US PV installations set to reach 2.4GW in 2011, according to IHS iSuppli report

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 23:48 (PV-Tech)

The United States is set to have a record year of PV installations in 2011, as reported by IHS iSuppli?s new ?Photovoltaic Market Tracker? report. According to analysis, US PV installations will reach 2.4GW, a 166% increase over previous years, amounting to nearly 49,000 PV installations this year, compared to 39,000 in 2010. It is projected that 1.4GW will be in the form of ground-mounted installations, while commercial and residential installations account for 710MW and 270MW, respectively. Read more

US PV installations set to reach 2.4GW in 2011 according to IHS iSuppli report

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 23:48 (PV-Tech)

The United States is set to have a record year of PV installations in 2011 as reported by IHS iSuppli?s new Photovoltaic Market Tracker report. According to analysis, US PV installations will reach 2.4GW, a 166% increase over previous years, amounting to nearly 49,000 PV installations this year, compared to 39,000 in 2010. It is projected that 1.4GW will be in the form of ground-mounted installations, while commercial and residential installations account for 710MW and 270MW, respectively. Read more

Ernst & Young Find Fixed Feed-in Tariffs Attractive

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 18:35 (Renewable Energy World)

The British arm of giant financial consultant Ernst & Young's 2011 issue of its "Renewable energy country attractiveness indices" concludes that fixed feed-in tariffs (FITs) are preferable to premium-based FITs as well as bidding systems. Read more

Bürkle appoints new head of Photovoltaics Business Unit

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 16:51 (PV-Tech)

Andreas Kriegler has been appointed the new Head of Business Unit Photovoltaics at Robert Bürkle. Kriegler will be responsible for development, project planning and sales of photovoltaic laminators for the entire company. He previously worked at automation experts, teamtechnik for 12 years. Read more

Schneider Electric to install 2.89 MW of PV for U.S. Coast Guard in Puerto Rico

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 12:43 (Solarserver)

On August 10th, 2011, Schneider Electric SA (Rueil-Malmaison, France) announced that it will install 2.89 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules on rooftops at U.S. Coast Guard facilities in Puerto Rico over a 13-month period. Installation of the more than 300 PV systems is part of the implementation of a USD 50 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) between Schneider Electric and the United States Coast Guard. Read more

GTM Research: Smart Grid to become a EUR 6.8 billion industry in Europe by 2016

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 12:25 (Solarserver)

The smart grid market in Europe will experience considerable development over the next five years, GTM Research (Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.) reports. Utilities across the region work to meet rigorous efficiency mandates and integrate an ongoing build-out of renewable energies into the grid, the market research company explains. GTM Research?s latest report forecasts the cumulative European smart grid technology market to hit EUR 3.1 billion in 2012, with that number set to increase 120% to EUR 6.8 billion in 2016. Read more

Seminole Financial Services to provide construction and permanent financing for USD 3.3 MW PV project in Buckeye, Arizona

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 12:16 (Solarserver)

Seminole Financial Services (Belleair Bluffs, Fla.) on August 16th, 2011 announced the funding of a construction and permanent loan for REgeneration Finance (Harrison, NY) to install over 3 MW of photovoltaic (PV) systems at 7 different elementary schools in the Buckeye Elementary School District just west of Phoenix in Maricopa County, AZ. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2011. The total project costs for this transaction due to Seminole Financial Services is approximately USD 25 million. Read more

SOLON Corporation to terminate PV module manufacturing in Arizona

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 12:10 (Solarserver)

On August 15th, 2011, SOLON Corporation (Tucson, Arizona, U.S.) announced a new operations strategy for the United States, which includes phasing out its solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing operations at its Tucson, Arizona facility by the end of October 2011. SOLON states that it will focus on its core business as a system solutions provider, partnering with utilities and commercial businesses. The new company direction will also include new product development. Read more

AEG Renewables Business expands rapidly in 2Q 2011

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 11:57 (Solarserver)

On August 11th, 2011, 3W Power Holdings SA (Luxembourg), the holding company of AEG Power Solutions (Warstein-Belecke, Germany), announced financial results for the first two quarters of 2011, reporting a total of USD 138 million in revenues and USD 156 million in orders from its Renewable Energy Solutions (RES) business segment. Also on August 10th, 2011, AEG announced the signing of a contract with Surana Ventures Ltd. (Secunderabad, India) to provide inverters, monitoring and measuring equipment for a 5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Gujarat, India. Read more

Chinese PV industry's polysilicon imports decline to 50% of demand

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 11:46 (Solarserver)

