China Sunergy increases annual revenue 81.5% to USD 517 million in 2010

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 16:57 (Solarserver)

On March 24th, 2011, China Sunergy Company, Ltd. (Nanjing, China) announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2010, reporting a 34.8% increase in quarterly revenue to USD 170 million and an 81.5% increase in annual revenue to USD 517 million. The company noted the shift in its focus to solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing during the quarter following the acquisitions of two Chinese PV companies. Read more

Exergetic Energy acquires USD 10 million in funding to build 1.5 MW PV plant, begin inverter line

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 16:45 (Solarserver)

Exergetic Energy, Inc., an integrated energy supply company located in Detroit, MI, on March 24th, 2011 announced that it has signed a USD 10.0 million drawdown equity financing agreement with Auctus Private Equity Fund, LLC, a Boston-based institutional investor. Read more

Review recommends 14.7% reduction in ACT feed-in tariff rates for small scale PV

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 15:51 (Solarserver)

On March 16th, 2011, the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) issued a report recommending that the territory's feed-in tariff (FIT) rates for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation under 30 kW be reduced to AUD 0.39/kWh (USD 0.40/kWh). ACT Minister for Energy Simon Corbell will make a final decision on the rates in April 2011, which will take effect beginning July 1, 2011. Read more

PHOTON: Global PV cell production expanded 118% to 27.2 GW in 2010

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 13:36 (Solarserver)

PHOTON International has released the results of its annual cell production survey, noting that global solar photovoltaic (PV) cell output increased 118% in 2010 to 27.2 GW, with a global production capacity of 36.6 GW at the end of the year. The report also noted the increasing dominance of China in cell manufacturing, where 47.8% of all cells were produced in 2010. Read more

SunPower, Hawaiian Electric Company sign PPA for 5 MW PV plant

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 13:29 (Solarserver)

On March 22nd, 2011, the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.) and SunPower Corporation (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for the electricity generated by a planned 5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. The PPA for the plant, to be located in Kalaeloa on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, will now go to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (HPUC) for approval. Read more

SRC, Masdar Institute hosts first forum on photovoltaics in Abu Dhabi

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 11:48 (PV-Tech)

Solar experts and university researchers will gather together in Abu Dhabi from March 27-28 to attend the city?s first forum on photovoltaics. The event, which will be presented by Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, will explore the route for development of cost-effective systems capable of achieving 25% energy conversion from solar resources in Abu Dhabi by the year 2020. Read more

Solar cell and module equipment sales dominate centrotherm photovoltaics 2010 results

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 11:45 (PV-Tech)

In releasing 2010 financial results this week, centrotherm photovoltaics achieved record results, dominated by revenue generation in its Solar Cell & Module segment, while revenue from its Silicon &Wafer segment and Thin Film Module segment declined when compared to 2009. Group revenue reached ?624.2 million, a 22.6% increase over revenue of ?509.1 million in 2009. Solar Cell & Module segment revenue reached ?404.5 million, up 68.6% compared to the previous year and represented 64.8% share of total revenue. Read more

Siemens Industry introduces solar PPA program

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 17:05 (Solarserver)

On March 23rd, 2011 Siemens Industry Inc. (Buffalo Grove, Illinois, U.S.) introduced the Siemens Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program, which will allow customers to put solar systems on their homes without an initial capital investment. The program will be implemented in collaboration with Siemens Financial Services. Read more

QSolar announces new wafer manufacturing process

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 17:04 (Solarserver)

On March 22nd, 2011, QSolar Ltd. (Calgary, Canada) announced a new wafer manufacturing process which it says can reduce total solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing costs up to 20%. The company states that its Crucible Cell - Spraytek79 manufacturing process results in a 50% saving in silicon material by casting individual wafers and thus eliminating wafer cutting. Read more

First installation of SANYO?s high efficiency solar PV modules accredited by MCS in UK

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 16:54 (Solarserver)

SANYO Component Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., announces the completion of the first residential installation in the UK of its high efficiency "HIT" solar modules which recently received Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation. Read more

Concentrating solar power: SkyFuel signs MOU with Indian company for use of parabolic trough design

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 16:51 (Solarserver)

SkyFuel (Arvada, Colorado, U.S.) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL, Hyderabad, India) regarding the use of its parabolic trough collector in concentrating solar power (CSP) projects. Read more

