Conergy shuts down wafer and cell manufacturing at Frankfurt site, keeps PV module production

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 21:49 (PV-Tech)

Two weeks after Conergy was busy putting out fires surrounding the rumors that it was planning to close its manufacturing plant in Frankfurt, the company has advised that it will be halting production of its wafer and cell manufacturing lines at the German facility. The company advised that its PV module production at the Oder plant would continue, but that the over-capacity, price pressures and the inability to cover the costs of wafer and cell manufacturing had forced it to discontinue the productions for the time being. Read more

DuPont reduces silver content by 15% in new metallization paste

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 16:57 (PV-Tech)

DuPont Microcircuit Materials (MCM) has announced the release of its latest photovoltaic metallization paste, with 15% less silver than previous pastes. The introduction of the Solamet PV51M comes as part of the company?s continued attempts to reduce the silver content of its pastes by 20%, in the face of rising silver prices. Read more

Lux Research: Portugal, New Jersey leading PV growth markets

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 13:50 (Solarserver)

On September 6th, 2011, Lux Research Inc. (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) released a report identifying Portugal and the U.S. states of New Jersey as leading potential growth markets for solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar photovoltaic (CPV) technologies through 2013. The company's 2Q 2011 Solar Demand Tracker shows steadily rising internal rates of return (IRR) for PV technologies in Portugal, which it says will support the growth of the nation's PV market to nearly 400 MW in 2016. Read more

Pennsylvania reaches 100 MW of installed PV, surpasses state targets

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 13:16 (Solarserver)

On September 5th, 2011, Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) announced that Pennsylvania has reached 100 MW of installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, citing figures by PJM Interconnection LLC (Norristown, Pennsylvania). The organization has also called for the passage of legislation to increase the state's solar energy mandates, noting that Pennsylvania is already close to reaching 2014 solar targets. Read more

U.S. DOE offers loan guarantee for a project to build up to 371 MW of rooftop PV plants in military bases

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 11:16 (Solarserver)

On September 7th, 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the offer of a conditional commitment to support a USD 344 million loan for the construction of up to 160,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) plants on roofs in U.S. military bases. SolarCity Corporation (San Mateo, California, U.S.) will partner with military housing developers on its SolarStrong project, which will install up to 371 MW of PV capacity on as many as 124 military housing developments in 33 states. Read more

Thin film PV: Avancis achieves 15.8% aperture efficiency on CIGS submodule

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 11:07 (Solarserver)

On September 6th, 2011, Avancis GmbH & Co. KG (Torgau, Germany) announced that it has achieved a new world record of 15.8% aperture efficiency on a 30cm x 30cm copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar photovoltaic thin film (PV) module, as confirmed by TÜV Rheinland AG (Köln, Germany). Avancis presented the new record, an improvement over the company's previous record of 15.5%, at the EU PVSEC trade show in Hamburg, Germany. Read more

aleo solar names Shane Messer as executive VP of sales and marketing for North American division

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 22:05 (PV-Tech)

Shane Messer, the former senior director of sales for North America, residential and light commercial at SunPower has joined aleo solar as its new executive vice president of sales and marketing for the North American market. Messer, whose duties officially began August 1, was also named the general manager for the company?s US subsidiary. Read more

Constellation Energy launches solar panel leasing program for customers in six US states

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 21:13 (PV-Tech)

Constellation Energy has initiated its solar panel leasing program for residential customers in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Customers in Maryland will have the solar offer conducted through Constellation?s subsidiary, BGE Home. Read more

U.S. Senator to Obama: Hike Tariffs on Chinese Panels

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 20:16 (Renewable Energy World)

Just hours before President Obama was to unveil a jobs package to address America's stagnant employment figures, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon called for the president to implement policies that would address China's dominance in solar manufacturing. Read more

Solar Comes of Age: SolarCity to Double PV Systems on American Homes by 2016

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 20:09 (Renewable Energy World)

A leading American solar company is set to begin the largest residential rooftop project ever undertaken, effectively doubling the number of solar systems currently on homes around the U.S. Read more

German solar incentives set for major cut in January

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 16:11 (PV-Tech)

The German government could impose harsher-than-expected cuts to solar energy subsidies next year due to a rise in solar panel installations, according to a Reuters report. In June and July, around 1.25GW of PV capacity was installed in Germany, a figure higher than the figure achieved in the preceding five months of the year combined, and while Germany?s network regulator declined to comment on these reported figures, government sources have indicated this will prompt a 15% cut to incentives in January. Read more

