Schmid, Lauffer create new line of laminating presses for PV module production

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 17:38 (Solarserver)

The Schmid Group (Freudenstadt, Germany) and Maschinenfabrik Lauffer GmbH & Co. KG (Horb am Neckar, Germany) have launched a new line of membrane-free laminating presses for the production of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. The product launch follows the completion of final tests on June 15th, 2011. The companies have already delivered a laminator for a 60 MW module production line to an un-named Italian customer, and are manufacturing a four-level laminator for a 120 MW module line located in Canada. Read more

Schneider Electric receives order for more than 100 MW of inverters

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 17:35 (Solarserver)

On July 7th, 2011, Schneider Electric SA (Rueil-Malmaison, France) announced that it has been selected by an un-named developer to supply more than 100 MW of inverters to accompany solar photovoltaic (PV) generation throughout 2011. The company states that this is the largest order from North America in its history, and that it is from a repeat customer. Read more

CPV Industry to Lay Down Marker towards Commercialization in November

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 15:15 (Renewable Energy World)

PV Insider is pleased to announce the launch of the 3rd Concentrated Photovoltaic Summit USA 2011, taking place at the San Jose Crowne Plaza on November 14-15. Read more

3Sun inaugurates thin film plant in Italy

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 14:47 (PV-Tech)

The Italian-based silicon thin-film PV module venture between Enel Green Power, Sharp and STMicroelectronics, has been officially inaugurated, roughly a year after the project was announced. Based in Sicily the plant has an initial capacity of 160MW per annum with the capability to expand capacity to 480MW. Key executives from all three companies attended the official opening, on July, 8, 2011. Read more

Order Focus: Schneider Electric books biggest PV inverter supply deal

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 14:21 (PV-Tech)

Citing an unnamed but major global EPC firm, Schneider Electric has secured a deal to supply more than 100MW of PV inverters for projects in North America, making it Schneider Electric?s largest order to date North America and one of the largest ever in the North American market. According to Schneider Electric, the EPC firm placing the new order was a repeat customer. Read more

Conergy's Head of Technology Speaking at InterSolar North America about Photovoltaic Manufacturing Processes

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 1:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Read more

Cleantech venture investments fall 33% in 2Q 2011

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 17:38 (Solarserver)

On July 6th, 2011, Cleantech Group LLC (San Francisco, California, U.S.) released preliminary second quarter 2011 results for clean technology venture investments in North America, Europe, China and India, noting that investments fell 33% compared to the first quarter of 2011. The Group records a total of USD 1.83 billion in 161 deals during the second quarter, including USD 363 million invested in the solar industry in 27 deals. Read more

LADWP proposes to re-start Solar Incentive Program with double funding

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 17:37 (Solarserver)

On July 6th, 2011, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP, Los Angeles, California, U.S.) announced a proposal to re-launch its Solar Incentive Program (SIP) with USD 60 million in annual funding for the next three years, double the previous amount. The SIP program was suspended on April 8th, 2011, and the LADWP states that it expects to restart the program in September 2011. Read more

British Universities collaborate to produce fuels using solar power

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 17:36 (Solarserver)

On July 5th, 2011, the University of East Anglia (Norwich, U.K.) announced research to use solar energy to create fuels and feedstock chemicals, working with the Universities of Manchester (Manchester, U.K.), York (York, U.K.), and Nottingham (Nottingham, U.K.). Professor Wendy Flavell of the University of Manchester's Photon Science Institute and her colleagues are working with quantum dot technology to create these fuels, including hydrogen and liquid methanol. Read more

CyboEnergy to introduce "Mini-Inverter" at Intersolar North America

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 17:36 (Solarserver)

On July 5th, 2011, CyboEnergy (Rancho Cordova, California, U.S.) announced that it will introduce a new small-scale inverter product with separate MPPT channels for up to four solar photovoltaic (PV) modules at the Intersolar North America trade show in San Francisco, California, U.S. from July 12th - 14th, 2011. The company's Mini-Inverter has four input channels and four pairs of DC wires with standard MC-4 connectors. Multiple inverters can link in a chain with the AC input and output cables and connectors. Read more

