Fraunhofer ISE targets efficiency losses from the cell to the module to only 2.5 %

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 19:03 (PV-Tech)

A new Photovoltaic Module Technology Center (MTC) in Freiburg, operated by Fraunhofer ISE is making an ambitious goal of reducing efficiency losses from the cell to the module to only 2.5 %. Typically, losses from conventional modules lie about 10-15 % below cell efficiencies, according to ISE. However, extensive work already carried at ISE had demonstrated losses can be reduced to a mere 5%. Read more

Fraunhofer ISE targets efficiency losses from the cell to the module to only 2.5%

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 19:03 (PV-Tech)

A new Photovoltaic Module Technology Center (MTC) in Freiburg, operated by Fraunhofer ISE, has an ambitious goal of reducing efficiency losses from the cell to the module to only 2.5%. Typically, losses from conventional modules result in efficiencies about 10-15% below those achieved at the cell level, according to ISE. However, extensive work already carried out at the institute has demonstrated losses can be reduced to a mere 5%. Read more

Dyesol to continue dye solar cell R&D in Japan

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 18:07 (PV-Tech)

Adding to operating R&D collaborations in other regions of the world, dye-sensitized solar cell start-up Dyesol has been awarded grant support by the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) for the establishment of an R&D facility in Japan. The company said that it intends to establish a materials integration centre in Japan by July, with the facilities fully operational by late 2012. Read more

Moser Baer reported to have temporarily closed solar cell production plant

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 16:44 (PV-Tech)

A report from Bloomberg says that Moser Baer has recently closed a solar cell manufacturing plant to carry-out upgrades that would result in higher cell efficiencies. Moser Baer was said to have confirmed the temporary shutdown but had declined to say when the upgrades would be completed and production restored. Read more

REC to reduce production of wafers, solar cells and PV modules in Norway as a response to solar market conditions

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 16:11 (Solarserver)

Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC, Sandvika, Norway) intends to reduce production of wafers, cells and modules, from July 1st 2011, as a response to the current market conditions, the company reports in a press release. REC will initiate a process with the trade unions, with the intention to halt production at the oldest wafer plants at Herøya, Norway, and at the solar cell plant in Narvik, Norway. Further, REC-branded modules will not be manufactured under contract by third parties in the third quarter. Read more

Suntech reiterates 2011 shipment target of 2.2GW

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 12:04 (PV-Tech)

There were no obvious surprises in Suntech?s first quarter financial results. Total net revenues were US$877.0 million, a decline of 7.2%, while shipments were only down 3.1% sequentially, but increased 62.9% year-over-year. In line with other major PV module manufacturers, Suntech noted the weak demand scenario in Italy due to the FiT review and overall challenging environment and pricing pressure. Suntech reiterated that it expected to ship 2.2GW of modules in 2011, but due to pricing pressure, the top-end of its revenue guidance was reduced by US$100 million to a range of US$3.3 billion to US$3.5 billion. Read more

IMS Research: PV module inventories reach all-time high at over 10GW globally

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 11:57 (Solarserver)

On May 24th, 2011, IMS Research (Wellingborough, U.K.) announced that global solar photovoltaic (PV) module inventory levels have reached over 10GW in the second quarter of 2011, the highest amount recorded to date. The company also notes that high inventory levels and lower incentive levels in the largest European markets have contributed to a rapid price decrease during the quarter, as detailed in the company's quarterly PV cell and module report. Read more

PV producer China Sunergy reports 58.9% increase in revenues over 1Q 2010

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 11:49 (Solarserver)

On May 23rd, 2011, China Sunergy Company, Ltd. (Nanjing, China) announced financial results for the first quarter of 2011, reporting a 2.3% decrease in quarter-to-quarter revenues to USD 166 million, which represents a 58.9% increase over the first quarter of 2010. However, the company notes that it is difficult to compare its results to previous quarters, as it acquired two solar photovoltaic (PV) module companies in the fourth quarter of 2010, and has shifted its business from primarily producing PV cells to modules. Read more