Bringing down the barriers for solar PV to thrive

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 16:10 (Solarpowerportal)

PV Legal’s European report proposes new solutions for reducing bureaucratic obstacles and streamlining administrative procedures to allow solar photovoltaic (PV) to grow to its full potential. Read more

B2B exchange for PV components pvXchange to enter the North American solar market

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 13:44 (Solarserver)

pvXchange, the leading global online business-to-business exchange for photovoltaic (PV) components, has announced its entry into the North American marketplace with the opening of its U.S. headquarters in San Francisco. The office will serve as base of all North American operations for the company, which also has a presence in New Jersey and Ontario, Canada. Read more

First Solar extends workmanship warranty for thin film PV modules to ten years

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 13:33 (Solarserver)

On September 6th, 2011, First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) announced at the EU PVSEC trade show in Hamburg, Germany that it has extended its material and workmanship warranty for its thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules from five to ten years. The new warranty covers First Solar's Series 3 PV modules starting on October 1st, 2011. Read more

Juwi Solar commissions 200 kW off-grid PV plant in Namibia

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 13:29 (Solarserver)

On September 5th, 2011 Juwi Solar GmbH announced that it has commissioned a 200 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in a community in Northern Namibia not served by the electricity grid. The company states that the plant is one of Africa's largest off-grid PV plants, and is part of the Tsumkwe Energy Project, which includes 1 MW of battery storage and three integrated diesel generators to supply power on demand. Read more

Covers Building Merchants selects Azur Solar systems for UK projects

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 12:16 (Solarpowerportal)

Covers Builders Merchants is set to install Azur Solar solutions across the UK after successfully completing trial projects at six of its branches in Southern England. The installations at the Covers Home Ideas store, the Covers Trade Centre at Chichester and the depots at Aldershot, Bognor, Gosport, and Portsmouth will now be used as reference sites. Read more

Durham Council considers solar installation scheme

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 11:50 (Solarpowerportal)

According to Inside Housing, Durham County Council is, like many others, considering the installation of photovoltaic panels on 3,000 of its homes. The plans are aimed at reducing fuel poverty in the area while cutting residents carbon footprint and energy bills. Read more

LDK Solar announces AGM results

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 11:32 (PV-Tech)

LDK Solar?s shareholders have approved all of the motions proposed during this year?s Annual General Meeting (AGM), including the adoption of the 2010 annual report. Other significant decisions made during Thursday?s meeting at the company offices in Hong Kong were the re-election of class I directors Liangbao Zhu and Yonggang Shao and the ratification and re-election of class I director Maurice Wai-fung Ngai as an independent director. Read more

European project PV LEGAL publishes recommendations for removing barriers to successful PV deployment and streamlining administrative procedures for solar PV continue to thrive

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 11:26 (Solarserver)

Solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, but bureaucratic hurdles continue to make it impossible to fully exploit the sun?s potential as a source of energy. In a new publication, the European PV LEGAL project makes concrete recommendations for reducing administrative barriers to the planning and installation of PV systems and helping to spur more development of this safe, clean and infinitely renewable energy source. Read more

Thin film PV innovation: Oerlikon Solar wins the Solar Industry Award for the third time in a row

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 10:59 (Solarserver)

Oerlikon Solar (Trubbach, Switzerland), has been honored the Solar Industry Award in the category of ?Thin Film Innovations? for the third time in a row. The international prize is awarded annually by the British trade magazine Solar PV Management. The jury selected Oerlikon Solar's new production line "ThinFab" as the winner of the "Thin Film Innovation Award". The awards ceremony was held at the 26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Hamburg. Read more

DOE awards $344M conditional partial loan guarantee to SolarCity to install PV on military rooftops

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 5:50 (PV-Tech)

In what?s likely to be one of many similar announcements over the next few weeks, the US Department of Energy awarded another conditional commitment for a partial loan guarantee, this time for $344 million to a program that will bring solar PV to tens of thousands of residential and other rooftops on US military bases. The project, code named SolarStrong, will be led by SolarCity, with USRG Renewable Finance acting as lead lender in partnership with Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Read more

US Navy chooses three solar developers for US$500M Hawaiian PV project contract

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 0:24 (PV-Tech)

