Ontario: Innergex closes project financing on 27MW-AC Stardale PV plant

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 23:21 (Solarserver)

On July 28th, 2011, Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (Longueuil, Canada) announced that it has closed project financing for its Stardale solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, located in East-Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada. This financing consists of a total facility of CAN 117 million (USD 122 million), including a USD 5.9 million facility for the issuance of a letter of credit, and was arranged by the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). Read more

Space photovoltaics: EMCORE record efficiency solar cells released to earth orbit in the final space shuttle mission

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 23:20 (Solarserver)

EMCORE Corporation (Albuquerque, NM) on July 29th, 2011 announced that a pair of EMCORE Inverted Metamorphic Module Quadruple-Junction (IMM4J) solar cells carried on a platform were released into low-earth orbit (LEO) from the Space Shuttle Atlantis' cargo bay on July 20, 2011 after Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station during its historic final mission. Read more

Tosoh starts thin film sputtering target manufacturing in Shanghai

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 18:34 (PV-Tech)

Although Tosoh SMD has supplied the China market for over 20-years, the firm has only now established a thin film sputtering target manufacturing subsidiary in Shanghai, China. Citing the need to better serve its semiconductor, flat-panel display, solar, and large area coating customers in China, Tosoh expects the facility will enable its to grow its business in the region. Read more

Is a NABCEP Certification Really Necessary?

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 17:47 (Renewable Energy World)

My first encounter with NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) occurred several years ago. At the time, I found solar energy to be an exciting area to move my established electrical contracting company into. Austin Energy had just introduced their solar photovoltaic (PV) rebate program. So with an empty pad of paper in hand, I took the 45 minute drive north to learn more about their program. I was convinced of my qualifications ? after all I had passed the requirements to get my master electrician's license. That, along with some very extensive military weapon system training, gave me a resume full of very significant qualifications. Read more

IMS Research: PV installations to more than double in 2H11

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 16:27 (PV-Tech)

Photovoltaic system installations are set to show a transformation in the second-half of the year and more than double over first half-year figures, according to IMS Research?s latest ?Global PV Demand? report. The market research firm has even revised its forecast to cater for the strong demand expectation, fuelled by a recovery in the German market and strong growth in the US and Asia. IMS Research expects PV installations to reach more than 22GW this year, 1GW higher than its previous forecast. Read more

Q-Cells CIGS thin-film modules to be installed on new Hallescher FC stadium

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 15:29 (PV-Tech)

Q.SMART, CIGS thin-film modules produced by Q-Cells are to be deployed on a new football stadium for German team, Hallesche FC. The system is expected to produce approximately 455,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), equal to the amount of power consumed by 150 households annually. Q-Cells is also the project developer for the 526 kilowatts-peak (kWp) photovoltaic plant on the roof of ERDGAS Sportpark. Read more

Meyer Burger final purchase of Roth & Rau expected August 9

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 13:01 (PV-Tech)

Meyer Burger Technology has received antitrust clearance from the Ministry of Commerce of the People?s Republic of China, concerning the acquisition of equipment supplier, Roth & Rau. The settlement of the tender offer and the payment of the offer price are expected to take place on 9 August 2011. Read more

PV manufacturing: Ib Vogt to provide engineering services for Indian wafer, cell plant

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 12:53 (Solarserver)

On August 1st, 2011, Ib Vogt GmbH (Berlin, Germany) announced that it has been commissioned by Birla Surya Ltd. (Mumbai, India) to provide engineering services for India's first and largest integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing facility. The factory will produce multicrystalline silicon wafers and process PV cells, with initial capacities are 60 MW of PV cells and 125 MW of wafers. The facility is currently under construction near the village of Rajewadi in Maharashtra state. Read more

PV production technology: Veeco exits CIGS business, reports 4% increase 2Q 2011 revenues

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 12:47 (Solarserver)