2010 annual report: German PV producer aleo solar AG on target for further growth

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 16:48 (Solarserver)

aleo solar AG on March 24th, 2011 published its 2010 annual report, which confirms the preliminary figures announced earlier. Revenue increased by 47.2% to EUR 553.5 million (2009: EUR 376.1 million). EBIT soared to EUR 43.0 million (2009: EUR 16.0 million), generating a very solid EBIT margin of 7.8% (2009: 4.3%). Earnings per share rose to EUR 2.41 (2009: EUR 0.78). Read more

Siliken modules gain MCS approval

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 13:45 (Solarpowerportal)

Siliken, the Spanish PV module manufacturer, has obtained Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation for its solar product range. The certificate, which has been granted by the British Board of Agreément (BBA), means that Siliken’s modules are now eligible under the UK’s feed-in tariff scheme. Read more

United Solar secures patent for nano-crystal deposition method; achieves 12% conversion efficiency with a large-area thin film PV cell

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 13:39 (Solarserver)

On March 22nd, 2011, United Solar Ovonic LLC (Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.) announced that it has secured a patent for a nano-crystal deposition method from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Using this technology, the company has achieved a 12% conversion efficiency with a large-area thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) cell. Read more

Abound Solar signs sales agreement with Solarsis to enter the Indian PV market, including megawatt PV plant

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 13:34 (Solarserver)

Abound Solar (Loveland, Colo.), manufacturer of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules, announced a long-term sales agreement with Solarsis, Inc. (Hyderabad, India). The companies will work together to provide solutions based on Abound?s next-generation CIGS thin-film modules serving project developers in the Indian market. Read more

SolarWorld increases revenues to USD 1.85 billion in 2010; PV module capacity to be expanded up to 1.4 GW

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 13:31 (Solarserver)

March 24th, 2011 SolarWorld AG (Bonn, Germany) released financial information for 2010, recording a 42% increase in shipments to 819 MW and a 28.8% increase in revenues to EUR 1.30 billion (USD 1.85 billion). In presenting its 2010 results, the company also commented on the global debate around nuclear power. Read more

SolarWorld goes from modules to mining

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 13:11 (PV-Tech)

Having management briefly mentioned in their 2010 financial results that SolarWorld would be looking at solar battery power technology offerings in the future, the company has announced plans to start prospecting for lithium on its doorstep in Saxony, Germany. SolarWorld said it had received official approval from the Saxon State Minister for Economic Affairs to start prospecting in the Eastern part of the Erzgebirge Mountains. Read more

Solar training is now available online

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 12:27 (Solarpowerportal)

Sussex-based solar service company Sunhive has partnered with Cleaner Air Solutions and the Renewable Energy Academy to launch an online solar training platform. At present, the website provides free access to all of the available courses. In future, some of the courses will involve a charge, which the companies say they are able to keep low as the courses are exclusively online. Read more

TÜV Rheinland can now provide the North American ANSI/UL1703 solar safety mark

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 11:17 (PV-Tech)

TÜV Rheinland has been given the go-ahead from the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to provide certification for ANSI/UL1703, which is the required North American solar safety mark. The ANSI/UL 1703 certification, which is the latest accreditation in TÜV Rheinland?s portfolio of testing and photovoltaic certifications, is currently one of the pivotal regulatory requirements to launch photovoltaic products in the U.S. marketplace. Read more

Shaun McGrath appointed as American Solar Energy Society?s new executive director

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 1:10 (PV-Tech)

Effective April 1, Shaun McGrath will commence his new position as executive director for the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). McGrath joins ASES with over 25 years of public policy experience in the local, state and federal arenas and most recently served as deputy director of intergovernmental affairs for the Obama administration at the White House. Read more

EU's Renewable Goals Driving Wood Pellet Growth

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 5:53 (Renewable Energy World)

North America's wood pellet producers doubled exports to Europe between 2008 and 2010 as biomass played a larger role in meeting renewable energy goals. Read more

New Record for German Renewable Energy in 2010

Friday, 3.25.2011 - 5:08 (Renewable Energy World)

As the nuclear reactor accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant continues to dominate the world's attention, Germany has quietly broken more renewable energy records. Read more