On August 12th, 2011, CCM International Ltd. (Guangzhou, China) announced a new report on China's polysilicon production and markets, which estimates that the proportion of imported polysilicon used in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has declined to around 50%. CCM will publish "China's Polysilicon Market in Solar Photovoltaic Industry" in August 2011. The report also observes that domestic Chinese polysilicon has been under-utilized because it does not offer cost or quality advantages over imports. Read more

PV production technology provider Roth & Rau AG publishes half-year results for 2011; project delays lead sales to drop, EBIT burdened by lower sales and one-off items

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 11:42 (Solarserver)

In the first half of 2011 Roth & Rau AG (Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany) generated sales of EUR 92,821k (2010: EUR 118,824k). Including changes in stocks of finished and unfinished products and capitalised services rendered to own account, the Group`s gross performance amounted to EUR 152,875k (2010: EUR 149,600k), Roth & Rau AG reports in a press release. Read more

IPVEA names panelists for PV Production Forum 2011 at EU PVSEC

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 1:51 (PV-Tech)

The International Photovoltaic Equipment Association has finalized the participants for the fab manager panel discussion to be held as part of the organization?s PV Production Forum 2011, which convenes during the upcoming 26th EU PVSEC, taking place Sept. 5-8 at the International Fair, Hamburg, Germany. Read more

Street Energy offers free solar systems to Midlands homeowners

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 15:48 (Solarpowerportal)

Kettering-based Street Energy is launching a new scheme offering free PV systems for over 500 Midlands homes. The arrangement will see Street Energy utilise the ‘roof-lease’ model, whereby it will receive the benefits of the Government’s feed-in tariff (FiT) in exchange for installing the 2.8kW systems at no cost to the homeowner. Read more

Trina Solar to supply Australia?s Origin Energy with 22MW of PV modules

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 14:26 (PV-Tech)

Origin Energy Australia an Australian-based energy retailer has signed a module supply deal with Trina Solar. The contract calls for Trina Solar to supply approximately 22MW of PV modules over the next twelve months starting from the third quarter of 2011.  The modules are intended for residential projects. Read more

Reading Council considers investing in solar scheme

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 12:39 (Solarpowerportal)

Reading Borough Council is considering installing solar panels on the town’s schools and council buildings in an attempt to tackle escalating energy costs. On Wednesday the council’s cabinet’s met to discuss the feasibility of the £5 million solar scheme. Read more

PV planning in India benefits from new generation solar resource data, online tools

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 12:37 (Solarserver)

GeoModel Solar (Bratislava, Slovakia), an international consultancy company in solar resource and photovoltaic (PV) energy assessment, has announced geographic expansion of its flagship online system "SolarGIS" to India. SolarGIS high-resolution solar resource database, interactive maps and PV simulation software will be introduced to the Indian solar community at the 5th Renewable Energy India 2011 Expo in New Delhi. SolarGIS follows standards that make solar power planning more accurate and cost effective, and thus reduces risk in decision making, GeoModel Solar emphasizes in a press release. Read more

Canadian Solar continues to increase revenue and shipments in 2Q

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 12:27 (PV-Tech)

Margin pressure would seem to be the only negative force of a weak PV market on Canadian Solar?s financial performance. In the second quarter of 2011, the PV module manufacturer reported increased revenue and shipments that have continued to rise over 2010. Solar module shipments were 287MW, up from 244 MW in the first quarter 2011 and 181 MW in the second quarter of 2010. Net revenue was US$481.8 million, up 8.7% from US$443.4 million in the first quarter of 2011 and up US46.6% from US$328.7 million in the second quarter of 2010. However, gross margin was 13.2% in the second quarter of 2011, compared to 14.7% in the first quarter of 2011 and 13.6% in the second quarter of Read more

JinkoSolar reports record PV shipments, strong margins in 2Q 2011 results

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 11:50 (Solarserver)

On August 16th, 2011, JinkoSolar Holding Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) announced unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2011, reporting record product shipments of 254 MW, revenues of USD 351 million, and an operating margin of 18%. The company's revenues represent an increase of 5.9% over the first quarter of 2011, and 152% year-over-year, as well as surpassing its guidance of USD 330 to 350 million. Read more

Energy Storage Industry Grows To Integrate Wind, Solar

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 11:44 (Renewable Energy World)

Grid-scale energy storage is gaining momentum as batteries, flywheels and compressed air systems begin proving they can regulate frequency and ancillary services with the same efficiency of "spinning reserves" from fossil fuel-fired power plants. Read more