Veeco Instruments Inc. (Plainview, New York, U.S.) has announced that it will quit its copper indium gallium selenium (CIGS) solar photovoltaic (PV) business, in the release of its second quarter 2011 financial results on July 28th, 2011. The company states that its CIGS division was operation at a loss, but otherwise reports a strong second quarter of 2011, including a 4% sequential increase in revenues to USD 265 million, and USD 19.2 million in net income. Read more

PV in Italy: Terna to sell 50 - 78 MW of plants to RTR Capital for USD 260 - 370 million

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 12:34 (Solarserver)

On July 29th, 2011, Terna SpA (Rome, Italy) announced that its board of directors has approved the sale of subsidiary Nuova Rete Solare Srl, including its portfolio of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, to RTR Capital Srl (Milan, Italy). Terna estimates that at closing, this will include between 50 MW and 78 MW of completed PV plants, and estimates the enterprise value of the transaction at between EUR 180 - 260 million (USD 260 - 370 million). Read more

SkyBuilt sells portable PV power systems to U.S. Army

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 12:27 (Solarserver)

On August 1st, 2011, SkyBuilt Power Inc. (Arlington, Virginia, U.S.) announced that the U.S. Army is purchasing SkyBuilt portable power stations, which include solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, for use in remote locations in Afghanistan. The U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force, in partnership with the Defense Technical Information Center is purchasing SkyCases and SkyPAKs, a foldable crystalline silicon PV generation product. Read more

Solon names solar industry vet Joe Benga to head its power plants division

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 21:53 (PV-Tech)

Solon has named PV industry veteran Joe Benga as VP/GM of its power plants division, where he will oversee the company?s commercial and utility-scale solar power plant business from the unit?s new San Francisco office. His responsibilities will include the oversight of sales, applications engineering, customer financing, design, engineering and permitting, procurement, installation, inspection, interconnection, and post-installation service. Read more

Tosoh starts thin-film sputtering target manufacturing in Shanghai

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 18:34 (PV-Tech)

Although Tosoh SMD has supplied the China market for over 20 years, the firm has only now established a thin-film sputtering target manufacturing subsidiary in Shanghai, China. Citing the need to better serve its semiconductor, flat-panel display, solar, and large area coating customers in China, Tosoh expects the facility will enable it to grow its business in the region. Read more

Is a NABCEP Certification Really Necessary to Install Solar?

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 17:47 (Renewable Energy World)

My first encounter with NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) occurred several years ago. At the time, I found solar energy to be an exciting area to move my established electrical contracting company into. Austin Energy had just introduced their solar photovoltaic (PV) rebate program. So with an empty pad of paper in hand, I took the 45 minute drive north to learn more about their program. I was convinced of my qualifications ? after all I had passed the requirements to get my master electrician's license. That, along with some very extensive military weapon system training, gave me a resume full of very significant qualifications. Read more

British Gas joins Mears Group in £20m solar deal

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 16:13 (Solarpowerportal)

Social housing repairs and maintenance service provider Mears Group has announced a new contract for the installation of photovoltaic solar panels in and around Peterborough. The contract, to be executed in partnership with British Gas, has been signed with Cross Keys Homes. Read more

Order Focus: GT Solar wins polysilicon equipment order from new customer in Asia

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

A new unidentified customer in Asia has placed its first order with GT Solar for polysilicon production equipment totalling US$55.1 million. The order was included in the GT Solar?s backlog for the first quarter of FY12 which ended on July 2, 2011. Read more

Trina Solar sales take further hit from Italian market woes

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 15:01 (PV-Tech)

Having cited weaker than expected financial results for the first quarter of 2011, back in May due in part to the halt in PV installations in Italy, a key market for Trina Solar, the integrated PV manufacturer had provided revised second quarter guidance, which points to the demand issues in Italy for lower sales expectations. Read more

China?s first solar BIPV project is now up-and-running

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 13:10 (PV-Tech)

China?s first BIPV fire station was put into service in Baoding, Hebei, on July 29, featuring a 250kW, 2650 m2 solar façade. With an annual generating capacity of 300MWh the system is expected to reduce 312 tons of carbon emissions each year. Read more

