SMA plans staffing cuts as sales fall

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 15:58 (PV-Tech)

German inverter manufacture SMA is predicting job losses next year as a result of a likely ?severe? decline in sales stemming from PV subsidy cuts across Europe. Read more

Could Trade Barriers Help the PV Industry Regain Its Balance?

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The October 10 ruling by the US Department of Commerce against PV modules containing Chinese-produced solar cells is just the most recent development in a string of trade disputes that stretch across the globe. Until now, much of the discussion has focused on the details of each case, the potential effect on different manufacturers, technology types, etc. Read more

SMA predicts 20% decline in 2013 PV inverter sales, plans layoffs

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 9:30 (Solarserver)

SMA Solar Technology AG's (Niestetal, Germany) Managing Board has forecast 2013 revenues to between EUR 0.9 and 1.3 billion (USD 1.2 to 1.7 billion), an estimated 20% decline over projected 2012 revenues, and warns of the possibility of a net loss for the year. The company will gradually reduce 450 positions globally, as well as laying off 600 temporary employees. SMA says that this will be due to a "steep downturn" in the European solar photovoltaic (PV) market, caused by "massive" subsidy cuts. Read more

Chile approves 162 MW PV project in Atacama region

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 9:23 (Solarserver)

Chile's Environmental Assessment Agency has approved a 162 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in its Atacama region, as the latest massive solar plant planned in the nation. The Diego de Almagro Solar Park will comprise 579,000 PV modules over an area of 354 hectares at site situated 1,050 meters above sea level. Developer Mainstream Renewable Power Ltd. (Dublin, Ireland) plans to commission the USD 420 million project in January 2013. Read more

Stanford Researchers Use Solar Power To Study Wild Elephants in Africa

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 21:40 (Renewable Energy World)

A team of elephant researchers from Stanford University has transformed a remote corner of southern Africa into a high-tech field camp run entirely on sunlight. The seasonal solar-powered research camp gives scientists a rare opportunity to quietly observe, videotape and photograph wild elephants at Mushara waterhole, an isolated oasis in Etosha National Park in Namibia. Read more

NLP Solar Sales Training | 2 New Residential Loan Programs | Live Webinar Oct 31st & Nov 1st

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 20:01 (Renewable Energy World)

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SolarCity wins contract for 14MW PV project on Kauai island

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Hawaiian PV installer SolarCity has been awarded a contract to build a 14MW PV facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai after it was selected by Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC). Read more

Dusk For Another Solar Pioneer: Stan Ovshinsky Passes Away October

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 16:15 (Renewable Energy World)

In 1973 Stan Ovshinsky, President of Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) came into my office when I had just become an energy aide to Senator Jacob Javits (NY) in the first few lurching weeks of the first oil embargo. Stan, accompanied by his wife Rose, also a scientist as well as a co-founder of his company, proceeded to tell me the benefits of solar Read more

Southern Power and Turner Renewable Energy finalise fourth solar acquisition

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 16:10 (PV-Tech)

Southern Power and Turner Renewable Energy have completed their fourth joint solar acquisition in just two years. Read more

China Speeds Up Solar Lifeline

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 15:45 (Renewable Energy World)

A new Chinese media report shows that after more than a year of talk, Beijing is finally turning its aggressive talk on solar energy into action by more than doubling its approval of new solar power plants this year. The main question now is: Will any of its struggling solar panel makers survive long enough to enjoy the expected boom in business wh Read more

SPI 2012: President Bill Clinton champions solar education for the masses

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 15:44 (PV-Tech)

At his keynote speech at Solar Power International in Florida this year, former President Bill Clinton put forward a proposal to energize the solar PV industry: ?Americans need to know more than they now know?. Read more

Andes Mainstream seeks approval for 70MW Chilean PV plant

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

Andes Mainstream, a Chilean subsidiary of Irish renewable energy specialist Mainstream Renewable Power, has presented plans to Chilean environmental authorities in the hope of obtaining approval for its proposed 70MW solar park in the Arica y Parinacota region in northern Chile. Read more

The Question Day 13: What is the Most Difficult Issue Facing the Solar Industry?

