Bosch brings 150MW crystalline-silicon PV module production line to Vénissieux, France

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 22:39 (PV-Tech)

Bosch is taking its PV module production international by establishing a 150MW manufacturing facility for its crystalline-silicon solar modules in Vénissieux, France. Although the company did not disclose the full amount of its investment, it did reveal that the set-up of its production facility in Vénissieux is a ?low eight-figure amount?. Over 200 jobs will be secured once production starts in January 2012. Read more

MEMC?s SunEdison project pipeline stands at 1870MW

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 17:39 (PV-Tech)

SunEdison?s PV project pipeline has risen sharply since the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of 32% or 454MW, and now stands at 1,870MW, making the MEMC subsidiary a major player in the PV project developer market. SunEdison sales for the first quarter were US$158.1 million, compared to net sales of US$307.6 million in the 2010 fourth quarter. However, seasonal factors and the sale of large projects in the previous quarter exaggerated the fall in sales. In comparison, SunEdison sales in the first quarter of 2010 had been US$60.7 million. Read more

Conergy to make modules in Ontario

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 14:31 (PV-Tech)

With the home content rules for PV installations in place in Ontario, Canada a growing number of suppliers have been forced to manufacture products in the region for customers to obtain the feed-in tariffs. Although not mentioning its manufacturing partner, Conergy is the latest module manufacturer to establish production in Ontario Read more

The last of the ?old guard? has left Q-Cells

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 14:14 (PV-Tech)

Instrumental to Q-Cells? manufacturing rejuvenation, Gerhard Rauter, Chief Operation Officer (COO) at Q-Cells has resigned his position at the company, effective May 4th, 2011. As is the norm in such situations, Q-Cells did not give any reasons for his resignation, simply wishing him well for the future. Read more

Advanced Energy reports strong 1Q 2011 results, inverters selected for two major PV plants

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 13:10 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2011, Advanced Energy Industries Inc. (Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.) announced financial results for the first quarter of 2011, reporting sales of USD 138 million, including USD 37.6 million from its Renewables Business Unit. Also on May 2nd, 2011, the company announced that its inverters have been selected for both a 150MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the U.S. state of Arizona and a 35MW PV plant in California. Read more

Manufacturing Agreement: Conergy launches Conergy ON quality solar module in Ontario

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 10:00 (Renewable Energy World)

? 2-year module supply agreement ensures Conergy customers meet consumer demand ? Good build quality and energy production specifications promise long-term performance and yield ? Conergy ON is fully compliant with Ontario FIT and MicroFIT programs' local content requirements Read more

Utilities Gearing Up for Smart Grids

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 9:47 (Renewable Energy World)

It wasn't so long ago that we were wondering whether the term 'smart grid' should have a hyphen or not. Read more

Order Focus: Photowatt Ontario to provide 24MW of PV modules to global solar power provider

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 22:55 (PV-Tech)

Photowatt Ontario has entered an agreement, which will see it supply 24MW of its solar PV modules to a global supplier of solar power serving the Ontario solar market. Photowatt Ontario did not disclose the name of its customer, or the financial details of the supply deal, but did advise that the supply agreement is a two-year commitment between the two companies. Read more

DECK Monitoring, NREL come together to track performance of US solar PV projects

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 22:03 (PV-Tech)

DECK Monitoring and the US Department of Energy?s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have teamed up for NREL?s PV Data Acquisition (PVDAQ) project. The PVDAQ project intends to record and analyze the performance of various US-based solar PV projects. Data collected is made available to the public through NREL?s online database Read more

Solar FlexRacks Are Part of One of the Largest Solar Arrays in the State of Michigan

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 21:31 (Renewable Energy World)

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO ? The Solar FlexRack, the most innovative rack mounting system for photovoltaic cells, continues to be a popular choice for solar projects serving both residential and commercial energy needs. Read more

Applied Energy Technologies expands solar-mounting components production capacity in Ohio facility

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 20:55 (PV-Tech)

Applied Energy Technologies (AET) is further developing its solar-mounting solutions production with the opening of its new 43,100 square foot manufacturing and warehouse facility in Maumee, Ohio. The new facility includes a 41,600 square foot manufacturing and warehouse space, along with 1,500 square feet of office space and triples AET?s US production capacity. Read more

United Solar?s thin-film laminates chosen for rooftop PV installation at Chinese railway station

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 20:24 (PV-Tech)

United Solar Ovonic Jinneng, a joint venture of United Solar, revealed that it would supply Uni-Solar thin-film PV laminates for the 565kW rooftop solar installation at Tianjin West Railway Station in Tianjin, China.  The solar project holds an estimated 749MW of energy production per year. Read more

Colorado Legislature Cuts Permit Fees for Solar Installations

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 19:48 (Renewable Energy World)

Costs to install solar technology are set to decrease in Colorado under new legislation just passed by the state Senate yesterday. Known as the Fair Permit Act, this legislation HB-1199 prevents state and local government agencies from charging excessive permit fees and plan review fees to customers installing solar electric or solar thermal systems. Read more

Solar subsidies in Australia to end

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 18:26 (PV-Tech)

