OPIC to lend USD 123 million to fund 40 MW of PV plants in Peru

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 21:47 (Solarserver)

On June 2nd, 2011, the Board of Directors of the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) approved USD 123 million in financing for the construction of two 20 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Peru. If built, these plants will be the first large-scale PV plants in Peru, and are larger than any currently in operation in Latin America. Read more

Silfab and ISC Konstanz introduce "Zebra" cells with over 19% efficiency

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 21:47 (Solarserver)

On June 7th, 2011, Silfab SpA (Padova, Italy) and the International Solar Energy Research Center (ISC) Konstanz e.V. (Konstanz, Germany) announced that they have achieved a conversion efficiency greater than 19% on large area solar photovoltaic (PV) cells using a low cost industrial process. Silfab and ISC Konstanz state that their "Zebra" back-contact monocrystalline silicon PV cells have the potential to exceed 22% conversion efficiency. Silfab also states that it will implement a cell manufacturing pilot line using the technology by the end of 2011. Read more

Belectric and Smart Energy Capital form JV to develop utility scale PV plants

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 16:04 (Solarserver)

On June 7th, 2011, Belectric Inc. (Newark, California, U.S.) and Smart Energy Capital LLC (White Plains, New York, U.S.) announced that they have formed a joint venture to develop and finance utility scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in the United States. The announcement follows the two companies' collaboration on the recent sale of a 30 MW Belectric project to Constellation Energy Inc. (Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.). Read more

SunPower unveils its 20+% efficient E20 PV module

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 14:13 (Solarserver)

On June 8th, 2011, SunPower Corporation (San Jose, California, U.S.) launched a new series of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules which it says offer total area conversion efficiencies greater than 20%. SunPower's new E20 PV modules feature the company's Maxeon cell technology, which SunPower says enables efficiencies of 22.4% at the cell level, a world record for commercially available mass-produced PV cells. Read more

UK feed-in tariff slashed for systems over 50kW

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 11:15 (PV-Tech)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has today crushed hopes that the UK?s solar industry would have a large-scale future. After weeks of anticipation, the country?s Government has revealed that it plans to go ahead with proposed tariffs, which decrease large-scale incentives down to 8.5p per kilowatt hour. The fast-track review, which the UK Government has been consulting on since new tariff rates were proposed on May 6, looked at reducing the tariffs for PV systems over 50kW in order to protect the money available for small-scale projects. Read more

DECC confirms new feed-in tariff rates

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 11:10 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has today crushed hopes that the UK’s solar industry would have a large-scale future. After weeks of anticipation, Government has revealed that it plans to go ahead with the proposed tariffs, which chop large-scale funding down to 8.5p per kilowatt hour. Read more

Proinso lands 2MW contract for solar project in India

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 23:52 (PV-Tech)

Spanish-based firm Proinso will be supplying its solar products for a 2MW solar project in Maharashtra, India. This is the first contract the country has seized in India and plans to deliver its goods throughout the year. The company additionally announced that it is negotiating the delivery of other solar projects in India, which are being developed by both Indian and European solar developers, which amount to over 20MW. Read more

Intersolar EU: TE Connectivity launches Solarlok automated junction box

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 23:25 (PV-Tech)

TE Connectivity revealed its first thin-film solar module product at Intersolar Europe in the form of its Solarlok automated junction box. The 2-rail junction box is suited for automated mass production, which the company said would contribute to lower costs and shorter assembly times for module manufactures. TE Connectivity advised that it recognized that not all manufacturers are capable of a fully automated production and highlighted the Solarlok?s ability to be assembled manually as well. Read more

Intersolar EU:Sunways exhibits technology advancements, reveals private consumption storage solution

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 22:39 (PV-Tech)

This week during Intersolar Europe, Sunways has been demonstrating its latest technology advancements including its Eco-Line solar modules, roof solutions and new storage technology for private consumption. The company began by presenting its high-efficiency solar cells with P3 technology, which Sunways states holds an 18% efficiency rating. Read more

Solar Patents Shine in 2010-Shine on Solar edition of CEPGI

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 20:45 (Renewable Energy World)

The Cleantech Group at Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C. today published the Shine-On Solar edition of the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI). The Shine On Solar edition provides an indication of the trends in innovative activity in the Solar energy sector including leading solar patent owners and geographic areas. Read more

Intersolar EU: Masdar PV begins installation of full size modules

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 17:21 (PV-Tech)

Masdar PV will for the first time supply its full size thin-film photovoltaic modules for three 1MW solar parks to be built in Slovakia. The modules, which are almost 6m2, will be installed by Hungarian company Raabvill Kft. which has signed a contract with Masdar to supply a total of 6MW of the silicon-based thin-film PV modules. The first tranche is expected to be online in June 2011, while the remaining modules will be installed later that summer. Read more

High Court grants solar firms permission to proceed with case against DECC

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 16:57 (Solarpowerportal)

A group of solar companies thwarted by the Department of Energy & Climate Change’s (DECC) decision to cut the feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaics installations over 50kW has been granted permission to proceed with its legal case. A High Court judge has ruled that the group of solar developers seeking a judicial review against Government can now advance with its case against Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne. Read more

Bosch Solar Energy installs 5MW project near Newquay

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 16:36 (Solarpowerportal)

