Spire Announces the Spi-EL(TM) Electroluminescence Solar Module Tester

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 21:10 (Renewable Energy World)

ire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing capital equipment and turn-key manufacturing lines to produce photovoltaic (PV) modules announced today the introduction of a new advanced metrology product, the Spi-EL(TM) Electroluminescence Solar Module Tester, at the SNEC 5th (2011) International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Exhibition in Shanghai, China. Read more

Trina Solar module shipments top 1.06GW in 2010: capacity to reach 1.9GW mid-year

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 12:55 (PV-Tech)

Trina Solar squeezed a little more module shipments out of the factory gate in 2010 than previously guided. Shipments were approximately 351MW for the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to previous guidance of approximately 300MW, resulting in total 2010 module shipments reaching approximately 1.06GW in 2010. Read more

Conergy sales increase more than 50% in 2010

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 12:32 (PV-Tech)

Preliminary 2010 financial figures from Conergy indicate sales increased by more than 50% in 2010. Sales reached ?913.5 million, compared to ?600.9 million in 2009. Read more

Finding the Key to CIGS PV Reliability

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 6:27 (Renewable Energy World)

This past week there was a photovoltaic (PV) workshop that probably wasn't on your radar. It was held at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and is called the PV Module Reliability Workshop (PVMRW). This is where the nerds of the PV industry get together to discuss the factors that influence how long a PV module will last and other factors which might influence the long-term performance of a PV system. It wasn't on your radar because it is not something that influences big business. Or is it? Read more

Tioga Energy completes 19 solar projects as part of Morris Model pilot program in New Jersey

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 23:11 (PV-Tech)

In January 2010, the Morris County Improvement Authority (MCIA) of New Jersey distributed US$22.3 million in low-interest government bonds to finance the development of solar installations throughout the county. Partnering with Tioga Energy and SunDurance Energy on the Morris Model pilot program, MCIA has completed the installation of 19 solar projects on 16 school and government facilities in its county. These are the first to be financed through the public-private collaboration and collectively generate 3.1MW of energy for the New Jersey County. Read more

Huhne seems hard to budge on FiT review

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 19:05 (Solarpowerportal)

During his recent ‘fact finding’ trip to the South West, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said that the early review of the solar feed-in tariff was ordered to prevent a ‘boom and bust’ scenario. In Cornwall yesterday, Huhne explained that the feed-in tariff (FiT) review would mean the renewable energy industry progressed ‘sensibly and sustainably.’ The review has hit the area hard, since it was relying heavily on renewable energy to boost economic prosperity. Read more

Energiebau Solarstromsysteme installs one of Africa?s largest rooftop arrays in Nairobi

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 18:45 (PV-Tech)

Energiebau Solarstromsysteme has installed one of Africa?s largest solar rooftop systems on the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya. Read more

French solar energy market could see a 500MW cap from 2011

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 17:45 (PV-Tech)

France?s solar energy market could see a 500MW cap from 2011 in addition to the projects that have already received permits by the end of 2010, according to reports in French newspaper, Les Echos. The French Government estimates that 3.4GW of projects have received construction permits in 2010 and roughly 2GW of these projects could ultimately get built in the 18-month timeframe which stretches to the first quarter of 2012. Read more

NextEnergy Capital commits to UK solar despite FiT review

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 17:13 (Solarpowerportal)

NextEnergy Capital (NEC), the European Merchant Bank operating in the renewable energy and clean technology sector, has once again reiterated its commitment to the development of the UK solar PV industry with the appointment of Jannie Retief as its Managing Director for UK Operations. The company continues to concentrate on the UK’s solar market, despite the confusion caused by a surprise ‘fast-track review’ of the UK feed-in tariff mechanism. Read more

Low Carbon Solar gives Power to Society

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 15:27 (Solarpowerportal)

Cirencester-based developer of solar farms and roofs, Low Carbon Solar, has launched the ‘Power to Society’ campaign, following the Coalition Government’s backtracking over funding for community-scale solar energy schemes. Read more

SunShare launches new solar home scheme

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 14:20 (Solarpowerportal)

