Pierre-Pascal Urbon to Take Over as SMA Chief Executive Officer

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 19:56 (Renewable Energy World)

Pierre-Pascal Urbon has been elected Chief Executive Officer of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92). Urbon, SMA's current Chief Financial Officer, was appointed to the additional position of CEO at a meeting of the Managing Board and will take over this assignment from his predecessor, Günther Cramer, following the SMA Annual General Meeting on May 26, 2011. Read more

eIQ to partner in PV weather performance test initiative

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 15:55 (Solarserver)

On May 16th, 2011, eIQ Energy Inc. (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that it will partner in a Canadian research initiative to create open-source data on real-world performance of a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant under varying weather conditions. The Open Solar Outdoors Test Field (OSOFT) will use eIQ Energy's vBoost DC-to-DC converter modules, which the company says will allow researchers to isolate each module on the bus and identify specifc performance characteristics. Read more

PV racking and foundation solutions: German Krinner GmbH and Florida based TerraSmart form global alliance

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 15:50 (Solarserver)

TerraSmart (Fort Myers, Florida), a North American engineering designer and manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) racking and foundation solutions has announced a newly formed partnership with Krinner GmbH (Germany) to better serve the global marketplace. Krinner has been inventing, developing and manufacturing PV foundation products for decades. Terrasmart promotes their innovative technology provides high value solutions for less. Read more

ARISE announces 250kW PV system order and provides first quarter and PV cell production update

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 15:45 (Solarserver)

Solar technology producer ARISE Technologies Corporation (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), on May 17th, 2011 announced that its Systems Division has been awarded a contract to supply a 250kW photovoltaic (PV) rooftop solar system to a major condominium developer in Milton, Ontario. Read more

Siliken Canada Corporation opens 50MW solar module manufacturing facility in Windsor, Ontario

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 13:02 (Solarserver)

In accordance with the announcement on October 8th, 2010, the Siliken group of renewable energy companies confirms their commitment to deliver domestic content compliant modules for the Ontario solar photovoltaic (PV) market in the second quarter of 2011. Siliken?s new facility will be capable of manufacturing 50 megawatts (MW) of solar modules a year while employing approximately 150 people. Read more

Concentrating solar photovoltaics: Amonix completes ramp-up at North Las Vegas manufacturing facility

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 12:23 (Solarserver)

On May 17th, 2011, Amonix Inc. (Seal Beach, California, U.S.) announced the completion of the ramp-up of its 19,900 square meter concentrating solar photovoltaic (CPV) manufacturing facility in North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the factory, which will have an annual output of 150MW of CPV systems, was presided over by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other government officials. Read more

Suntech boosts solar module manufacturing in Arizona with 3rd shift, adds another 30 jobs

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 12:07 (Solarserver)

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (Wuxi, China), the world's largest producer of solar panels, has engaged a third production shift at its new solar photovoltaic (PV) panel manufacturing facility in Goodyear, Arizona. The expansion adds another 30 solar jobs to Arizona's fast-growing solar economy. Read more

SDG&E, Soitec Solar sign two more PPAs for another 125MW in CPV power plants

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 23:35 (PV-Tech)

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has signed two more 25-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with Soitec Solar Development, which, this time around, will total 125MW of solar energy produced in SDG&E?s service area. Just last month, the utility signed contracts with Soitec subsidiaries for three solar projects in the San Diego area that amounted to 30MW of solar PV energy. SDG&E stressed that the three previous contracts were separate contracts from those announced today. Read more

SDG&E, Soitec Solar sign two more PPA?s for another 125MW in CPV power plants

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 23:35 (PV-Tech)

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has signed two more 25-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with Soitec Solar Development, which, this time around, will total 125MW of solar energy produced in SDG&E?s service area. Just last month, the utility signed contracts with Soitec subsidiaries for three solar projects in the San Diego area that amounted to 30MW of solar PV energy. SDG&E stressed that the three previous contracts were separate contracts from those announced today. Read more

Solyndra CIGS PV panels to help power Qwest Field in Seattle

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 22:16 (PV-Tech)

The Qwest Field Event Center, home of the NFL?s Seattle Seahawks, is currently undergoing a ?green transformation? with the installation of a rooftop solar PV system. Considered the largest rooftop solar array in Washington to date, the Qwest Field installation will have 3,750 CIGS solar panels manufactured by Solyndra producing over 830,000kWh of solar electricity per year and offset 21% of the Event Center?s annual utility costs. Read more

Order Focus: GT Solar makes record-breaking polysilicon production equipment sale

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 18:42 (PV-Tech)

GT Solar International has received the largest order to date for its polysilicon production equipment from Korean firm OCI. The order, which totals US$228 million, will be incorporated into OCI?s new Phase 4 production facility and is being added to GT Solar?s Q1 FY12 backlog. Read more

Parabolic trough collectors market: Next generation models crank up the heat

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 16:55 (Renewable Energy World)

New designs, manufacturing techniques, and materials have reset the CSP parabolic trough collector playing field, according to CSP Today's 'CSP Parabolic Trough Report: Costs and Performance' . Read more

Lowe's, Sungevity form residential solar partnership

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 15:37 (Solarserver)