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 13:51 (Renewable Energy World)

It's been a year of both continued expansion and mounting challenges for the global solar industry. RenewableEnergyWorld asked solar industry executives to share their thoughts and insights on one burning question: Read more

Asia Report: First Solar Enters Nascent Indonesian Market with 100-MW Deal

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 13:24 (Renewable Energy World)

The world's largest thin film solar module maker, US-based First Solar, has struck a deal with Indonesian utility PT Pembangkitan Jawa Bali (PJB) to supply and build 100 MW of solar PV plants. Read more

FedEx plans solar array on New Jersey hub

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 13:10 (PV-Tech)

Global logistics company FedEx Express has unveiled plans to build a rooftop PV system on its distribution hub in Newark, New Jersey, US. Read more

SolarEdge, Woodward to offer utility-scale power optimization system

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 13:08 (Solarserver)

SolarEdge Technologies Ltd. (Hod Hasharon, Israel) has partnered with Woodward Inc. (Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.) to offer a new utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power optimization system. SolarEdge states that the offering will allow for increased power output and reduced installation and maintenance costs. Additionally, SolarEdge will distribute Woodward's SOLO inverter line in Israel. Read more

Munro Distributing offers home solar without high upfront costs

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 13:00 (PV-Tech)

Munro Distributing has partnered with Sunrun to offer homeowners an affordable way to install solar on their homes. Read more

Australia Flips the Switch on Its Largest Solar Farm

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Australia's largest solar farm went online earlier this month in a small step on the way to achieving the country's ambitious renewable energy target. Read more

Die chilenische Atacama-Wüste hat mit das weltweit stärkste Solar-Potenzial

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 9:18 (Solarserver)

SMA Solar Technology AG (Niestetal, Germany) has appointed Lydia Sommer as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), starting November 1st, 2012. Ms. Sommer will take over responsibility for finance and legal duties from previous CFO Pierre Pascal-Urbon, who will remain as speaker of the Managing Board. Ms. Sommer will also join the company's Managing Board, which will bring it to five members. Read more

Congo's $9 Billion Hydropower Plant May Export Power to S. Africa

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 15:37 (Renewable Energy World)

The Democratic Republic of Congo may provide 2,500 megawatts of power to South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia under a revised plan to build the Inga III hydropower plant, a project official said. Read more

Putting the A123 Bankruptcy in Context

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 15:57 (Renewable Energy World)

You've probably already heard the news this week about a clean energy company that received a government grant filing for bankruptcy. What you may not have heard quite so clearly is that clean tech is working, for the United States and our transformation to a better, stronger, cleaner energy future. Read more

DECC announces £125 million Green Deal cash back offer

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 15:25 (Solarpowerportal)

The Government has announced that it has set aside a budget of £125 million for its Green Deal cash back scheme in a bid to drive the uptake of the greener home initiative. Read more

Ofgem publishes plans to simplify energy bills

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 15:10 (Solarpowerportal)

Ofgem is proposing stringent new measures to help simplify energy bills and increase competitiveness in the household energy market. Read more

Japanese government to produce guidelines on shift to renewables by the end of 2012

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 13:05 (Solarserver)

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has announced that his administration will decide on "Guidelines for the Green Policy" by the end of 2012, promising a "rocket start" in the move to a low-carbon society in a speech on October 17th, 2012. According to a report by energy policy expert and Law Professor Karl Friedrich Lenz, the Prime Minister ended the speech by confirming that his "Revolutionary Energy and Environment Strategy" is a definite and fixed national strategy. The strategy calls for a nuclear phase-out and move to decentralized renewable energy. Read more

EC approves UK creation of Green Investment Bank

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 12:59 (Solarserver)

The European Commission (EC) has approved the creation of a Green Investment Bank (GIB) in the United Kingdom, through an investment of GBP 3 billion (USD 4.8 billion). The GIB will invest in projects that cannot obtain sufficient funding from markets, and the EC states that it will further UK carbon reduction targets as well as accelerating the development of a green economy. The Commission found the program in line with applicable EU treaties and to not have substantial anti-competitive effects. Read more

Prime Minister?s energy bill pledge sparks mass confusion

Friday, 10.19.2012 - 11:23 (Solarpowerportal)

David Cameron has sparked confusion among his senior ministerial team after announcing apparently without their prior knowledge new legislation that would force energy companies to put their customers on the cheapest tariff available. Read more