China?s first solar BIPV fire station is now up-and-running

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 13:10 (PV-Tech)

China?s first BIPV fire station was put into service in Baoding, Hebei, on July 29, featuring a 250kW, 2650 m2 solar façade. With an annual generating capacity of 300MWh the system is expected to reduce 312 tons of carbon emissions each year. Read more

Canadian Solar to supply PV modules for 33 MW of PV plants in Gujarat, India

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 12:59 (Solarserver)

On August 1st, 2011, Canadian Solar Inc. (Kitchener, Canada) announced that it has signed an agreement to deliver 33 MW of PV modules to Cirus Solar Systems Private Ltd. (Hyderabad, India) in the third and fourth quarters of 2011. The modules will be used in three ground-mounted PV plants to be designed, installed and commissioned by Cirus in Gujarat, India. Canadian Solar states that module shipments have already commenced. Read more

Munich RE to provide warranty insurance for Solar Frontier PV modules

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 12:39 (Solarserver)

On July 28th, 2011, Solar Frontier K.K. (Tokyo, Japan) announced that Munich RE AG (Munich, Germany) will provide warranty insurance for Solar Frontier's solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, wherever they are installed globally. Under the new insurance, Munich RE will cover Solar Frontier's performance warranty for its copper indium selenium (CIS) PV modules for up to 20 years. Read more

Order Focus: LDK Solar signs module supply contract for 14.1MW project

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 11:38 (PV-Tech)

LDK Solar has signed a contract to supply 58,803 modules for Advanced Solar Products? new 14.1MW project in East Windsor, New Jersey. When completed, the system, which is located on the McGraw-Hill Companies? campus, will be the largest privately-owned, net-metered PV project in the Western Hemisphere. Read more

Solar Market Snapshot: Four Videos, Five Experts and One Story To Make Sense Of Them All

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 9:43 (Renewable Energy World)

For Intersolar North America, I set out to conduct video interviews with companies in different segments of the solar industry. The idea is to give a snap shot of the technology development and market demand for manufacturers and service providers. Read more

Energy storage: MIT researchers offer improved design for lithium-air batteries

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 23:21 (Solarserver)

On July 25th, 2011, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.) announced that a team of its researchers have found a way to improve the energy density of lithium-air batteries. The researchers have created carbon fiber-based electrodes which they state are more efficient at storing the solid oxidized lithium that fills the pores as the battery discharges. The team first published its research in the journal "Energy and Environmental Science". Read more

AEG Power Solutions acquires outstanding 25% of Skytron Energy, takes full ownership

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 21:36 (PV-Tech)

AEG Power Solutions has acquired the outstanding 25% of Skytron Energy after buying a majority stake in 2010. Under the existing management of Martin Sauter, Skytron will stay a separate legal entity with its own brand. The companies said they will jointly take advantage of the strong global growth within the solar market, especially in India. Other business opportunities are developing operations and maintenance business as well as smart-grid solutions. Read more

TÜV Saarland certifies Avancis CIS thin-film modules for ammonia resistance

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 21:05 (PV-Tech)

Avancis? PowerMax CIS PV modules have passed the ammonia test conducted by German certification body TÜV Saarland. With this demonstration of their long-term resistance to the corrosive gas, the panels are certified as particularly suitable for use in agricultural applications. Read more

Green Energy reports fire in recycling facility

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 16:00 (PV-Tech)

In a brief statement, Green Energy Technology said that smoke was being generated at an independent recycled services company facility, at GET?s Southern Taiwan Park manufacturing facilities. The local fire bureau were involved in the incident. Read more

Advanced Energy appoints CEO successor on Dr. Hans Betz retirement

Tuesday, 8.2.2011 - 15:41 (PV-Tech)

Dr. Hans Betz, Advanced Energy?s chief executive officer since 2005, is retiring from the role, effective August 4, 2011, though he will continue as an advisor until December 31, 2011. His replacement is Garry Rogerson, Ph.D, chairman of the board of Coherent and previously chief executive officer of Varian, Inc. Read more