Daetwyler unveils modular rooftop PV racking system

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 18:55 (Solarserver)

On January 3rd, 2012 Daetwyler Clean Energy (DCE, Huntersville, North Carolina, U.S.) announced that it has developed a new modular rooftop racking system for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. DCE cites multiple advantages of its Eco-Top system, including an integral wind deflector to minimize wind loads, rubber bases to protect the roof structure, and only three components for rapid installation. Read more

Conergy to provide PV modules for 200 kW rooftop PV plant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 15:49 (Solarserver)

On January 10th, 2012 Conergy AG (Hamburg, Germany) announced that it will provide solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for the first rooftop PV plant in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Conergy will collaborate with Modern Times Technical Systems (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) to install the nearly 200 kW plant, which will feature over 800 Conergy PowerPlus 230M modules on rooftops in Ridayh's King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD). Conergy expects to complete the plant in the first quarter of 2012. Read more

DECC revises FiT budget; adds £197 million to spending cap

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 13:01 (Solarpowerportal)

DECC has revised the figures published for the feed-in tariff budget; increasing the spending envelope by £197 million over the next four years. Read more

GSE approves TÜV Rheinland PTL to test PV products

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 11:03 (Solarserver)

On January 6th, 2012 TÜV Rheinland PTL (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) announced that it has been approved by Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE, Rome, Italy), to perform design qualification and type approval testing of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and systems. GSE is the organization that manages Italy's feed-in tariff. TÜV will test crystalline silicon flat-plate PV modules according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61215 standard, thin-film flat-plate PV modules under IEC 61646 and concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) modules and assemblies under IEC 62108. Read more

GreenPeak Technologies unveils wireless Smart Junction Boxes

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 10:57 (Solarserver)

On January 5th, 2012 GreenPeak Technologies Inc. (Utrecht, The Netherlands) announced a wireless monitoring and control system for solar photovoltaic (PV) plants which it says will allow individual module parameter tracking and control. The company's Smart Junction Box reference design utilizes its GreenPeak wireless chips, and GreenPeak says that this solution allows the monitoring of PV plants in more detail, as well as control of plants from a central unit or remote device. Read more

German PV installations in 2011 even higher than in record year 2010; 3 GW installed in December

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 9:13 (Solarserver)

Last year photovoltaic (PV) systems with a total capacity of approximately 7,500 megawatts (MW) have been installed in Germany, the German federal grid agency estimates based on a preliminary analysis of data reported. New PV installations slightly surpassed the figures of the record year 2010 with a total of 7,400 MW. "In December alone, new PV systems were reported with a total capacity of 3,000 MW - a new maximum figure, which is about 40 percent of the new overall capacity reported in 2011," said Matthias Kurth, President of the German federal grid agency. Read more

U.K. DECC announces first customers under Renewable Heat Incentive

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 18:55 (Solarserver)

On January 6th, 2012 the U.K.'s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced that an umbrella manufacturer and the owners of holiday cottages have become the first two applicants for the nation's Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Both umbrella maker Booth Brothers (Knottingley, U.K.) and Broadgate Farm Cottages (Beverley, U.K.) will use the program to help pay for heat pumps. The program opened in November 2011 and also provides incentives for solar thermal systems. Read more

EnterSolar completes 877 kW PV plant for Chelten House products in New Jersey

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 18:54 (Solarserver)

On January 5th, 2012, EnterSolar (Larchmont, New York, U.S.) announced that it has completed an 877-kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system in Bridgeport, New Jersey. The solar energy system was installed on the roof of Chelten House Products?s 150,000 square foot facility. The solar power plant is expected to meet more than 50% of the processing facility?s annual electricity requirements. Read more

Solar-powered Kindle cover to be unveiled at CES trade show

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 18:53 (Solarserver)

SolarFocus (New Taipei City, Taiwan) will unveil its new solar powered e-reader cover, SolarKindle, at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The cover has a built-in solar photovoltaic panel, a high-powered LED reading light and a built-in reserve battery. The reserve battery powers the reading light and provides extra power for the Kindle. The LED reading light only draws power from the reserve battery, never from the Kindle itself. Read more

Kirchner Solar to expand into Jordan

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 18:03 (PV-Tech)