Virgin Islands: Water and Power Authority issues Request for Proposal for 10MW of PV capacity

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 11:32 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Virgin Island Water and Power Authority is soliciting proposals for its procurement of electric energy and generated from commercially proven photovoltaic (PV) generation facilities. The solicitation seeks responses from technically and financially qualified independent producers or other companies from which the Authority intends to select one respondent(s) to negotiate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The facilities will be installed, owned and operated by the respondent that best fits the Authority's needs. Read more

IKEA reveals plans to install just over 5MW of solar installations on six Eastern US stores

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 23:00 (PV-Tech)

IKEA?s mission to minimize its impact on the global environment continues with the announcement of six more solar installations to take place on its locations in the Eastern US. Since the beginning of this year, the home design giant has completed a 498kW solar system at its Denver store and a 200kW installation at its Brooklyn facility, while also announcing plans for two solar systems to be installed at store locations in Germany. Read more

SolarWorld commences shipment of its modules to 33MW solar project in Ontario

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 22:17 (PV-Tech)

SolarWorld has begun to ship its modules to the 33MW Stardale PV Solar Project site in Ontario, Canada. The solar project will be installed across 300-acres of land in East-Hawkesbury and use about 144,060 solar panels to generate 39GWh of solar electricity per year. The Stardale project is the first solar electric power project from Innergex, which bought the project from Enfinity in April. The CAN$140 million project began construction in November 2010 and should be completed by the first quarter of 2012. Read more

Schneider Electric's solar solutions to be presented at Intersolar Europe 2011

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 20:48 (Renewable Energy World)

Schneider Electric Renewable Energies Business will have a significant presence at Intersolar Europe 2011, the largest business-to-business solar event in Europe. Along with displays of complete solar solutions and a competitive line of products, Schneider Electric's team of experts will be on hand in Hall B4, Booth 270 to discuss how to make the most of your energy. Read more

United Solar opens new 15 MW PV manufacturing facility in Ontario, Canada

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 16:20 (Solarserver)

United Solar (Auburn Hills, Mich.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD), a global leader in flexible, lightweight solar photovoltaic (PV) products and systems, hosted a grand opening ceremony on May, 24th, 2011 at its new manufacturing facility in LaSalle (Ontario, Canada). With this project, United Solar is deploying USD 8 million of capital equipment and investing an additional USD 4 million in facilities improvement and equipment relocation for a total investment at the LaSalle plant of USD 12 million. Read more

Magnolia Solar receives NASA award to develop high-performance thin-film solar PV cells

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 16:16 (Solarserver)

Magnolia Solar Corporation (Wobrun, MA and Albay, NY) on May 24th, 2011 announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Magnolia Solar, Inc., has received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Read more

Luton Council invites submissions for upcoming solar scheme

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 15:28 (Solarpowerportal)

Luton Borough Council has committed to a third party funded solar electricity scheme which will see the installation of solar panels on a number of social housing properties across the town. Read more

M+W solar portfolio passes 10GW mark

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 14:42 (PV-Tech)

M+W Group has taken its PV portfolio past the 10GW mark by signing a contract to build a new 1GW solar cell plant in Asia. By reaching this milestone, M+W is further consolidating its position as a market leading provider of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for silicon and thin-film cell and module production facilities. Read more

Concentrating Solar Power: Torresol commissions world's first commercial-scale central tower CSP plant with molten salt thermal storage

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 12:06 (Solarserver)

On May 24th, 2011, Torresol Energy Investments S.A. (Getxo, Spain), a joint venture between Masdar (Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.) and Grupo SENER (Getxo, Spain) announced the commissioning of the 19.9MW Gemasolar Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in Seville, Spain. Torresol states that Gemasolar is the world's first commercial-scale CSP plant featuring a central tower receiver with full thermal storage capabilities. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne reports 3.9% increase in revenues over 4Q 2010 to USD 335 million; share of PV module shipments to Germany increased

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 11:40 (Solarserver)