Free solar could save UK from energy price increases

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 17:20 (Solarpowerportal)

HomeSun has hit back at big energy firms which have increased their prices yet again, claiming that green energy solutions could insulate customers from the ‘whim of these power companies’. Read more

Solar FlexRack in the Spotlight at the Intersolar North America 2011 Show July 11?14 in San Francisco

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 16:56 (Renewable Energy World)

The patent-pending Solar FlexRack, manufactured by Northern States Metals, will be on display at Booth 7626 at the upcoming Intersolar North America trade show. The event will take place July 11?14 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Read more

Seraphim modules bankable with Unicredit Leasing

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 15:56 (PV-Tech)

Seraphim Solar System?s PV modules are now bankable with one of Europe?s largest solar project financiers, Unicredit Leasing Group. The agreement with the Italian banking organization will improve customer confidence in Seraphim?s product and in turn boost European sales. Read more

Editors? Picks for Intersolar North America

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 15:49 (PV-Tech)

It?s almost as if the weather knows. With only a few days to go before Intersolar North America kicks off, the prediction is for four sunny days in a row from Monday to Thursday next week. So be sure to step outside of the Moscone Center every now and again to bask in the sunshine in between booth visits, conferences and networking. Read more

DuPont's Thin Film Solar Bet for China and Beyond

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 15:48 (Renewable Energy World)

Amorphous silicon solar technology once seemed promising enough to gobble up a large market share. But it seems to have fallen out of favor in the past year, particularly since Applied Materials announced a year ago that it would no longer sell equipment to make amorphous silicon solar panels. Not only have some of its customers struggled to scale up manufacturing, the customers of its rivals also have had trouble doing the same because of financial or technical difficulties. Read more

IREC Reports 2010 U.S. Solar Boom, But What Does the Future Hold?

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 15:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Prices dropped, installations soared, and capacity surged in what proved to be a prosperous year for the solar industry, according to the 2010 U.S. Solar Market Trends Report released late last month by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). This may be great news for the industry, but while the road may seem stable now, there are still some hazards to navigate in the distance. Read more

Western Solar use MiaSolé modules for major UK solar system

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:38 (PV-Tech)

Western Solar has finished building work on one of the UK?s largest PV systems. The 2MW project, located close to Rhos-Y-Gilwen mansion in North Pembrokeshire, cost £5 million and is comprised of 10,000 MiaSolé thin-film panels. Read more

UNEP report: Global investments in green energy up nearly a third to USD 211 billion; China, developing countries are now biggest investors in large-scale renewables while Germany surges ahead on rooftop solar PV

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:26 (Solarserver)

Wind farms in China and small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops in Europe were largely responsible for last year's 32% rise in green energy investments worldwide according to the latest annual report on renewable energy investment trends issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Read more

SolarWorld expands management board with appointment of new chief human resources, brand officer

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:26 (PV-Tech)

SolarWorld has expanded its management board with the appointment of Colette Rückert-Hennen, who will join the company in the function of chief human resources and brand officer, effective July 1, 2011. Read more

Bosch Solar Energy extends warranties for PV modules worldwide

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:21 (Solarserver)

From July 2011 onwards, Bosch Solar Energy AG (Erfurt/Arnstadt, Germany) changes the warranty conditions for their solar photovoltaic (PV) modules worldwide. In case of future warranty claims, Bosch will replace the module with a correctly working model of the same type or, if possible, eliminate the fault, the company announces. Read more

Konica Minolta Sensing Americas to showcase new reference cells at Intersolar North America

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:07 (Solarserver)

On July 6th, 2011 Konica Minolta Sensing Americas Inc. (KMSA, Ramsey, New Jersey, U.S.) announced it will present measurement solutions, including its recently launched AK series reference cells, at Intersolar North America, July 12-14th, 2011 in San Francisco, California, United States. The company will also introduce its Technology Test Drive Program to the U.S. market, which allows commercial and academic research labs to test new technology for a predetermined time frame, for the purpose of real world use and evaluation. Read more

Bosch Solar takes module warranty conditions to a new level

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:07 (PV-Tech)

