Conergy completes largest PV plant in the U.K.

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 20:19 (Solarserver)

On July 13th, 2011, the Conergy Group (Hamburg, Germany) announced that it has completed a 5MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Hawton, U.K., only six weeks after receiving planning consent. Utilizing 21,600 Conergy PowerPlus PV modules and covering 14.6 hectares, the Hawton PV plant is the largest PV plant in the United Kingdom. Read more

ReneSola begins shipments of Virtus wafers, modules, reduces 2Q 2011 guidance

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 19:56 (Solarserver)

On July 13th, 2011, ReneSola Ltd. (Jiashan, China) announced that it began shipments of its high-efficiency Virtus wafer and Virtus solar photovoltaic (PV) modules in June 2011. The company reports that it has shipped a total of 54.8MW of the Virtus wafers and 20MW of Virtus modules to its customers in Europe. On July 12th, 2011, ReneSola announced that it has revised its second quarter 2011 guidance, reducing its estimated revenues by USD 50 million to USD 235 to 245 million. The company estimates that it shipped 290 to 300MW of PV modules during the quarter, as opposed to its guidance of 330 to 350MW. Read more

centrotherm SiTec offering diamond wire saw technology

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 14:11 (PV-Tech)

Boosting its ever growing product portfolio, centrotherm photovoltaics subsidiary, centrotherm SiTec is now providing diamond wire-based saw technology for ingot squaring and brick cropping. The company claims that the annual sales potential for the two new equipment systems amounts to double-digit millions of euros. Read more

Amtech?s quarterly revenue reaches new record

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 13:47 (PV-Tech)

Preliminary third quarter financial year results for equipment supplier, Amtech have reach record levels of approximately US$70 million, a 14% increase over the preceding quarter and 62% increase over the third quarter of fiscal 2010. This is also the fifth consecutive quarter of record revenues Amtech has achieved. Amtech claims a 40% market share of the solar cell diffusion market. Read more

Suniva adds module capacity to US facility

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 13:32 (PV-Tech)

Monocrystalline silicon solar cell specialist, Suniva is adding 25-30MW of module production to its Norcross, Georgia plant, which already has a capacity of 170MW for its ?ARTisun Select? solar cells. The expansion is scheduled to be completed in late August and operational in September, 2011, according to the company. Read more

SolFocus announces new CPV system that leverages proven panel technology, optimizes installation for large-scale deployments

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 13:02 (Solarserver)

SolFocus (San Jose, Calif.) on July 11th, 2011 announced its latest Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) solution - the SF-1136SX. The new SolFocus CPV array produces more power and also reduces field assembly time by over 50%, allowing for extremely rapid installation at much lower cost, the company emphasizes. Read more

KYOCERA to participate in Japan-U.S. smart-grid collaborative demonstration project; provides 1MW of solar modules & related technologies for New Mexico-based project

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 12:50 (Solarserver)

Kyocera Corporation (Kyoto, Japan) announced that it has been selected to participate in a smart-grid demonstration project in New Mexico (U.S.A.) which is being undertaken by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan. Read more

PowerGuard unveils new PV insurance product including performance guarantee

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 6:55 (Solarserver)

On July 7th, 2011, PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services (Irvine, California, U.S.) announced the availability of a new insurance product which guarantees the output of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The company states that its PowerWrap Solar Project Performance Guarantee Policy was designed to provide a financial backstop for the design and installation of PV systems, as well as warranties for system hardware and contractually increased costs and liquidated damages. Read more

Taiwanese solar industry organizes seminar at Intersolar North America; World's 2nd largest solar cell maker announces a whole new green future

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 6:55 (Solarserver)

Huge solar business opportunities wait in Taiwan with its position as the world's 2nd largest solar cell maker. Great prospects blossom on July 13th with the Taiwan-organized seminar "The Taiwan Solar Energy Industry Outlook & Renewable Energy Business Alliance Seminar" at the show venue of InterSolar North America at the Moscone Convention Center. Read more

Smart Grid Challenges in Three Key Markets

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 1:44 (Renewable Energy World)

  Investment in smart grid technology is necessary to promote growth, but even more so, it will determine which countries are best able to take advantage of emerging energy sources over the next two decades. Smart grid investment is already big money, says Ricardo Berrios, Director of Clean Tech at the California - Spain Chamber of Commerce. And, he says, it promises to get much bigger even in the next few years. Berrios pointed to a few key factors that will boost smart grid investment and technology in the short term during a presentation at Intersolar North America. Analytics, he said, will give the data that will increase understanding. Standards consolidation will Read more

P2 Solar signs USD 76.5 million PV project in Bulgaria

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 20:32 (Solarserver)