Citing a rise in electricity prices for consumers as the adoption of solar in Australia has blossomed the Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet has reduced the Solar Credits support multiplier from 1 July 2011 to three, and to two on 1 July 2012 and then be reduced to one on 1 July 2013, effectively ending the support program. Approximately 300MW has been installed since the Solar Credit support mechanism was introduced. Read more

How ASES is Innovating Conference Training - The Top 5 Reasons to Attend Solar and You! 2011

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 16:21 (Renewable Energy World)

There are a lot of in-depth training programs and a lot of solar conferences in this industry. But there's only one that combines the two: the Solar and You! training sessions at the ASES National Solar Conference. Read more

SunRun receives single largest U.S. Bancorp renewable energy tax equity commitment to date; Partnership for USD 200 million purchase in residential solar PV systems

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 16:09 (Solarserver)

SunRun (San Francisco, CA) on May 4th, 2011 announced it received an additional commitment of tax equity from a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp to support the purchase of $200 million in residential solar systems. This commitment is U.S. Bancorp's largest renewable energy tax equity fund to date, SunRun emphasizes in a press release. SunRun on own account installs over USD 1 million in residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems every day to meet demand for its solar power service. One in eight families who switched to solar in 2010 chose SunRun, the company states. Read more

Solar Topps unveils third-party PV sales programs

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 16:01 (Solarserver)

On May 3rd, 2011, Solar Topps LLC (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) unveiled its new Commercial Solar Reseller Program, which allows third-party sales organizations to sell solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and solar lease agreements to businesses. Solar Topps is marketing the program to a wide range of businesses, including those in the construction industry. Read more

PV technology: Magnolia Solar demonstrates ultra-high transmittance through nanostructure-coated glass

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 15:44 (Solarserver)

Magnolia Solar Corporation (Woburn, MA and Albany, NY) on May 4th, 2011 announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Magnolia Solar, Inc., has demonstrated ultra-high transmittance through glass employing a nanostructured antireflection coating. These exciting technical results were presented by Magnolia's Chief Technical Officer, Dr. Roger E. Welser, at the SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing Conference in Orlando, FL on April 26, 2011. Read more

Trina Solar strengthens presence in Australia

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 15:18 (PV-Tech)

Having been active in Australia since 2009, Trina Solar has strengthened its presence in Australia by opening a sales and business development office in Sydney. The PV manufacturer recently announced a collaboration on R&D with the Australian National University (ANU). The new office is said to be responsible for growing Trina?s customer base and develop new business opportunities in the region. Read more

China Sunergy modules receive MCS accreditation

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 14:11 (Solarpowerportal)

Specialised cell and module manufacturer China Sunergy has signalled its intent to establish itself in the UK solar industry by securing the UK government’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme accreditation. Read more

MEMC net sales fall 13% to USD 736 million in 1Q 2011; SunEdison project pipeline grows

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 13:00 (Solarserver)

On May 4th, 2011, MEMC Electronics Materials Inc. (St. Peters, Missouri, U.S.) announced financial results for the first quarter of 2011, including USD 326 million in net sales from its Solar Materials division and USD 158 million in GAAP net sales from SunEdison. The company reported total net sales of USD 736 million during the quarter, a 13% decrease from the fourth quarter of 2010. Read more

Applied Materials to buy Varian for USD 4.9 billion; acquisition has potential implications for Applied's solar business

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 12:42 (Solarserver)

On May 4th, 2011, Applied Materials Inc. (Santa Clara, California, U.S.) announced that it will acquire Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates Inc. (Gloucester, Massachusetts, U.S.) for USD 4.9 billion, as detailed in a merger agreement signed by the two companies. While Applied states that this move will primarily enhance its position in wafer fabrication for integrated circuit manufacturing by adding ion implantation capabilities, the company notes that the acquisition has potential implications for its solar business as well. Read more

NREL Adds Giant Wind Turbine to Research Site

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 11:30 (Renewable Energy World)

Blades longer than a basketball court, a tower the length of a football field, the 3-megawatt Eco 100 is the latest ? and largest ? wind turbine behemoth erected at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) near Boulder, Colo. Read more

China's Hebei Province Aims To Boost Renewable Energy Development

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 19:30 (Renewable Energy World)

Hebei province proposed in its Twelfth Five-Year Plan, which spans 2011-2015, increasing the portion that renewable energy contributes to final energy consumption -- including electricity, heat and fuel -- from 2.6 percent to more than 5 percent, in a move to boost the development of the new energy sector. Read more

Atlantic Green Power, Invenergy to develop up to 18MW of PV in New Jersey

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 15:53 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2011, Atlantic Green Power Holding Company (West Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.) announced that it has entered into a project agreement with Invenergy Solar Development LLC to develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) project up to 18MW in size in New Jersey. Atlantic Green Power states that the project has an advanced queue position with regional transmission organization PJM Interconnection LLC (Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.). Read more

MIT Showcases New Way of Turning Sun's Heat into Electricity

Thursday, 5.5.2011 - 12:00 (Renewable Energy World)

MIT researchers and their collaborators have come up with an unusual, high performance and possibly less expensive way of turning the sun's heat into electricity. Read more