Bristol-based SunShare has launched a new solar scheme on January 17th which allows UK homeowners to invest in solar panels for their home for only a part of the upfront installation costs. Qualifying UK homes that install solar panels with SunShare will benefit from free electricity while also earning more than £1,000 a year from the Government-backed feed-in tariff. Read more

SNEC 2011: Linde sees customer capacity treble

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 12:30 (PV-Tech)

Last year saw the gases division of The Linde Group capitalise on the solar industry?s growth by securing supply contracts with over 25 new and pre-existing customers in the thin-film and crystalline silicon manufacturing sectors. Read more

Unirac supplies mounting system for Minneapolis Convention Center?s rooftop array

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 12:01 (PV-Tech)

Westwood Professional Services has chosen Unirac to supply the mounting system for its recently-completed solar array on the Minneapolis Convention Center. Read more

Enecsys selects Wieland connectors in solar AC systems

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 11:56 (Solarpowerportal)

Enecsys, the Cambridge-based micro-inverter company, has selected Wieland gesis RST 25i3/i5 connectors for connecting its solar inverters to the electricity grid system on the AC side of photovoltaic (PV) installations. The pre-wired, ‘plug and play’ Wieland connectors are factory tested and offer higher reliability and faster installation compared to onsite wiring. Read more

Todd Lindstrom Joins Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group as Vice President of Sales

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 5:29 (Renewable Energy World)

Sharp Electronics Corporation (SEC) today announced that Todd Lindstrom has joined the company's Solar Energy Solutions Group (SESG) as vice president of Sales. SESG is a division of SEC and the U.S. solar arm of Sharp Corporation. In this position, Mr. Lindstrom is responsible for developing and directing the sales operations of the group. He reports to Eric Hafter, senior vice president of SESG. Read more

Solar training trio with Solar Energy International in Rocklin, California

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 0:29 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar Energy International is helping those interested in jump-starting their careers in the solar industry with three in-person workshops in Rocklin, California. Read more

Ethanol the Answer to $5 Gallon Gasoline

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 22:15 (Renewable Energy World)

With dire news reports out of Libya sending skittish oil markets higher and higher, and predictions that Americans will face $5 a gallon gasoline, representatives of the U.S. ethanol industry warned that Congressional maneuvers to block already-approved levels of ethanol from reaching the market would only worsen the impact of high fuel prices. Read more

The Green Machine: Algae Clean Wastewater, Convert to Biodiesel

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 2:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology are developing biodiesel from microalgae grown in wastewater. The project is doubly "green" because algae consume nitrates and phosphates and reduce bacteria and toxins in the water. The end result: clean wastewater and stock for a promising biofuel. Read more

North America demands policy that provides solutions to wind turbine supply chain surplus

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 12:40 (Renewable Energy World)

While dropping turbine prices may be have manufacturers scrambling, project developers will be scrambling to take advantage of the improved cost-competitiveness of wind energy compared with gas and coal. Read more

Magma Power for Geothermal Energy?

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 6:12 (Renewable Energy World)

When a team of scientists drilling near an Icelandic volcano hit magma in 2009, they had to abandon their planned experiments on geothermal energy. But the mishap could point the way to an alternative source of geothermal power. Read more

Major progress in resolving the climate change issue is still possible

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 11:31 (Renewable Energy World)

Leading environmental economist sets out steps to accelerate clean energy transition, overcome obstacles to adaptation, and strengthen international cooperation on climate stabilization Read more

Taiwan Initiates Energy Transition

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 6:28 (Renewable Energy World)

Taiwan is set to blaze a trail in renewables development with its major policy initiatives that are designed to at last exploit the country's extensive renewable resources. Read more

Photon Energy reveals 2010 consolidated revenue reached US$140 million

Wednesday, 2.23.2011 - 2:26 (PV-Tech)

Photon Energy has completed and released its full-year financial results for 2010. The company highlighted its fourth quarter 2010 as being particularly impressive since during the time period,  Photon Energy added 14.2MW of PV plants to its portfolio in the Czech Republic and 4.7MW in Slovakia, all of which were installed in time to benefit from the 2010 feed-in-tariffs offered. Read more