P2 Solar, Inc. (Surrey, British Columbia) on July 12th, 2011 announced that it has executed an option agreement to develop a 7.3 megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) power farm with a 20 year gross revenue of USD 76.5 million. The shovel ready project is located in south-western Bulgaria near the Greek border and has land secured, all required permits are in place and a 20 year government Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), is signed, P2 Solar reports in a press release. Read more

Yingli Green Energy marks significant growth in U.S. solar PV market; Module sales in North America top 250MW

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 20:12 (Solarserver)

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (Baoding, China) on July 13th, 2011 announced at Intersolar North America, that its U.S. subsidiary, Yingli Green Energy Americas, Inc. has reached several significant business and product development milestones. Read more

Solar Frontier begins shipping 150 watt PV modules from Kunitomi PV plant

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 20:03 (Solarserver)

On July 13th, 2011, Solar Frontier K.K. (Tokyo, Japan) announced that it has begun shipping 150 watt copper indium selenium (CIS) solar photovoltaic (PV) modules from its Kunitomi Plant in Japan. The company also announced that it expects TÜV and UL certification for its 155 watt PV modules in the coming weeks. Read more

Thin film PV: United Solar reaches world record 16.3% efficiency with nano-crystalline technology

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 19:48 (Solarserver)

United Solar (Auburn Hills, Mich.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. and a global manufacturer of light-weight, flexible thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, on July 12th, 2011 announced that it has achieved a world record efficiency of 16.3% for thin-film silicon solar technology. This achievement is higher than the previous record of 15.4%, also reached by United Solar. Read more

Intersolar NA: Skyline Solar garners three new CPV-related patents

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 18:40 (PV-Tech)

Skyline Solar has announced the news that it has been awarded with three new patents in relation to its scalable CPV technology, two of which were awarded through the US Patent and Trademark Office?s (USPTO) Green Technology Pilot Program. The patents take the total number of CPV-related patents to seven for the company, and include 108 specific claims regarding BOS system and LCOE cost reduction innovations. Read more

Intersolar NA: Uni-Solar gains initial thin-film silicon cell efficiency of 16.3%

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 17:24 (PV-Tech)

United Solar (Uni-Solar) has announced that it has achieved a new cell efficiency world record of 16.3% for thin-film silicon solar technology, beating the company?s previous record of 15.4%. This initial efficiency figure was achieved on a small-area (0.25cm2) cell using a triple-junction structure, and used the company?s new Nano-Crystalline silicon technology. Independent testing of the cell will be carried out by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Read more

Conergy completes Great Britain's largest free-field solar park

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 17:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The Conergy Group has completed Great Britain's largest solar power plant. The 5 MW free-field park is situated in Hawton, near Newark on Trent in Nottinghamshire. The "fast-track" project was built in cooperation with Conergy's local partner Lark Energy and was completed only six weeks after receiving the planning consent on the May 24, 2011. Read more

Air Products switches on solar system at company headquarters

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 16:54 (PV-Tech)

Air Products has connected the newly-completed 2MW solar system at its worldwide headquarters in Allentown, Pennsylvania to the grid. Read more

SAT, Soventix to build world?s largest rooftop system at Ontario distillery

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 16:14 (PV-Tech)

Solar & AlternativeTechnology (SAT) has joined forces with Soventix Canada to build one of the world?s largest rooftop solar arrays at the Hiram Walker & Sons distillery in Ontario. The 7.9MW system, which is eligible for the province?s feed-in tariff, covers 26 hectares and will offset 20% of the site?s energy consumption. Read more

Intersolar NA: EuPD Research?s Joint Forces for Solar event unites industry?s key stakeholders

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 15:38 (PV-Tech)

The Joint Forces for Solar initiative, organised by EuPD Research and Intersolar, saw its third US outing yesterday with the presentation of the ?3rd US PV Briefing & Networking Forum?. As was the case with Intersolar Europe in Munich in early June, the forum drew large crowds of interested parties to the Innovation Exchange Area of the Moscone Center in San Francisco, where industry experts discussed the future of photovoltaics, with a special focus on California, and networking opportunities enabled discussions among the industry?s key stakeholders. Read more

Anatomy of a Solar PV System: How to Continue "Ferocious Cost Reductions" for Solar Electricity

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Clean energy professionals often complain that solar PV receives too much attention compared to other sectors like solar hot water, geothermal and biomass. I'm sympathetic to that sentiment. But I also think the attention is deserved. Read more

Intersolar NA: Jeffries sees no real market demand pickup as price declines continue

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 14:52 (PV-Tech)

Equity analyst, Jesse Pichel at investment bank, Jeffries believes there is little sign of growing PV demand after attending the first day of Intersolar North America. In a research note to investors, Pichel cites weaker than expected market demand in the US, due to PV project developers and residential consumers await PV prices to bottom. Read more

