SMA Sunny PRO Club launches regional forums for PV installers in the U.S., Canada

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 23:09 (Solarserver)

SMA America?s "Sunny PRO Club", a membership-based professional partnership program for solar photovoltaic (PV) installers, is launching a series of regional forums. Scheduled for select cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, these free events are available to both members and non-members, who can participate in technical training and hands-on product workshops, as well as learn more about the exclusive marketing solutions offered by the Sunny PRO Club. The Regional Forums will kick off in Sacramento, Calif. on Wednesday, Aug. 31st. Read more

Suntech Power posts Q2 losses of US$259.5 million

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 16:01 (PV-Tech)

Suntech Power, the world?s largest panel manufacturer, has posted Q2 losses of US$259.5 million, despite better-than-expected top-line growth. Read more

SoloPower receives USD 197 million loan guarantee from U.S. DOE to build thin film PV module facilities

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 15:42 (Solarserver)

SoloPower (San Jose, California), manufacturer of flexible thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, on August 19th, 2011 announced that it has received a USD 197 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy?s (DOE) Loan Programs Office. The guarantee will support the construction and operation of three facilities that are expected to produce approximately 400MW of thin film photovoltaic modules annually, SoloPower reports in a press release. Read more

Suntech reports heavy losses in 2Q 2011 results

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 15:41 (Solarserver)

On August 22nd, 2011, Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) released second quarter 2011 results, reporting a 5% quarter-to-quarter decrease in revenues to USD 831 million, an operating margin of -20%, and a USD 259 million net loss attributable to shareholders. Suntech's losses are among the most serious in the PV industry, which saw a very difficult second quarter of 2011 due to industry-wide oversupply and falling module prices. However, the company remains optimistic. Read more

Astronergy to invest in solar PV farms in Thailand, and partner with Solar Park Co., Ltd.

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 23:10 (Solarserver)

Astronergy (Hangzhou, China), a Chint company, announced its new plans to invest in solar farms in Thailand with its partner, Solar Park Co., Ltd., expecting commercial operation on December 30, 2011. Located in Saraburi province, 100 km north of Bangkok, the PV plants will have a combined total capacity of 5.5 megawatts (MWp). All of the plants will incorporate polycrystalline PV modules from Astronergy (CHSM 6610P), inverters from Chint Power System Co., Ltd., and BOS components from other Chint subsidiaries. Read more

CNPV announces strategic partnership with U.S. PV project developer SolarTec Group

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 23:10 (Solarserver)

On August 19th, 2011, CNPV Solar Power SA (Luxembourg and Dongying, China) announced a strategic partnership with SolarTec Group (Denver, Colorado, U.S.), including an agreement to supply 300 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) products over a three-year period. Through the agreement, 20 MW will be delivered this year, with the remainder in the following two years. The agreement also sets terms of a joint venture on specific projects. Read more

Sunvalley Solar lands US$2 million contract for solar project in Long Beach, California

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 22:27 (PV-Tech)

Sunvalley Solar won a US$2 million contract for the deployment of a 405kW commercial solar project with All Fortune Group in Long Beach, California. The solar project will use solar panels supplied by Tianwei New Energy and solar inverters from PV Powered. Read more

CNPV Solar Power joins COSEIA

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 22:02 (PV-Tech)

CNPV Solar Power revealed that they had joined the nonprofit Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA). COSEIA is focused on expanding solar technologies throughout Colorado while advancing solar policy, removing market barriers, shedding light on emerging trends and improving education and outreach. Read more

Etrion completes Nettuno Solar Park ahead of schedule

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 18:21 (PV-Tech)

Etrion has completed construction of its 2.6MW solar plant in Nettuno, Italy. The ground-based photovoltaic plant brings the company?s solar portfolio to a total of 49.8MW, with two further 5MW plants under construction. Read more

AU Optronics, SunWize sign North America distribution deal

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 18:06 (PV-Tech)

AU Optronics (AUO) will be combining its upstream manufacturing with SunWize Technologies? downstream distribution under a new agreement that will see SunWize circulate AUO?s full line of solar PV products to solar installers in North America. Read more

In Race for Solar Integration, N.J. Company Takes Pole Position

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 17:30 (Renewable Energy World)

The ubiquitous utility pole stands proudly as an example of a necessary, yet perhaps unsightly, addition to the modern world. When they were going up, there may have been some groans. But, really, do we even notice them anymore? Read more

Solar Millennium AG adopts strategic realignment after negative result in the first half of the fiscal year

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 13:48 (Solarserver)

With respect to the development of the world?s largest solar energy location with a capacity of up to 1,000 MW in the Californian city of Blythe, U.S., Solar Millennium AG (Erlangen, Germany)) decided to take a new path in the last week. Instead of the previously projected concentrating solar power (CSP) technology in the form of parabolic trough power plants, the first two 250 MW plants are now to be equipped with photovoltaics (PV). As expected, the result of Solar Millennium is negative in the first half of the fiscal year, because the financial closes for Blythe and Ibersol were not scheduled to take place before the second half of the fiscal year. Given the shift of Read more