HNEI signs Altairnano to supply 1MW storage system for solar integration demonstration

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 1:33 (PV-Tech)

The Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) of the University of Hawaii at Manoa signed an agreement with Altair Nanotechnologies (Altairnano), which will see the company supply the institute with a 1MW Alti-Ess energy storage system, designed to test solar energy integration. The contract specifies Altairnano supplying the battery-based power management system so that it can be tested on Hawaiian Electric?s system to even out the voltage and load profile using dynamic voltage controls and fast charge/discharge capabilities. Read more

Jens Meyerhoff to leave First Solar; former CFO was key player in company?s rapid growth

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 0:57 (PV-Tech)

One of the prime movers in First Solar?s rapid transformation into a leading vertically integrated PV company is moving on. Jens Meyerhoff, current president of the utility systems business group and former CFO, will be leaving the firm effective Sept. 30. Read more

Order Focus: Schott Solar supplies 16.9MWp of PV modules to Phoenix Solar projects in Thailand

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 0:16 (PV-Tech)

Schott Solar has received a PV module order to supply a pair of projects in Thailand with a cumulative capacity of 16.9MWp. The 9.7MW and 6.2MW sites, located north of Bangkok, are being built by Phoenix Solar Singapore and are scheduled to be completed and activated by the end of the year. Read more

Evergreen Solar to be delisted from Nasdaq

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 0:02 (PV-Tech)

As a consequence of Evergreen Solar?s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Nasdaq has notified the company that it will be suspended at the opening of business on August 24. Based on Nasdaq rules, Evergreen Solar?s common stock will be delisted but the company may trade on the OTC Bulletin Board or the Pink OTC Markets. However, this will require at least one market maker to quote Evergreen Solar?s common stock, though this is not given, it normally happens. Read more

China's Wind Power Sector Struggles with Rare Earth Price Hikes

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 20:31 (Renewable Energy World)

While an increasing number of wind power equipment manufacturers in China have started to adopt direct-drive permanent magnet technology, rare earth minerals, some of the core raw materials used to produce wind turbines, are becoming a significant barrier to their development. Read more

JA Solar to supply Huanghe Hydropower with 21 MW of PV products for a large solar electricity project in Qinghai

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 11:35 (Solarserver)

On August 16th, 2011, JA Solar Holdings Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) announced that it has signed an agreement to supply Huanghe Hydropower Development Company Ltd. (Xining, China) with 21 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) products by September 2011. The products will be used for a large PV project in Qinghai, China. Read more

China Sunergy receives US$160 million from China Development Bank to expand capacity

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 12:47 (PV-Tech)

China Sunergy is to use US$160 million in financing and credit facilities from China Development Bank to boost c-Si cell capacity and pursue market opportunities with the funds under improved working capital. China Development Bank signed the contracts with China Sunergy?s two domestic subsidiaries, China Sunergy (Nanjing) and CEEG (Nanjing) Renewable Energy Co., which was acquired from affiliated company CEEG in November 2010. Read more

Sungevity launches renewable energy tax equity fund, expands headquarters

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 12:01 (Solarserver)

On August 15th, 2011, Sungevity Inc. (Oakland, California, U.S.) and Citigroup Inc. (Citi, New York, New York, U.S.) introduced a new renewable energy tax equity fund to support over USD 50 million in new residential solar lease projects. Three days prior, on August 12th, 2011, Sungevity announced that it will expand its headquarters in Oakland, California to 6,300 square meters, including occupying a second office space. Read more

Day4 Energy sees improved revenues, narrowed losses in second quarter

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 0:39 (PV-Tech)

Day4 Energy reported revenues of US$23.3 million, a decline from its reported earnings for the Q2 2010, but a US$4.4 million increase from Q1 2011. While the company noted sales of US$2.6 million, which it accredits to its acquisition of ACI ecoTec, it notes that sales numbers did decrease when compared to previous years due to the overall instability that the solar industry has been going through over the past few months. However, Day4 acknowledged that its sales increased over Q1 2011, mainly because of the Italian government?s FiT resolution. Read more

Ford to sell SunPower charging station with new electric car

Wednesday, 8.17.2011 - 10:45 (PV-Tech)

Later this year Ford will unveil the electric version of its best-selling Focus and in the process launch a two-pronged attack at carbon emissions in the US. Not only will the manufacturing giant be reducing emissions on the road with its first electric car, but it will be repeating the feat in the home by selling solar charging stations to its drivers. Read more