Conergy completes record-breaking UK solar park

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 14:33 (Solarpowerportal)

Just seven weeks after being granted planning permission, Conergy Group has finished installing the UK’s largest solar plant. The 5MW free-field system is located in the parish of Hawton near Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire and will feed back 4,860 MWh of electricity into the national grid. Read more

LDK Solar signs module supply contracts with Chinese companies

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 13:54 (PV-Tech)

LDK Solar has signed module supply contracts with two major electric power companies in China. The first contract is worth 30MW and will be shipped to an unnamed firm in the Qinghai province in August of 2011, while the second, totalling 5MW, will be delivered in the first half of 2012 to a company in the Jilin province. Read more

Suntech doubles warranty period for solar panels

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 13:00 (PV-Tech)

Suntech Power has extended the limited warranty for it solar panels from five to 10 years. The new warranty covers defects concerning materials and workmanship and is applicable for all standard panels shipped out after April 1. Read more

Conergy completes record-breaking UK solar park

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 12:38 (PV-Tech)

Conergy Group has finished work on the UK?s largest solar power park. The 5MW free-field system took just six weeks to complete and is located in the tiny parish of Hawton in Nottinghamshire. Read more

SolarCity expands to Hawai?i, introduces affordable new solar options for homeowners, businesses

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 6:55 (Solarserver)

Hawai?i homeowners and businesses, who pay some of the highest electricity rates in the U.S., can now pay less for solar electricity than they currently pay for electricity from the utility grid. SolarCity Corporation (San Mateo, California, U.S.), Hawai?i?s first full service solar power provider, is now offering one of the most affordable residential solar options on O?ahu, allowing some homeowners to adopt solar for as little as USD 60 per month, the company emphasizes. Read more

Highlights from World Biofuels Markets 2011

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 15:55 (Renewable Energy World)

Take a look at highlights from this year's World Biofuels Markets. Featuring key speaker interviews and presentations from Foundation of Strategic Thinking, BP Biofuels, Codexis, Greenergy and more. Read more

A Second Wave of Interest In U.S. Offshore Wind

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 23:32 (Renewable Energy World)

While offshore wind power is a reality across much of the world, U.S. developments are in a race of sorts to see which project will be the first to hit the water in what could become one of the globe's hottest markets. Read more

Wind turbine manufacturing industry building on a 'global localised' market

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 19:52 (Renewable Energy World)

While some leading OEM's are opening production facilities in China and Vietnam, tier one manufacturers are making a significant step towards producing their components in the fast industrialised nations of China, India and Brazil. This step change in the turbine manufacturing landscape is resulting in the relationships between OEM and component manufacturer being increasingly important in order to minimise costs and continue expanding their business. Read more

US wind farm H&S: The launch of OSHA's 'National Emphasis Program'

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 19:37 (Renewable Energy World)

The 'falls from height' risk exists in almost any industrial environment and, to a certain extent, safety standards designed to minimise the risks of accidents related to working in wind turbines are largely borne out of existing generic industry regulations. Read more

'Which comes first: the wind farm or the turbine?' - Wind Energy Update

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 18:32 (Renewable Energy World)

While there will always be a trade-off between turbine performance losses and wind farm lay-out cost savings, the trick is knowing how to strike the right balance, says Wind Energy Update's 2011 Offshore Wind Installation and Construction Report. Read more

Wind Speeds Elevated Across the US in Q2 2011

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 23:12 (Renewable Energy World)

3TIER®, a global leader in renewable energy risk analysis, today released a wind performance map for the second quarter of 2011. The map illustrates that wind speeds were above their seasonal averages for a majority of the continental United States. Read more

CNPV signs long term sales agreement with 2COR9 Energy in Northern California

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 12:37 (Solarserver)

CNPV Solar Power SA (Dongying, China), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products, announced today that they have signed a three year sales agreement with 2COR9 Energy, a leader in clean energy innovation. Under the terms of the agreement, 60MWp of CNPV's Premium range solar PV modules will be integrated into 2COR9 Energy's program. Read more

Q-Cells to complete 60 megawatt PV project for Starwood Energy Group in North America

Wednesday, 7.13.2011 - 6:55 (Solarserver)

Q-Cells North America, a global leader in designing, building and managing financially sustainable solar photovoltaic (PV) solutions, has been issued a full notice to proceed with construction activities of a 10 Megawatt project as final part of a combined 60 Megawatt project in Ontario, Canada. Q-Cells will implement this project on a turn?key basis for Starwood Energy Group Global, LLC, a private investment firm focused on energy infrastructure projects. Read more