DOE fires off another round of SunShot funding, with $145 million slated for PV R&D, BOS, and beyond

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 23:12 (PV-Tech)

In the Department of Energy?s latest move to help foster the next generation of solar technologies and strengthen the US position in the field, more than $145 million will be allocated for 69 projects in 24 states in a variety of disciplines as part of DOE?s SunShot Initiative. Funded through the department?s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE hopes the projects will accelerate R&D to increase efficiency, lower costs, advance cutting-edge technologies, as well as improve materials, manufacturing processes and supply chains for a wide range of photovoltaic cells and components of solar energy systems. Some investments also support efforts that will shorten Read more

Bosch solar modules certified in compliance with Italian Conto Energia IV standards

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 21:30 (Solarserver)

Under Conto Energia IV, Italy's renewable energy law in force since June, the Italian government has implemented several measures which will provide an additional incentive for investors in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The certification services provider TÜV Rheinland has developed a certificate in cooperation with the Italian energy agency GSE which verifies by means of regular inspections that at least 60% of a module or its system components are manufactured in Europe. This means that Italian investors can now expect ten percent higher feed-in tariff payments in accordance with Conto Energia IV if they use Bosch Solar Energy solar modules. Read more

Autodesk software used in SunPods pre-fabricated modular PV arrays

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 21:29 (Solarserver)

On August 31st, 2011, Autodesk Inc. (San Rafael, California, U.S.) announced that SunPods Inc.'s (San Jose, California, U.S.) pre-manufactured modular solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays were developed using its software. SunPods claims that its Sun Power On Demand (SunPods) units reduce installation time by up to 85%. Each self-contained modular unit is capable of generating up to 3.82 kW of electricity, and units can be linked for larger installations. Read more

EU PVSEC: centrotherm photovoltaics pushing CIGS to 11% and c-Si to 20%

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 20:25 (PV-Tech)

Verified by Fraunhofer ISE, centrotherm photovoltaics has claimed c-Si solar cells, using its own process technology have achieved 20% cell efficiencies. The major equipment and technology provider to the PV industry is also touting efforts at Taiwan-based CIGS thin film producer, Sunshine of moving close to obtaining module efficiencies of 11%, while using nonhazardous and recyclable elementary selenium instead of highly toxic hydrogen selenide (H2Se). Read more

Inventux extends product warranties to 10 years on micromorph thin-film PV systems

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 18:47 (PV-Tech)

Inventux Technologies has extended its product warranties for its micromorph-silicon thin-film PV systems from five to 10 years. The offer includes system components such as modules, inverters, and mounting systems and is being provided at no additional cost. Read more

Technology Cost Review: Grid Parity for Renewables?

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Research from the University of Melbourne's Energy Research Institute predicts that the price of wind and solar energy will continue to fall. The Institute's Renewable Energy Technology Cost Review covers the current and future costs of three forms of renewable energy technology - photovoltaic (PV), wind and concentrating solar thermal (CST) - by comparing data from a range of international and Australia-specific studies. Read more

Canadian Solar modules exclusively used in 70MW power plant in Germany

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 14:13 (PV-Tech)

Germany?s largest solar power park, built by GP Joule has used approximately 306,000 solar modules from Canadian Solar on a 152 hectare site at a former open-cast mine in Meuro, Brandenburg. The PV power plant started construction in July, 2011 at a cost of ?140 million, funded by HSH Nordbank. The Meuro project is expected to generate 70,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually, covering the energy demand of approximately 17,500 households. Read more

Delta Energy Systems introduces UK inverter range

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 13:43 (Solarpowerportal)

The Germany-based solar inverter manufacturer Delta Energy Systems is now entering the UK PV market with its string inverter models SOLIVIA 2.5, 3.0 and 3.3 EU G3. Focusing on residential installations, the inverters have a power output range between 2.5kW and 3.3kW and will be available from September this year. Read more

Australia: Victoria introduces "transitional" feed-in tariff for PV generation

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 13:10 (Solarserver)

On September 1st, 2011, the Government of the Australian state of Victoria announced that it will introduce a "transitional" feed-in tariff (TFIT) of AUD 0.25/kWh (USD 0.27/kWh) for rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, while it reviews the current FIT. The current feed-in tariff has a statutory cap of 100 MW. A review of the program by the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) is expected to commence later in 2011, with a report in the second half of 2012. Read more

Suntech launches new HiPerforma PV module line based on Pluto technology in Europe

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 13:05 (Solarserver)

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (Wuxi, China) has launched its new generation high-efficiency "HiPerforma" product line with the introduction of HiPerforma Pluto Vdm-295 and HiPerforma Wdm-245 in Europe. Both products, which are immediately available, utilize Suntech's advanced "Pluto" cell processing technology that allows cells to absorb more sunlight and generate more electricity. Read more

Siemens to build 25MWp of PV power plants in Italy, Martinique and Guadeloupe

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 0:36 (PV-Tech)

Siemens Energy has received orders for the turnkey construction of 15 photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 25MWp, to be located in several sites in Italy as well as he overseas departments of France of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Read more

Air Liquide invests in PV cell manufacturing R&D line

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 0:35 (PV-Tech)

Air Liquide revealed that it has invested in a PV cell manufacturing line for research and development purposes. The investment includes a crystalline solar cell manufacturing characterization line, which the company intends to use towards the development and evaluation of new concepts for the performance and manufacturing costs of crystalline solar cells. Read more

Polysilicon production: SunSi Energies ships first trichlorosilane order outside of China

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 21:29 (Solarserver)

On August 31st, 2011, SunSi Energies Inc. (New York, New York, U.S.) announced that it has sold 117 metric tons of trichlorosilane (TCS) from its Wending facility in Weihai City, China to Nitol Solar Ltd. (Moscow, Russia). Nitol Solar represents the company's first customer outside of China to purchase TCS, from which polysilicon is manufactured. Read more