Following the energy conference in Amman last October, the Kirchner Solar Group has entered into an agreement with sonnen_systeme Projektgesellschaft GmbH, the Deutsche Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and the Berrou Ingenieur Consult GmbH in cooperation with the University Rostock from Germany, to aid Jordan in becoming energy independent through solar power. Read more

Soventix completes first phase of Gerstungen solar park

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 17:20 (PV-Tech)

Soventix, Solaris Kraftwerke and Thermovolt have completed the first installation phase of their joint solar park in Gerstingen, Germany. Building work lasted just three months and when the final two phases are finished the site will have a capacity of 4MW. Read more

OPEL Solar supplies 4.6 MW of trackers for PV plants in California

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 15:57 (Solarserver)

On January 9th, 2012 OPEL Solar Inc. (Shelton, Connecticut) announced that it has completed delivery of its TF-850 solar tracking systems to Global Energy Service USA (GES, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.) to accompany 4.6 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. This sale was OPEL's largest in its history. The trackers will be used at a 2.32 MW PV plant in Palmdale, California and a 2.27 MW PV plant at 29 Palms, California, both of which are being built by GES for Gestamp Solar SL (Madrid, Spain). Read more

Germany's Solar Identity Crisis

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Germany broke its own solar energy installation record in 2011 and added 7.5 gigawatts, the country's regulators said Monday. The question for the reigning solar market now appears to be: how much more does it want? Read more

Solar-powered Internet Connectivity in Lascahobas, Haiti

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

On December 13-14, 2011, a partnered team from Illinois Institute of Technology, Green Wifi, and Inveneo worked together to bring solar-powered Internet connectivity to the EFACAP school in Lascahobas, Haiti. Thanks to funding from an Internet Society Community grant, this team first established a long distance Internet connection to the school, an Read more

Gehrlicher Solar sell two German PV parks to investment firm

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 14:59 (PV-Tech)

Conetwork Erneuerbare Energien (CEE) has bought two ground-mounted solar systems in central Germany from Gehrlicher Solar. The two sites, which were commissioned in December, have a combined capacity of 11.4MW and are due to be completed in the coming weeks. Read more

Saudi Arabia adds PV rooftop systems to Financial District towers in Riyadh

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 13:25 (PV-Tech)

Saudi Arabia?s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh will be equipped with the city?s first solar rooftop plant using Conergy?s PV modules. The 200kW installation will be located on the roofs of towers A and C in the KAFD, reducing the city?s dependence on oil-generated electricity and bringing the city closer to its goal of becoming a recipient of the ?LEED Gold? certification awarded by the US Green Building Council. Read more

Solarig completes installation of first PV plant in Creuse, France

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 13:04 (PV-Tech)

Spanish energy production operator Solarig completed a 5.35MW installation in Bonnat, France in a record time of three months. The ?15million plant covers an area of 3.5 hectares. Read more

Rajasthan unveils plans for four 1GW PV parks

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 12:57 (PV-Tech)

The Indian state of Rajasthan has unveiled plans to build four 1GW solar parks in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Barmer. In addition to PV power plants, the four sites will also feature manufacturing and R&D centres. Read more

United Arab Emirates to build USD 3.2 billion solar PV park in Dubai

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 11:16 (Solarserver)

On January 9th, 2012 United Arab Emirates (UAE) Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched a new USD 3.2 billion solar park project which will cover 48 square kilometers in Dubai, UAE. Development of the first phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will begin in the second quarter of 2012, with 10 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation scheduled for completion in 2013. Developers of the solar park have an ultimate goal to reach 1 GW of PV at the completion of the project in 2030. Read more

Mahindra Solar One commissions 5 MW PV plant in the Indian state of Rajasthan

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 11:09 (Solarserver)

On January 9th, 2012 Mahindra Solar One (Mumbai, India) announced the commissioning of a 5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant near Jodhpur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The PV plant is the company's first, and utilizes a tracking system. Mahindra Solar notes that the plant was the first to achieve non-recourse financing, which it says demonstrates the confidence of the banking sector in the solar industry. Mahindra's engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) division completed and commissioned the PV plant in 100 days. Read more

ET Solar supplies 600 kW of PV modules for projects in UK

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 10:53 (Solarserver)

On January 6th, 2012, ET Solar Group Corp (Nanjing, China) announced that it has supplied 600 kW photovoltaic modules to various rooftop solar energy systems in the United Kingdom. Located in Newcastle, the systems were installed on 30 commercial rooftops of Your Homes Newcastle (YHN), which manages properties on behalf of Newcastle City Council (NCC). Read more

