Guangzhou Daily and as cited by Digitimes. Chronic oversupply and massive price drops would appear to have nudged the lower-performing China-based manufacturers over the edge, with the solar energy division of CSG Holding?s research suggesting that half have stopped production, around 30% are at half their production capability and 20% are at pains to maintain their current levels of production. Read more

Consortium?s 150MW projects awarded preferred bidder status by South African government

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 16:42 (PV-Tech)

The South Africa Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a joint venture between SolarReserve, a US developer of utility-scale solar power projects, the Kensani Group, an empowered infrastructure player in the Southern African market and Intikon Energy, a South African developer of renewable energy projects, preferred bidder status. Installing two 75MW plants, the consortium?s new status will give them the right to proceed with executing a 20 year government-supported power purchase agreement with the South African power utility company, Eskom. Read more

Oerlikon lays groundwork for thin-film development in China

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 16:17 (PV-Tech)

Oerlikon Solar has teamed up with the International Cooperation Center for China Renewable Energy Society (CRES) to further the company?s research and strategic development of thin-film silicon technology in China. The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will involve a collaborative joint effort toward the promotion of Oerlikon?s products, technology and research in China. Read more

UK homeowners do not realise how much the FiT incentive actually costs them

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 15:17 (Solarpowerportal)

Survey results published today by Sharp Solar highlight that almost three quarters (71 percent) of UK homeowners do not know how much the feed-in tariff (FiT) is costing the average household. These results come out just days before Government’s proposal to cut the FiT rate by as much as 50 percent takes effect, a move which DECC cited as necessary due to the increasing cost of PV incentives to UK homeowners. Read more

Tapan Solar Energy begins module production in India

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 15:13 (PV-Tech)

Tapan Solar Energy has begun manufacturing crystalline PV modules in India. Trading under the name Elecssol and based out of Rajasthan, current capacity stands at 20MW and plans are already underway to increase this to 40MW by the end of 2012. Read more

Malaysia receives flood of applications for solar feed-in tariffs

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 12:50 (Solarserver)

On December 2nd, 2011 Malaysia's Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA, Putrajaya, Malaysia) announced that it has filled a 2012 - 2014 quota for non-individual solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in its newly launched feed-in tariff system within only two hours. SEDA's e-FIT online application system went online at midnight on December 1st, 2011, and reached 201 applications for solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling 144 MW on December 2nd, 2011. The agency stated at the time that there was still 9MW available in the individual PV quota. Read more

SRP signs PPA for juwi?s 19MW Queen Creek system

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 12:40 (PV-Tech)

juwi solar has signed a contract to sell the electricity produced by its planned 19MW Queen Creek PV system in Arizona to Salt River Project (SRP). The 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) will begin once the installation is grid connected at the end of 2012. Read more

Antaris Solar receives MCS accreditation

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 11:20 (Solarpowerportal)

Bavarian solar specialist Antaris Solar has been awarded accreditation under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for its range of mono- and polycrystalline modules. Read more

MEMC restructuring includes 1,300 layoffs, closure of Italian polysilicon plant, and merger of Solar Materials and SunEdison business

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 9:27 (Solarserver)

On December 8th, 2011 MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (St. Peters, Missouri, U.S.) announced dramatic restructuring plans, including the intention to lay off 20% of its workforce, temporarily close a polysilicon plant in Italy and merge its Solar Materials and SunEdison business units, effective January 1st, 2012. The company will also reduce production at its crystal facility in the U.S. state of Oregon and limit the ramp of its Kuching, Malaysia wafering facility to 300 MW. MEMC states that such changes are necessary given new market conditions in 2011. Read more

Dow Corning, Air Products sign long-term silane supply contract

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 16:52 (PV-Tech)

Dow Corning has signed a long-term contract to supply Air Products with its electronic-grade silane. Air Products will distribute the gas to its clients in the PV and electronics industries. Read more

Hype Busters From Lux Research Explain Grid Based Energy Storage

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 15:47 (Renewable Energy World)

In 1883 Thomas Edison said, "The storage battery is one of those peculiar things which appeals to the imagination, and no more perfect thing could be desired by stock swindlers than that very selfsame thing. ... Just as soon as a man gets working on the secondary battery it brings out his latent capacity for lying." Read more

Finance Outlook 2012: Can Projects Move Ahead In This Difficult Economic Environment?

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 15:18 (Renewable Energy World)

For the past two years, the renewable energy industry was able to take advantage of a powerful financial vehicle, namely the 1603 Grant in Lieu of Tax Credit that was offered to developers of qualifying projects. But with the grant set to expire at the end of 2011, many are wondering how the industry will fare without it. Read more

DECC Green Deal team addresses annual NIA conference

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 13:27 (Solarpowerportal)

The 2011 annual National Insulation Association (NIA) conference was bigger than ever with more than 300 industry delegates and external guests gathering at Harrogate Conference Centre. With the Green Deal, Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and new EPC requirements high on Government’s agenda, it is no surprise that this year’s event saw its largest ever attendance. Read more

New Jersey Energy Master Plan to address SREC price decline

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 12:50 (Solarserver)

On December 6th, 2011 Chris Christie (R), Governor of the U.S. state of New Jersey, released the state's final 2011 Energy Master Plan, including modifications to the details of the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements. The final master plan contains provisions to better manage solar renewable energy credit (SREC) prices, which collapsed following a boom in PV installations that exceeded RPS goals for solar. The plan also returns the state's overall RPS goals to 22.5% by 2021, abandoning targets set by former Governor Corzine to reach 30% renewable generation by that date. Read more

Enel Green Power commissions 5 MW PV plant in Sicily

Friday, 12.9.2011 - 12:49 (Solarserver)

On December 6th, 2011 Enel Green Power SpA (Rome, Italy) announced that it has commissioned a 5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Barrafranca on the island of Sicily. Enel states that the plant brings its total installed capacity to around 77 MW globally. The plant in the province of Enna is comprised of over 20,000 PV modules, and joins a 9 MW PV plant in the nearby province of Catania. Read more