Australian PV module producer Silex Solar to restructure, appoints new CEO

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 13:47 (Solarserver)

On August 16th, 2011, Silex Solar Pty Ltd. (Homebush Bay, Australia) announced that it will restructure its business, including replacing solar photovoltaic (PV) cells produced in-house with third-party cells in its PV modules. The company has also appointed a new CEO, Craig Menzies. Silex will lay off 30 workers as a result of this restructuring, however the company will continue to manufacture PV modules at its Sydney Olympic Park location. Read more

Bolton Wanderers signs sponsorship agreement with Hanwha Group

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 11:53 (PV-Tech)

Bolton Wanderers have become the latest European football club to join the solar revolution by signing a one-year partnership with Hanwha Group. The agreement will grant Hanwha billboard and video advertising space during home games at Bolton?s Reebok Stadium. Read more

First Solar unveils new Arizona module facility

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 10:49 (PV-Tech)

First Solar has officially opened its new factory in Mesa, Arizona at a ceremony on Friday morning. Module production at Mesa is expected to begin by Q3 2012 and will employ approximately 600 full-time staff. First Solar is investing just over US$300 million in the four-line factory, which will produce approximately 250MW of thin-film modules per annum. Read more

DOE Offers Conditional $133.9 Million Loan Guarantee to Abengoa Bioenergy

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 17:01 (Renewable Energy World)

In Kansas, the US Department of Energy has offered Abengoa Bioenergy a conditional commitment for a $133.9 million federal loan guarantee for the construction of its "first of a kind" commercial scale biorefinery facility to produce renewable liquid fuel from earth's most abundant organic feedstock source ? plant fiber, or cellulosic biomass. Read more

What are the Challenges and Innovations in Offshore Wind Design and Development?

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 11:26 (Renewable Energy World)

Although still only a tiny fraction of the world's installed wind capacity, offshore wind is about to explode. BTM Consult predicts that more than 16 GW of new offshore will be installed by the end of 2014, with a global total of 75 GW by 2020. Read more

California Public Utilities Commission adopts utility implementation plans for Renewable Auction Mechanism

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 23:09 (Solarserver)

On August 18th, 2011, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved three major California utilities' plans to implement a two-year competitive solicitation program. The state's Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM) was approved by the CPUC in December 2011, as a 1 GW pilot program for renewable energy generation facilities 1.5 MW to 20 MW in size. Read more

Japan Poll: Switch to Renewables, But Take It Slow

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 22:23 (Renewable Energy World)

As Japan continues to consider its energy future, a new poll released by Japanese newspaper The Mainichi Daily News indicates that though nearly three in four Japanese citizens want to move away from nuclear power, only one in 10 believe the country should sever ties immediately. Read more

BNB Renewable Energy, Enfinity America to co-develop 9.8MW Campbell Soup PV project

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 21:51 (PV-Tech)

BNB Renewable Energy Holdings advised of its new agreement with Enfinity America in which the two companies will co-develop projects from BNB?s distributed generation pipeline in the US. The first project the two companies will develop is the 9.8MW ground-mounted solar project, which is under construction at Campbell Soup Company?s facility in Napoleon, Ohio. Read more

Sunborne Energy secures US$30 million loan for 15MW Indian plant

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 18:34 (PV-Tech)

Sunborne Energy has received a INR1.4 billion (US$30.6 million) loan to build its 15MW plant in Gujarat, India. The system is one of the first to secure funding from India?s initial auction for solar development permits. State Bank of Patiala, Canara Bank, Export-Import Bank of India and State Bank of Travancore agreed to the 12-year loan and Sunborne has a nine-month grace period on payments. Read more

Social housing residents to benefit from new green heating scheme

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 17:58 (Solarpowerportal)

Social housing tenants are set to benefit from a new Government-run scheme, which has pledged £3 million to help cut rising bill costs. The funding will be put towards the installation of eco-heaters, including solar thermal panels. Read more

SkyFuel to partner with Braxenergy to bring CSP technology to Brazil

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 15:41 (Solarserver)

On August 18th, 2011, SkyFuel Inc. (Arvada, Colorado, U.S.) announced an agreement with Braxenergy Desenvolvmento de Projetos de Energia Ltda. (Sao Paulo, Brazil) to bring concentrating solar power (CSP) technology to Brazil. As an initial project, the companies plan to build a 50 MW CSP/biomass plant in Northeastern Brazil, which will produce power from coconut waste at night and during cloudy periods. Read more

Yingli reports record PV module shipments, 27% increase in revenues in 2Q 2011

Monday, 8.22.2011 - 13:49 (Solarserver)

During one of the most difficult quarters for PV manufacturers in recent memory, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Ltd. (Baoding, China) reported strong performance across the board in its second quarter 2011 results, released on August 18th, 2011. The company reported record PV module shipments, a 27.4% quarter-to-quarter increase in revenues to USD 681 million, and an operating margin of 12%. Read more