On May 16th, 2011, Sungevity Inc. (Oakland, California, U.S.) and Lowe's (Mooresville, North Carolina, U.S.) announced a partnership whereby Lowe's will provide installation quotes using Sungevity's iQuote system and information on solar leases for its customers. These services will be offered in the eight U.S. states where Sungevity operates: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. Read more

Bulgaria faces up to solar subsidy cut

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 13:39 (PV-Tech)

Bulgaria?s solar industry is facing the threat of stagnation, after the Government unveiled a new renewable energy bill that could cut industry subsidies by as much as 30%. The feed-in tariff (FiT) reductions were part of a wider set of cuts to the renewable sector, which have been introduced to help the country meet its EU 2020 targets. Read more

Trina Solar revenues slide 14.2% to USD 551 million in 1Q 2011; announces 130MW module sales agreement

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 12:29 (Solarserver)

On May 17th, 2011, Trina Solar Limited (Changzhou, China) announced financial results for the first quarter of 2011, reporting a 14.2% quarter-to-quarter decrease in revenues to USD 551 million and a 8.7% sequential decrease in shipments to 320MW. Read more

Qsolar files for patents on wafer manufacturing process, PV module design

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 12:12 (Solarserver)

On May 16th, 2011, Qsolar Limited (Calgary, Canada) announced that it has filed two international patent applications, covering the company's new Kruciwatt solar wafer manufacturing process and a solar photovoltaic (PV) module design. Read more

Proinso opens solar training school in the UK

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 12:06 (Solarpowerportal)

Spanish PV equipment distributor Proinso has launched a solar training school. Aimed at the 1,406 companies within its network of Qualified Installers around the world, Proinso has formed the Proinso Solar Training School in partnership with experienced solar training centres in Italy, Greece and the UK. Read more

Azur Solar extends installer training programme

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 10:53 (Solarpowerportal)

Since launching its PV InstallerConnexion training programme back in March this year, Azur Solar has extended the series due to popular demand. The multinational PV company has now added additional dates in order to meet the growing demand from PV businesses for qualified installers, electricians and tradesmen. Read more

Blue Sky Energy Supplies Solar Controller For Phone Project For Indigenous Communities in Australia

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 0:05 (Renewable Energy World)

Blue Sky Energy, Inc., a leading manufacturer of photovoltaic battery charge controllers has been selected to supply a custom version of its SB3024iL solar charge controller to Embedded Technologies of Preston Victoria as part of a series of satellite telephone systems being provided to the Australian Commonwealth by Activ8me also of Preston Victoria Australia. Read more

Amonix completes CPV manufacturing facility in Nevada

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 0:01 (PV-Tech)

North Las Vegas was filled with state and local officials who joined Amonix and its manufacturing services partner Flextronics at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Amonix?s new 214,000 square foot manufacturing facility. The manufacturing site, which utilizes electricity generated by an Amonix 7700 system, produces Amonix CPV solar power systems and employs over 300 local Nevada citizens in new management, technical and production jobs. Read more

Renewable Integration Still a Challenge for Utilities

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 23:48 (Renewable Energy World)

As the world continues to fight against the effects of climate change, renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, wave, biomass and others are often cited as the solution to help both curb carbon emissions and meet rising global demand for power. Read more

Government Subsidies Crucial to Develop Guatemala's Biodiesel Industry - Executive Says

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 17:29 (Renewable Energy World)

Guatemala must introduce a subsidies program to develop its biodiesel industry at a time when producing the cleaner fuel has become increasingly competitive and costly in the Central American country, a leading industry executive said. Read more

World's "Largest" Wood Pellet Plant to Feed REW Europe Power Plants

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 17:14 (Renewable Energy World)

A 750,000 biomass plant will begin shipping wood pellets to electricity plants in the Netherlands and the UK owned by RWE Innogy this summer, the German power group announced in a statement. Read more

Europe Leads Offshore Wind Market

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 17:43 (Renewable Energy World)

Even though the United States and China have taken serious steps to expand offshore wind farms, Europe leads this market segment today and is expected to do well into the next decade, according a new report from Pike Research. Read more

Ambitious Wind Power Development Plans for Central Spain

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 17:07 (Renewable Energy World)

Spain's Castille-La Mancha region is working to install 6,000 MW of wind parks by 2015 in hopes to take the lead in the country's booming wind-power market. The wind region in central Spain is hoping to launch a tender for 800 MW-1,000 MW imminently, which is expected to attract many of the firms already dominating the area including Energia Eolicas Europeas (EEE), owned by renewables major Iberdrola, Gamesa, Union Fenosa Renovales and Ecotecnia. Read more

NAES Corporation Showcases Its Wind Expertise at 2011 Wind Power Conference

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 1:39 (Renewable Energy World)

NAES Corporation will showcase its wind expertise at the 2011 Wind Power Conference & Exhibition being held May 22-25, 2011, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Read more

Grid Integration of Large Scale Renewables in the MENA Region

Wednesday, 5.18.2011 - 17:09 (Renewable Energy World)

In order to empower professionals in the MENA region to be able to cope with high volumes of renewable energy power in their electricity systems, the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC) was commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety to provide a new three years' program "Capacity Building on Integration of Large Amounts of Renewable Energies in the Electricity Grids in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia (ReGrid)". Read more