Mitsubishi Electric announces a series of free UK-based PV seminars

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 19:58 (Solarpowerportal)

Adding to the ever-growing solar education in the UK, Mitsubishi Electric has arranged a series of free, CPD-Accredited Seminars. Designed as half-day events, the seminars will showcase PV technology and explain how businesses can maximise the benefits and incentives available by installing a system. Read more

SAG Solarstrom activates 48MWp Serenissima PV power plant in Italy, meets deadline for higher FiT

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 19:03 (PV-Tech)

SAG Solarstrom said the 48MWp Serenissima photovoltaic project in northern Italy was connected to the grid on schedule to meet the Aug. 31 deadline. The plant, the largest in the company?s history, features more than 200,000 ground-mounted solar modules and will produce more than 64 million KWh annually, enough to provide energy to more than 14,000 households. Read more

Order Focus: Senersun to supply 4MW of PV modules to Cooperativa Cellini for Italian solar farm

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 18:25 (PV-Tech)

Senersun has been been awarded a contract by EPC company Cooperativa Cellini to supply 16,620 of its polycrystalline-silicon PV modules for a 4MW solar farm to be built in Arezzo Province, Italy. Read more

SPI 2011 Gets An Assist From Magic

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 16:58 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar is getting big and it’s promising to get bigger. Texas, as we all know, invented big. So as far as Solar Power International is concerned, it’s a match made in solar tradeshow heaven. And they have the numbers to prove it.The continent’s biggest solar gathering for the first time moves out of California and heads to Texas, where it will set up shop inside the cavernous Dallas Convention Center on Oct. 17-20. There will be 1,200 companies, 800,000 square feet of exhibit space, and organizers hope a new record attendance of more than 25,000. To many, though, the most awe-inspiring figure may be 6 feet, 9 inches. That’s the height of hands-down Read more

Trina Solar to introduce new multicrystalline PV module and "Honey" cell technology platform at PVSEC Hamburg

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 14:11 (Solarserver)

Trina Solar Limited (Shanghai, China) on August 1st, 2011 announced that it will introduce its new multicrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) module "TSM-PC/PA05A" at the PVSEC exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, to be held from September 5th to 8th, 2011. The new module will be displayed at Trina Solar's booth B6/B24. Read more

NREL data set shows clouds' effects on solar PV; Measurement stations in Hawaii gauge second-by-second impact

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 14:11 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Department of Energy?s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL, Golden, Colo.) has produced and made available a rich data set showing what happens, second-by-second, when clouds pass over a solar power installation. The data set is of great interest to utilities, developers of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems, forecasters, system operators, laboratories and universities. Read more

First Solar PV modules "Made in EU" qualify for Italian Feed-In Tariff premium

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 14:10 (Solarserver)

Solar modules produced by First Solar, Inc. (Tempe, Ariz.) in its German factory in Frankfurt (Oder) satisfy requirements for a 10% feed-in tariff premium in Italy after passing a thorough factory inspection, the company announced on September 1st, 2011. ?This certification provides an added value to our customers in Italy by increasing the attractiveness of investments in commercial PV systems,? said Stephan Hansen, Vice President of Sales for First Solar in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Read more

China Solar & Clean Energy Solutions announces executive appointments

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 14:10 (Solarserver)

China Solar & Clean Energy Solutions Inc. (Beijing, China) has announced the appointment of Nie ErSen as CEO assistant & manager of Large Projects Operations, and Li Fen as chief technology officer of Integrated Low Carbon Eco-Solutions System. Both appointments are effective as of August 30th, 2011. Nie ErSen's last appointment was for Beijing North Solar Engineering & Technology Company Ltd as vice general manager from 2008 to 2011. Read more

SolarWorld closing legacy production lines in Germany and US

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 13:19 (PV-Tech)

Germany?s largest PV manufacturer, SolarWorld is closing down legacy module production lines in the US and Germany as part of measures to strengthen its competitiveness. After over a year of increasing capacity in both countries, SolarWorld is closing its module plant in Camarillo, California while legacy lines in Freiberg, Saxony will be taken out of service, according to the company. As a result, short-term ?loan worker? numbers in Germany will be reduced, though the company did not provide total workforce reduction numbers. SolarWorld said that production in the US would be concentrated at its facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. Read more

NRG commissions 20 MW Roadrunner Solar Generating Facility in New Mexico

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 13:12 (Solarserver)

On August 31st, 2011, NRG Solar (Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.) announced the commissioning of its 20 MW Roadrunner Solar Generating Facility near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, which will use its cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin film PV modules. Read more

Innotech Solar?s modules latest to receive ?Made in the EU? certification for Italian market

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 0:51 (PV-Tech)

Innotech Solar?s ITS Economy NEW polycrystalline-silicon solar modules have been certified as ?Made in the EU,? qualifying them to be eligible to receive for subsidies in the Italian market. The panels are made in the SweModule factory in Glava, Sweden. Read more

What Can Lithium Ion Battery Technology Do for Transmission & Distribution Investment Deferral?

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 17:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Advanced energy storage technology continues to develop, with projects moving out of the pilot stages and into commercial-scale, economically viable deployments. Read more

Siemens Energy receives orders to build 24.7 MW of PV plants in Italy, French territories

Friday, 9.2.2011 - 13:07 (Solarserver)

On September 1st, 2011, Siemens Energy (Erlangen, Germany) announced that it has received orders to construct 24.7 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Italy and French territories. The company will construct six PV plants in Italy for a total of 16.7 MW, and nine PV plants in Martinique and Guadeloupe for a total of 8 MW for Sun Development. All plants will be constructed on a turn-key basis and all are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2011. Read more