In its unaudited quarterly results released on May 24th, 2011, Hanwha SolarOne Company, Ltd. (Shanghai, China) beats an industry-wide trend of declining revenues, reporting a 3.9% quarter-to-quarter revenue increase to USD 335 million. The company also reported a 13.6% increase in PV module shipments to 248MW during the quarter, as well as a 11.6% operating margin. Read more

Japanese billionaire touted to kick-start solar power plants in tsunami-hit areas

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 11:28 (PV-Tech)

Japan?s richest man, Masayoshi Son, the CEO of Japanese telecom company, Softbank wants to kick-start large solar power plants in tsunami-hit areas of eastern Japan, according to reports. Said to be an advocate of shifting Japan away from nuclear energy towards greater dependence on renewable forms of energy, Son wants to provide approximately 10% of the funding for 10 projects, supported by local governments and banks. Read more

Poole Housing Partnership solar scheme is underway

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 11:25 (Solarpowerportal)

The first stage of the Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) solar program is now underway, with 55 panels now fitted on top of a block of council-owned maisonettes. Manufactured by Romag and installed by local firm Save Energy, the panels will help Poole residents to save money on their annual electricity bills as well as cutting the town’s carbon emissions. Read more

Applied Materials? solar net sales set records in Q2, new orders exceed US$3 billion

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 1:24 (PV-Tech)

Applied Materials is set to be pleased with its second quarter 2011 financial results. The company saw orders and sales grow from Q1 2011 with their net sales exceeding the company?s earlier guidance. Orders for Q2 totaled US$3.19 billion while net sales reached US$2.86 billion, a 25% year-over-year improvement. Gross Margin took a slight hit by falling 0.8 points from Q1 2011 to 41.5% in the second quarter. The company advised that without the acquisition cost it sustained in Q2 2011, the gross margin would have been 41.9%. Read more

Torresol commissions 19MW Gemasolar CSP plant with central tower and thermal storage capabilities

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 0:08 (PV-Tech)

Masdar and Sener?s joint venture, Torresol Energy, has commissioned its 19.9MW commercial-scale Gemasolar concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Seville, Spain. The CSP plant features a central tower receiver and thermal storage capabilities, which have begun supplying 25,000 homes in the Andalucía region of Spain with solar energy. Read more

NMCC's Wind Power Technology Program receives donations from three German companies

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 15:27 (Renewable Energy World)

The wind power technology program at Northern Maine Community College has attracted international attention resulting in $28,000 worth of tool and equipment donations from three German companies. That announcement made on May 24 at the American Wind Energy Association WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition in Anaheim, California. Read more

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says that U.S. will lead energy revolution at visit to NREL

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 16:08 (Solarserver)

America, with its entrepreneurial spirit and innovative national labs, will lead the global clean-energy revolution and reap the economic and environmental benefits that go with it, Vice President Joe Biden vowed in a visit last week to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Read more

The Dangers of Energy Generation

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It was a bit astounding. Somehow, despite the massive tsunami that hit Japan's Kamisu offshore wind farm 11 March 2011, its seven turbines emerged intact. While the crushing wave wrecked almost everything in its path, the turbines stood tall and continued to generate power. Meanwhile, the world watched nervously as workers struggled to prevent a catastrophic meltdown at Japan's Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant, site of explosions and radiation leaks. Despite its redundant safety systems and sturdy cement and steel layering, the nuclear plant's systems ultimatley failed. Yet the wind farm, exposed and buffeted by the earthquake's full force and the subsequent tsunami, survived. Read more

Vince Cable publishes GIB progress report

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 13:42 (Solarpowerportal)

Following on from Monday’s Green Investment Bank (GIB) announcement, Business Secretary Vince Cable has now revealed some of the finer details. In his progress report, Cable reveals more about how the bank will be governed, and what the business model will look like. Read more

DECC cuts Carbon Trust funding

Wednesday, 5.25.2011 - 12:57 (Solarpowerportal)

The UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has confirmed that both the Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust will no longer receive core Government funding. This news comes after the coalition revealed its deficit reduction program, but again works against the promise to become the ‘greenest Government ever’. Read more