The US Navy revealed that it had chosen Photon Finance, Island Pacific Energy and Pacific Energy Solutions as the recipients of a US$500 million multiple award contract for the development of solar power systems at 11 naval facilities in Hawaii. The Navy noted that it had received 13 bids in response to its Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific request for proposal. Read more

Samsung Renewable Energy to construct PV module manufacturing facility in London, Ontario

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 22:43 (PV-Tech)

Samsung Renewable Energy has selected London, Ontario for the site of its new solar module manufacturing facility. The modules produced at the site will be used for installations constructed in Ontario and abroad. While Samsung did not reply to requests for additional information regarding the plant?s capacity or cost, it has been reported that the London plant is expected to be operational by 2012. The facility is anticipated to create 200 direct, long-term manufacturing jobs and 120 indirect jobs for a city, which ranks high in unemployment for Canada. Read more

FBI Raids Solyndra Headquarters

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 21:51 (Renewable Energy World)

The FBI and agents from the Energy Department's inspector general's office conducted a joint raid early Thursday at Solyndra headquarters in Fremont, Calif. Read more

Google Discloses Carbon Footprint, Renewable Energy Goals

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 21:32 (Renewable Energy World)

Google has been playing an interesting role in renewable energy development, and not only because it has invested more than $780 million in renewable energy generation and tech development. Read more

DOE finalizes US$150M loan guarantee for 1366 Technologies facility construction in Massachusetts

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 20:58 (PV-Tech)

Earlier this year the US Department of Energy (DOE) revealed that it had awarded a conditional commitment of US$150 million to 1366 Technologies for the development of a multicrystalline wafer manufacturing facility. The loan guarantee has officially been finalized and will see 1366 capable of producing 700 to 1,000MW of silicon-based wafers annually with its Direct Wafer technology. Read more

Report: FBI, DOE team executing search warrants at Solyndra

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 18:57 (PV-Tech)

News outlets are reporting that Federal agents executed search warrants Thursday morning at Solyndra?s headquarters in Fremont, CA. The San Jose Mercury News and Associated Press say that the search is a joint operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Energy?s Office of Inspector General. FBI spokespeople would not comment on the purpose of the search or other details. The Mercury News reports that there are ?indications? that the agents are interviewing some of the remaining 100 or so company employees who make up a transition team. Read more

Realforce Power completes 2.5MW rooftop system in China

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 17:13 (PV-Tech)

Realforce Power, a China-based cell, module and integrated system provider, has completed work on a PV array on the roof of a technology institute in Shandong province. With a capacity of 2.5MW, it is one of the largest rooftop systems in China and will cut coal emissions in the province by 1,227 tonnes. Read more

Veterans, Politicians Team Up in Battle to Change Energy Policy

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 15:14 (Renewable Energy World)

It was 1996 and Rear Adm. Larry Baucom had a job to do. His mission: Protect American oil interests in the Persian Gulf. Even with the backdrop of peace, Baucom understood this was a costly endeavor. Read more

Kansai Electric starts operating 10MW system in Osaka, Japan

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 13:58 (PV-Tech)

One of Japan?s main power suppliers, Kansai Electric Power, has started commercial operation of its 10MW PV plant in Sakai City, Osaka, reports Bloomberg. The plant, which started partial operation in October 2010, is one of the largest in Japan and generates enough electricity to power around 3,000 homes. Read more

Day4 Energy, Roth & Rau unveil PV module with 19.3% efficient cell area

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 13:23 (Solarserver)

On September 7th, 2011 Day4 Energy Inc. (Burnaby, Canada) and Roth & Rau AG (Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany) announced that they have produced a solar photovoltaic (PV) module with a 19.3% efficient cell area. The new cells and modules utilize Roth & Rau's Heterojunction Technology and Day4 Energy's DNA Technologies. Read more

Photon Energy to build 1MW installation in Ellrich, Germany

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 11:16 (PV-Tech)

Photon Energy has been contracted to construct a 1MW installation in the town of Ellrich, Germany on a former landfill site. It is the Czech PV installer?s first German ground-mounted project, having already begun work on a number of rooftop installations in the north-east of the country. Read more

REC extends module linear warranty, achieves record energy payback time

Thursday, 9.8.2011 - 0:08 (PV-Tech)

REC?s new achievements for its solar modules should entice customers to look twice at the companies solar modules. REC revealed that its crystalline solar modules had not only cut their carbon footprint, but had also achieved an enhanced energy payback time and that it was now offering extended linear warranty for its solar modules sold as of September 1, 2011. Read more