Work is underway at what is expected to be one of the only large-scale solar parks in the UK. Designed, developed and maintained by Bosch Solar Energy, the 5MW project under construction in Trefullock, near Newquay, is expected to be connected to the grid this July. Read more

Intersolar EU: Bosch Solar Energy reveals 5MW project in southern England

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 16:26 (PV-Tech)

Bosch Solar Energy has begun construction of what will be one of the largest solar projects in the UK. Located in Trefullock, southern England, the 5MW park is expected to be connected to the grid this July. Read more

Intersolar EU: Winners of the prestigious Intersolar AWARD are revealed

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 15:51 (PV-Tech)

As the first day of Intersolar Europe 2011 came to a close, the winners of the Intersolar AWARD were announced in Munich. Under the categories of Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technology and PV Production Technology, prizes were presented to three companies in each category. Read more

Activ Solar commissions 20 MW PV plant in Ukraine, largest in Eastern Europe

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 14:10 (Solarserver)

On June 6th, 2011, Activ Solar GmbH (Vienna, Austria) announced the commissioning of a 20 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Ohotnikovo, Crimea, Ukraine. The company states that the Omao Solar plant is the first phase of what will be one of the largest solar projects in the world. The plant is already the largest operational PV plant in both Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Read more

Power-One introduces new inverters at Intersolar Europe

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 14:06 (Solarserver)

On June 7th, 2011, Power-One Inc. (Camarillo, California, U.S.) unveiled four new inverters at the Intersolar Europe trade show in Munich, including a microinverter and an inverter with a power output of up to 1.4 MW. The new inverters include the Aurora Ultra-1400 central inverter, the company's largest inverter for renewable energy applications, the Aurora Micro-0.3 micro-inverter, the Aurora Uno-2.0 and 2.5 single-phase inverters and the Aurora Trio-27.6 and 20.9 three-phase string inverters. Read more

ESTIF: European solar thermal markets decline for second year in 2010

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 14:04 (Solarserver)

On June 8th, 2011, the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF, Brussels, Belgium) released 2010 market statistics for the 27 EU member states and Switzerland, noting a decrease in overall installations to 3.69 million square meters. The organization reports that the German market, Europe's largest, dropped nearly 29% in 2010 to a total of 1.15 million square meters of installations. Read more

Intersolar EU: SolarEdge signs business agreement with SolConTec International

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 13:43 (PV-Tech)

SolarEdge Technologies and SolConTec International have signed a business partnership for the distribution, system design and installation of SolarEdge performance optimizers and PV inverters. SolConTec is expected to roll out the technology across Germany, Italy and Greece. Read more

Intersolar EU: National Semiconductor demonstrates new arc detection chipset

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 10:45 (PV-Tech)

National Semiconductor has introduced its SolarMagic arc detection reference design, comprised of analog front-end integrated circuits (ICs) and multi-band dynamic filtering firmware, at Intersolar Europe 2011. According to the company, this is the first commercially-available chipset to detect hazardous DC arc faults in photovoltaic systems. Read more

Intersolar EU: Tianwei New Energy gains TÜV Rheinland certification

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 10:29 (PV-Tech)

Tianwei New Energy has successfully passed the TÜV Rheinland independent certification process, shortly after obtaining the TÜV Southern Germany independent authentication certificate. The company?s monocrystalline modules range from 85W to 310W, while the polycrystalline modules range from 170W to 305W. Read more

Intersolar EU: Yingli Green Energy scores sponsorship of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 10:03 (PV-Tech)

Utilizing the globe?s most popular sport to increase the visibility of photovoltaics worldwide, Yingli Green Energy has become an official sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The contract follows on from the company?s marked success as supporter of the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. Thierry Weil, FIFA?s marketing director said, ?We could not have organized the FIFA World Cup on the scale that we saw in 2010 without the support of sponsors such as Yingli Solar.? Read more

Money That Dare Not Speak Its Name

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The citizens and politicians of British Columbia are currently having an astonishing debate. Instead of fighting over which program to cut or which teachers to fire, they are actually discussing different ways to spend money. While most of their compatriots south of the border are digging for loose coins between couch cushions and pawning anything that isn't nailed down, elected officials in BC are discussing guidelines on the equitable distribution of monies. And where did they get this windfall? A hidden oil field? A scratch ticket? Leprechauns? No, no and no. Read more

National Hydropower Association Releases "Guideposts" for Pacific Northwest Power Dispute, Future Planning

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 17:19 (Renewable Energy World)

The National Hydropower Association today released a set of "guideposts" for consideration by federal and state policymakers, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and other parties to the current debate over electrical generation and transmission in the Pacific Northwest. Read more

U.S. Senator Udall introduces bill to reduce U.S. military's use of fossil fuels

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 21:47 (Solarserver)

On June 8th, 2011, U.S. Senator Mark Udall (D-Colorado) announced legislation aimed to help the U.S. military reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by assisting the Defense Department in expanding existing renewable energy studies and pilot programs. The Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2011 was developed in partnership with the office of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona). Read more

UK solar companies proceed with legal case against Department of Energy & Climate Change

Thursday, 6.9.2011 - 17:07 (PV-Tech)

A group of solar companies disappointed by the UK?s Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) decision to cut the feed-in tariff for solar PV installations over 50kW has been granted permission to proceed with its legal case. A High Court judge has ruled that the group of solar developers seeking a judicial review against Government can now advance with its case against Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne. Read more