Not content to match a growing number of PV module manufacturers improved warranty guarantee?s, Bosch Solar Energy has removed clauses related to customer compensation for lost earnings in the event that a module?s output is too low, resulting in lower customer costs and administration related to claims. Inline with some of its competitors, Bosch Solar has also improved the product quality guarantee from 5-years to 10-years and offers a 25-year performance warranty for modules that were delivered before July 2011. The new warranties apply from July 2011 onwards. Read more

Schneider Electric to show new PV inverter series at Intersolar North America

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:05 (Solarserver)

Schneider Electric SA (Rueil-Malmaison, France) will display a new central inverter series among its solar photovoltaic (PV) products and services at the Intersolar North America trade show in San Francisco, California, U.S. from July 12th to 14th, 2011. The company's Xantrex XC Series inverters offer 98.7% peak efficiencies and will be available beginning in 2012. Schneider Electric states that its XC Series can be configured with voltage and power outputs up to 680 kVA, and is designed to allow DC inputs up to 1000 volts - DC. Read more

Join the revolution! Krannich Solar at Intersolar North America

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 12:29 (Renewable Energy World)

Read more

Intersolar NA: Schneider Electric to showcase inverters at San Francisco exhibition

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 12:02 (PV-Tech)

Next week?s Intersolar North America trade show in California will see Schneider Electric showcase its latest range of inverters, controllers and PV boxes. Read more

This was not just a solar array, this was an M&S solar array

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 11:14 (Solarpowerportal)

Marks & Spencer has become the latest victim of Government’s feed-in tariff cuts as the retail chain is forced to abandon plans for a large-scale solar system at its Bradford distribution centre. Read more

Cogenra Solar installs 75kW solar cogeneration system at General Hydroponics

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 2:11 (PV-Tech)

The General Hydroponics Santa Rosa, California facility is producing solar power through a solar hybrid project installed by Cogenra Solar. The 75kW system, featuring 15kW of electricity and 60kW of thermal energy, was built to complement General Hydroponics existing 101kW PV system while adding the dual production of solar-powered hot water and electricity in one installation. Read more

Intersolar NA: Heraeus? PV unit triples the size of its global technical staff

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 1:53 (PV-Tech)

Just days after announcing the completion of its third research and development center in Singapore, the PV business unit of Heraeus advised that it has tripled the size of its global technical staff so that it can more easily meet the demand for its products and customer timeframes. The Singapore facility joins the company?s US and Germany R&D sites, as well as Heraeus? Shanghai and Taoyuan application centers. Read more

SunMaxx Solar's CEO Adam Farrell to Present at 2011 Intersolar Conference in San Fransisco

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 20:58 (Renewable Energy World)

Read more

Order Focus: Praxair wins hydrogen supply contact to Hemlock?s new polysilicon plant

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:38 (PV-Tech)

Hemlock Semiconductor?s new polysilicon plant, currently under construction in Clarksville, Tennessee, USA has signed a multi-year contract with Praxair, which will supply hydrogen to the facility. Praxair said it would build and operate an on-site hydrogen generating facility and supply liquid hydrogen by truck. The plant start-up is scheduled for 2012, according to Praxair. Praxair also supplies nitrogen and hydrogen to Hemlock?s polysilicon facility in Hemlock, Michigan. Read more

Drill for Geothermal Power in Developing Countries and on King Street

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 20:34 (Renewable Energy World)

Geothermal industry veteran Hezy Ram has worked in the industry for over three decades. His career began with 28 years of experience at Ormat (ORA), where he was Executive Vice President of Business Development, after which he founded Ram Power Corp. (RPG.TO/RAMPF.PK) in 2009. In February, he resigned as CEO of Ram Power shortly after the company warned of significant delays and cost overruns at a key Nicaraguan project, a move he says was motivated by irreconcilable differences with other board members and major shareholders regarding the company's strategy. Read more

Dow, Ube joint venture targets energy storage market

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:46 (PV-Tech)

Dow Chemical Company and Ube Industries have formed joint venture Advanced Electrolyte Technologies to manufacture and market formulated electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in energy storage applications. The equal partnership is expected to be finalized later this year, pending regulatory approval. Read more