Dubai readies for 1,000MW Solar Park; first 10MW phase expected by 2013

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 1:21 (PV-Tech)

According to a report by Gulf News, Prime Minister and VP of the UAE His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, advised the start of a Dh12 billion solar project, which upon completion will produce 1,000MW of solar power. The Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will be operated by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority with the first phase of the project, 10MW of solar power, slated to be completed by 2013. Read more

Marguerite Fund buys 36MW of EDF Energies 115MW Toul- Rosières PV project

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 1:09 (PV-Tech)

The Marguerite Fund advised that it had recently completed the purchase of 36MW of EDF Energies Nouvelles? 115MW Toul- Rosières solar project in France. Said to be the largest solar PV project in Europe, the Toul- Rosières project is located on a former air base owned by the French State and spreads over 522 hectares. First Solar provided over 1.5 million of its thin-film panels for the installation, which is expected to start producing electricity during Q3. Development, construction, operation and maintenance are managed by EDF Energies Nouvelles. Read more

Marguerite Fund buys 36MW of EDF Energies? 115MW Toul-Rosières PV project

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 1:09 (PV-Tech)

The Marguerite Fund advised that it had recently completed the purchase of 36MW of EDF Energies Nouvelles? 115MW Toul-Rosières solar project in France. Said to be the largest solar PV project in Europe, the Toul-Rosières project is located on a former air base owned by the French State and spreads over 522 hectares. First Solar provided over 1.5 million of its thin-film panels for the installation, which is expected to start producing electricity during Q3. Development, construction, operation and maintenance are managed by EDF Energies Nouvelles. Read more

NREL unveils U.S. renewable energy atlas

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 18:54 (Solarserver)

On January 6th, 2012 the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL, Golden, Colorado, U.S.) unveiled a new interactive geospatial application which allows users to map potential renewable energy resources in the United States. NREL's RE Atlas creates dynamic maps of renewable energy resources including solar, biomass, geothermal, hydropower and wind, with the option of displaying resources individually or together. Read more

Doug Beebe joins Key Equipment Finance as VP of energy sector

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 18:36 (PV-Tech)

Bank-held equipment finance company Key Equipment Finance has named Doug Beebe as vice president of energy finance. This role will see Beebe work on the investment company?s cleantech portfolio to identify, develop and close energy equipment finance and leasing transactions, with a close focus on the PV market. He has over 20 years of experience in the financing sector, and has been active in the solar industry for several years. Read more

Research Council of Oman to fund renewable energy studies

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 16:53 (PV-Tech)

The Research Council of Oman, Saudi Arabia, has approved a budget to fund studies on renewable energy in the Sultanate. The study will be conducted by Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in partnership with the ministries of environment and climate affairs, transport and communications and the regulatory authority for electricity, along with leading international research institutions from the United States. Last summer, the Research Council agreed to support 53 other projects in fields such as healthcare, education and telecommunications. Read more

January 2012 SRECTrade Auction Results: Where is Market Demand?

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

SRECTrade's January 2012 SREC Auction closed last week. Below are the clearing prices by vintage across the markets SRECTrade is currently active in. January 2012 SREC Prices Energy Year Ending State 2010 2011 2012* Delaware - - $65.00 Maryland In-State - $204.99 Read more

UK communities step up renewables commitments

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 13:52 (Solarpowerportal)

The Co-operative Group has published a new report revealing that growing numbers of people are choosing to start renewable energy co-operatives in their communities despite current economic uncertainty. Read more

E.ON offers free home insulation plus £100 off energy bills

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 13:06 (Solarpowerportal)

UK energy supplier E.ON has pledged to knock £100 off energy bills as well as installing free home insulation for those on a low income, or claiming Pension Credit. The new scheme, launched this week, is open to anyone who fits these criteria – regardless of whether they are an E.ON customer. Read more

Long Energy adopts PowerGuard?s PowerClip extended warranty protection

Tuesday, 1.10.2012 - 0:52 (PV-Tech)

China-based Long Energy has assumed PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services? PowerClip extended warranty protection for its solar panels. The PowerGuard service offers a 25-year, non-cancellable quality and performance guarantee solution that supports a manufacturer?s own warranty terms. The terms are not only non-cancellable, but they survive insolvency and bankruptcy with third-party rights to the policy available. Read more