1BOG initiates national group PV purchase program

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 22:25 (Solarserver)

On July 18th, 2011, One Block Off the Grid (1BOG, San Francisco, California, U.S.) announced the launch of a new national group solar photovoltaic (PV) purchase program in the United States. The program comprises 2,081 group solar photovoltaic (PV) purchase programs in 34 states, and partnerships with 175 solar installers across the nation. The company is concurrently launching a new interactive map of PV installations and policies. Read more

Japan falls short of RPS goal for FY 2010

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 22:24 (Solarserver)

On July 14th, 2011 Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced that utilities in the nation supplied 10.2 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity from renewable energy sources, including 1.34 TWh from solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, during fiscal year (FY) 2010. This amount is less than the 11.0 TWh required under the nation's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policy for 2010; however despite this the agency states that a number of utilities produced in excess of RPS goals, for a total of 4.17 TWh that can be used towards next year's requirements. Read more

Chinese antitrust extends review period in Meyer Burger?s Roth & Rau takeover

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 12:30 (PV-Tech)

The ongoing process of Meyer Burger?s acquisition of Roth & Rau has been drawn out further, as the Antitrust Authorities of the Ministry of Commerce of the People?s Republic of China has found reason to extend the Chinese antitrust review process in the public tender offer. Read more

Solar Energy International Steps Up Continuing Ed Series, Online Offerings

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 22:58 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar Energy International 's Online Campus is celebrating SEI's 20th year of offering renewable energy education for a sustainable future with free webinars, new online course sessions, and $49 short courses. Read more

Munich Re, KKR to acquire 49% stake in T-Solar assets including PV plants

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 22:25 (Solarserver)

On July 18th, 2011, Munich Re AG (Munich, Germany) and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company L.P. (KKR, New York, New York, U.S.) announced that they have partnered to acquire a 49% equity stake in the operating assets of Grupo T-Solar (Madrid, Spain), which includes 42 solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. The plants are comprised of 34 PV plants in Spain and eight in Italy, totaling 168 MW of capacity. These assets will be housed in a new company called T-Solar Global Operation Assets, in which Grupo T-Solar will retain a 51% equity stake and provide management services. Read more

KIUC partners with Alexander & Baldwin for 6MW utility-scale PV project in Kauai

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 22:10 (PV-Tech)

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) has joined forces with Alexander & Baldwin (A&B) for the development of a 6MW utility-scale solar PV facility on Kauai?s south shore. A&B plans to have the project developed and operated by one of its subsidiaries and will sell the power produced by the plant to KIUC under a 20-year fixed PPA agreement. Read more

Order Focus: Aide Solar to supply Folium Energy with 150MW of PV modules for California PV projects

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 21:51 (PV-Tech)

Folium Energy signed a deal with Aide Solar, a subsidiary of Panjit Group, to buy 150MW of its solar PV modules for use in 710 ground-mounted solar projects throughout California. The agreement was signed under California?s PPA for Small Renewable Generation ?Feed-in Tariffs? program, which allows each solar site in the program to generate a minimum of 100kW, but not surpass 1.5MW of solar power. Read more

Asian Solar Market Is Focus of the SOLAREXPO

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 19:59 (Renewable Energy World)

Shenzhen Dresche Exhibition & Planning Co., Ltd and Pennwell Corporation have a formed a unique alliance to promote the Asia SOLAREXPO, the oldest solar exhibition in China and one of the only two established industrial-scale solar events in the country. The expo was founded in 2005. Read more

50 MW of Solar? Make that 400 MW

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 19:27 (Renewable Energy World)

Nothing sparks investment like a good bargain. So when officials for San Antonio, Texas, municipal utility CPS Energy started receiving bids for a 50-megawatt project, they saw a good deal and an even bigger opportunity. Read more

Work underway on Peterborough?s 1.5MW rooftop solar project

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 18:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Peterborough City Council has begun work on one of the largest roof-mounted solar projects in the UK. Read more

Enfoton Solar fits production lines with MBJ Solutions? inspection system

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 16:54 (PV-Tech)

Enfoton Solar has fitted its module production lines with MBJ Solutions? electroluminescence inspection equipment. The high-resolution inspection systems will provide rapid feedback on module output quality, thus enabling Enfoton to optimise its manufacturing performance. Read more

