Wisconsin's First Solar Module Manufacturer Opens Its Doors

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Helios USA, LLC, a solar manufacturer located in Milwaukee's Menomonee Valley, announces the opening of its new manufacturing facility at 1207 West Canal Street. To mark the occasion, the company will host a ribbon-cutting event on February 28 at 3:30 p.m. to showcase its focus on renewable energy and the creation of green jobs in Milwaukee. Read more

Fraunhofer ISE researchers claim that silicon solar cells are nearing 20% efficiency

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 2:20 (PV-Tech)

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have concluded after a testing with more advanced cell structures than are currently used, that large-area silicon solar cells are closer than ever at achieving 20% efficiency ratings. The newly researched cell structures differed in the type of silicon material, the base and the type of emitter used. Solar cells with a negatively conducting base are referred to as n-type, those with a positive conducting base are p-type cells and the emitter had the same inverse polarization of the base. Read more

Sputnik Engineering to release MaxTalk2; announces new flexibility for SolarMax MT string inverters

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 23:59 (PV-Tech)

Sputnik Engineering will be releasing its new communication software, MaxTalk2 at the 26th Symposium on Photovoltaic Solar Energy in Bad Staffelstein taking place March 2 through March 4. The new software edition is said to be able to monitor and manage the measured values of solar plants that use SolarMax inverters while permitting users to survey the status of their solar plant by looking at operating data, statistics, measured values and device parameters. Read more

Ultrasonic installs PV-480 coating system for U.S. thin-film manufacturer

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 23:28 (PV-Tech)

Ultrasonic Systems has recently installed and commissioned its PV-480 coating system for an unspecified U.S. CdTe solar panel manufacturer. Ultrasonic advised that the solar panel manufacturer intends to use the system for the application of cadmium chloride solution in its absorber layer activation process. Read more

Clean Solar Electricity to Power Environmental Clean-Up and Groundwater Decontamination Project

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 20:40 (Renewable Energy World)

National solar integrator, groSolar, is helping Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc., utilize solar powered electricity for its United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and State of New Jersey approved pump and treat system to decontaminate groundwater at an ongoing environmental clean-up project it has been conducting in New Jersey. Read more

Schneider Electric presents solar solutions at the Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 19:38 (Renewable Energy World)

Schneider Electric Renewable Energies Business is showcasing solar solutions at the Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America from March 8-10 in Tampa, Florida at Booth 901. Read more

Solon to build 15MW power plant in California

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 16:25 (PV-Tech)

Solon Corporation has won a contract to build a 15MW solar power plant for Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) in Fresno, California. Construction on the 160-acre site will begin this April and is expected to be completed by October. Read more

Solar Rainbow Services, Carlisle Energy Services install 2.3MW New Jersey rooftop system

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 15:47 (PV-Tech)

Solar Rainbow Services and Carlisle Energy Services have joined forces to install a 2.3MW rooftop PV system on Jordache Enterprises? New Jersey distribution center and warehouse. Read more

PsomasFMG signs PPA with Orange County for 4MW solar portfolio

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 12:07 (PV-Tech)

PsomasFMG has signed a US$20 million Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to design, engineer, build, operate and maintain a solar portfolio for California?s Orange County. Read more

CED GreenTech signs module distribution contract with Phono Solar

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 11:25 (PV-Tech)

CED GreenTech has signed a contract with Phono Solar to distribute its mono- and polycrystalline modules in the U.S. in 2011. Initially, GreenTech will concentrate on delivering the 240 monocrystalline and 230 polycrystalline modules, although it has also agreed to distribute Phono?s AC module later in the year. Read more

JA Solar 2010 revenue US$1.78 billion: total 2011 PV shipments to pass 2.2GW (corrected)

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 7:29 (PV-Tech)

Citing 2010 as being a transformational year for the company, Dr. Peng Fang, CEO of JA Solar, noted that annual revenues increased 211%, while PV shipments increased by 187%. Revenue for the year was US$1.78 billion, PV shipments reached 1.46GW. Read more

JA Solar 2010 revenue US$1.78 million: total 2011 PV shipments to pass 2.2GW

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 7:29 (PV-Tech)

Citing 2010 as being a transformational year for the company, Dr. Peng Fang, CEO of JA Solar, noted that annual revenues increased 211%, while PV shipments increased by 187%. Revenue for the year was US$1.78 million, PV shipments reached 1.46GW. Read more

Virtual Net Metering

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 6:16 (Renewable Energy World)

Historically, if someone wanted to install a grid-tied solar system but lacked a suitable site, they were left with few, if any, options. Electric customers such as apartment building tenants or homeowners with shaded roofs were not eligible or apt for net metering tariffs, which otherwise would have allowed them to offset their normal electricity usage with the output of a solar system. Read more

Hunterdon Central Regional High School unveils rooftop solar energy array with thanks to HelioSage

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Hunterdon Central Regional High School dedicated its roof-mounted solar energy array, which will reduce the school's carbon footprint and reduce electricity costs. Read more

PsomasFMG signs US$20 million PPA with Orange County, California for 4MW solar power system

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 2:37 (PV-Tech)

PsomasFMG recently signed a 20- year power purchase agreement with Orange County, California worth US$20 million. Under the agreement, PsomasFMG will design, engineer, build, operate and maintain a solar power system that has the potential to reach 4MW and be installed across seven sites. Read more

Gestamp Renewables to construct steel factory in Surprise, Arizona

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 0:52 (PV-Tech)

Gestamp Renewables was joined by Arizona government officials as it announced plans for its 27-acre Solar Steel factory at the Skyway Business Park in Surprise, Arizona. The new facility will include a steel fabrication factory and the U.S. headquarters for Gestamp Solar Steel. Read more

Forests into Fuel: Promise and Limits of Biomass in the Northeast

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 6:20 (Renewable Energy World)

Forest biomass could replace as much as one quarter of the liquid fossil fuel now being used for industrial and commercial heating in the Northeastern United States. That's according to a new report released last week by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Read more

IKEA Invests in Wind Power Project

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 17:50 (Renewable Energy World)

Sweden's IKEA, famous for its easy-to-assemble furniture products, now plans to build its own dedicated wind power facility. Read more

Who Will Replace Hydropower's Aging Work Force?

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 7:41 (Renewable Energy World)

Many of the men and women running America’s hydropower plants are nearing retirement. Every sector of the energy industry is expected to lose a large share of its work force as millions of experienced professionals, baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964, become eligible for retirement over the next several years.    Is the hydropower industry prepared to compete with other industries for a new generation of skilled workers? What’s more, does the industry have a plan for training and knowledge sharing? A panel of hydropower professionals discussed these worrisome issues this week at the Northwest Hydroelectric Association’s annual conference Read more

US Plans for Green Exports

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 6:39 (Renewable Energy World)

When it comes to exporting green energy, talk tends to centre on whether or not the US can compete with China. But that has little bearing on the international business activity of California-based Greenhouse Holdings, which builds eco-friendly infrastructure. Read more

SNEC 2011:Juli New Energy opts for cmNavigo MES by Critical Manufacturing for its Baoding facility

Thursday, 2.24.2011 - 0:28 (PV-Tech)

Juli New Energy, a subsidiary of the Juli Group, has selected Critical Manufacturing?s cmNavigo Solar Edition MES for implementation in its Baoding, China facility. The execution of the MES solution will be completed by Critical Manufacturing?s Chinese unit. Read more