Price declines lead to 17% revenue dip for REC?s second-quarter figures

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 14:39 (PV-Tech)

Sandvika, Norway-based REC ASA has published its second-quarter financials for 2011, which show revenues of NOK 3,391 million, down 17% on the previous quarter. Significant weakening of the solar market led to a slowdown in demand for the company?s products, while polysilicon production operations are also under pressure from Chinese competitors. Read more

Phoenix Solar awarded EPC contract to build Akuo Energy?s French solar parks

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 13:20 (PV-Tech)

Paris-based PV project developer Akuo Energy has commissioned Phoenix Solar to carry out the engineering, procurement and construction on its next two French solar systems. Read more

Andasol 3 CSP plant produces steam during test phase

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 12:26 (Solarserver)

On July 18th, 2011, RWE Innogy GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) announced that the Andasol 3 concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in Granada, Spain has produced solar-generated steam for the first time during a test phase. RWE states that this test is a step on the way to completing and commissioning the 50MW plant, which is scheduled to being commercial operation in October 2011. Read more

Former First Solar CEO Ahearn launches USD 300 million venture capital company

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 12:11 (Solarserver)

On July 18th, 2011 True North Venture Partners L.P. (TNVP, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) announced the launch of its USD 300 million venture capital company, which will invest primarily in early stage companies in the energy, water, agriculture and waste sectors. TNVP is founded by First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) Co-founder and former CEO Mike Ahearn. The company states that it will generally invest amounts between USD 100,000 and 25 million. Read more

Campbell Scientific CST100 now with AC and DC power measurement capability

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 12:04 (Solarserver)

On July 14th, 2011 Campbell Scientific Inc. (Logan, Utah, U.S.) announced that its CST100 data acquisition system for solar monitoring applications will include AC and DC power measurements, in addition to its meteorological measurement functions. These new features allow the CST100 to continuously measure individual module, string and array DC current and DC voltage, as well as real AC power for single-phase, split-phase, and three-phase connections. Read more

U.S. President Obama affirms commitment to cutting oil industry tax breaks

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 12:19 (Solarserver)

In his weekly address to the nation on July 16th, 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama affirmed his commitment to removing tax breaks for oil companies in a deficit reduction deal under negotiation with leaders of the opposition Republican Party. Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives has forced the negotiations by threatening to not approve an increase to the nation's USD 14.3 trillion debt ceiling. If the ceiling is not raised by August 2nd, 2011, the United States government could go into default. Read more

Belgian Firm Joins U.S. Offshore Transmission Line Project

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 22:07 (Renewable Energy World)

A proposed transmission backbone that would send offshore wind energy to major metropolitan areas from New Jersey to Virginia has received a boost with the addition of Elia, a Belgian-based transmission system operator. Read more

Wind Energy International 2011/2012 yearbook now available

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 19:32 (Renewable Energy World)

Bonn (WWEA) - The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) is pleased to announce the release of the 4th edition of its international standard yearbook, Wind Energy International 2011/2012. Read more

The Impact of Technology on Wind Farm Development

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 16:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Over the past 10 to 15 years, enhancements in technology and computing power have truly revolutionized the wind development business. From prospecting the best sites to constructing wind farms, from mapping cadastral data to estimating the wind resource at specific proposed turbine locations, technology has improved our ability to efficiently select, develop, and ultimately construct utility-scale wind farms. Read more

2010 Global Recap: A Year of Continued Growth

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 16:12 (Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy continued its global surge in 2010, accounting for about half of the 194 gigawatts of new installed capacity, according to the REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report. Read more

British Gas launches green loans scheme

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 15:26 (Solarpowerportal)

British Gas is launching a new initiative that will help customers reduce the upfront cost of installing solar panels and other green technologies. Read more

Countrywide launches renewable energy division

Tuesday, 7.19.2011 - 12:04 (Solarpowerportal)

Countrywide has become the latest UK firm to embrace the green revolution by launching a renewable energy division. The Worcestershire-based firm, which specialises in providing products and services for the rural community, chose this year’s Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd to unveil its new business venture that will offer an independent service to farmers looking to build renewable energy projects. Read more