Dow Corning?s SEED centre in Belgium reaches completion

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 21:19 (PV-Tech)

Just a week after announcing that its new European distribution centre had been completed, Dow Corning has advised that its Solar Energy Exploration and Development (SEED) facility in Belgium has also reached completion. The SEED centre includes a solar application centre and a silicone synthesis technology centre, which aim to help the US$13 million addition advance the company?s research of new silicon-based materials and solar cell efficiency. Read more

Lux Research identifies leaders in organic photovoltaics

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 20:45 (Solarserver)

On January 10th, 2012, Lux Research (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) announced that it has released a new report to rate technology developers in displays, organic photovoltaics (OPV), smart packaging, transparent conductive films (TCFs) and thin-film batteries. No OPV or thin-film battery company reaches the ?dominant? quadrant. In OPV, Solarprint and Oxford Photovoltaics companies have reached ?High Potential? (high Technical Value but low Business Execution) range. Read more

Ikea to install PV plants at five stores in U.S. Midwest for 4.8 MW

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 20:39 (Solarserver)

On January 12th, 2012, home furnishings retailer IKEA announced that it plans to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on five more of its United States locations ? all of them in the Midwestern U.S. Implementation of these projects will extend the IKEA solar presence to nearly 85% of its U.S. locations. Read more

PV Equipment Manufacturing: Asian tool suppliers on the rise

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 16:11 (Solarserver)

On January 16th, 2012 NPD Solarbuzz released a report stating that Asian solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment suppliers saw "substantial" revenue growth in 2011, taking advantage of PV manufacturing investments in the region. NPD Solarbuzz's latest PV Equipment Quarterly notes that Applied Materials Inc. (Santa Clara, California, U.S.), Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG (Blaubeuren, Germany) and the Meyer Burger Group (Baar, Switzerland) remain the largest PV equipment suppliers by revenue. However, a group of four Chinese tool suppliers posted a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) greater than 200% for PV-specific revenues from 2008 to 2011. Read more

Victoria to launch feed-in tariff investigation

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 16:05 (Solarserver)

On January 13th, 2012 the Treasurer of the Australian State of Victoria directed the Victorian Competition & Efficiency Commission (VCEC) to conduct an investigation into the state's feed-in tariffs and barriers to distributed generation. The VCEC will assess the design, efficiency and effectiveness of the feed-in tariffs, as well as issuing a recommendation as to whether or not to continue the current program. A draft report is due in six months. Read more

Masdar PV used micromorph technology and full-sized thin film modules for 11.7 MWp project

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 13:31 (PV-Tech)

A 11.7 MWp PV power plant, completed late last year by Masdar PV in Thuringia, Germany, used dual-junction ?micromorph? silicon technology and amorphous technology with over half being full sized modules. Read more

PG&E adds 185 MW of new PV capacity in 2011

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 12:36 (Solarserver)

On January 11th, 2012 Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E, San Francisco, California, U.S.) announced that it has added 185 MW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity to its generation portfolio in 2011, at eight separate PV plants. Of these plants, five plants totaling 135 MW were built by independent developers, with three built by the utility in California's Central Valley for another 50 MW. The utility also signed contracts for additional 200 MW of PV in 2011, which will be built and commissioned in coming years. Read more

PV inverter producer Solectria Renewables expands workforce 65% in 2011

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 12:22 (Solarserver)

On January 11th, 2012 Solectria Renewables LLC (Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.) announced that it has increased its number of employees by 65% in 2011, with plans to expand more than 50% again in 2012. The company states that it has been able to rapidly grow its customer base, and credits cost reductions, increasing inverter efficiencies and accelerated new product development. Read more

Photovoltaics covered 2.8% of Italian energy demand in 2011

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 12:19 (PV-Tech)

For the second consecutive year after autumn 2009, preliminary estimates of electricity demand in Italy last year shows a 0.6% growth on 2010. The total energy demand in 2011 amounted to 332.3 billion kWh. PV accounted for 2.8% out of 64.7% of domestic production. However, the net national production (289.2 billion kWh) is a decrease of 0.5% compared to 2010. Read more

Conergy appoints Dr. Phillip Comberg as CEO

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 12:12 (Solarserver)

On January 12th, 2012 Conergy AG (Hamburg, Germany) announced that it has appointed Supervisory Board Chairman Dr. Phillip Comberg as CEO, effective immediately. Conergy had been without a CEO since October 2010. The company also appointed Jan Vannerum as Chief Financial Officer. Vannerum will replace Dr. Sebastian Biedenkopf, who will leave Conergy by the end of February 2011. Read more

Terra Nex plans to build 400 MW of facilities in Oman

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 11:29 (Solarserver)

On January 15th, 2012 Terra Nex Financial Engineering AG (Zug, Switzerland) announced plans for a USD 2 billion, 400 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) investment in the Sultanate of Oman, which will include PV module and aluminum frame manufacturing, as well as a technology transfer and training component. The project will be undertaken in collaboration with the Middle East Best Select (MEBS) Group of Funds, which has launched the "Solar Energy-Photovoltaik in Oman" private investment fund with an initial investment of USD 200 million. This fund will finance the first PV plant under Terra Nex's project. Read more

SMA estimates USD 2.1 billion in 2011 sales

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 10:00 (Solarserver)

On January 13th, 2012 SMA Solar Technology AG (Niestetal, Germany) released preliminary financial estimates for 2011, calculating EUR 1.7 billion (USD 2.1 billion) in sales and an EBIT margin of 14%. As a result, SMA states that it has met its guidance for 2011, as well as reaching the second-best earnings in company history, only slightly below 2010 revenues of EUR 1.9 billion. The company states that it maintained a 35% global PV inverter market share, estimating the size of the global PV market at 23 GW. Read more

Terra Nex plans to build 400 MW PV production facility in Oman

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 9:52 (Solarserver)

On January 15th, 2012 Terra Nex Financial Engineering AG (Zug, Switzerland) announced plans for a USD 2 billion, 400 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) production facility in the Sultanate of Oman, which will include PV module and aluminum frame manufacturing, as well as a technology transfer and training component. The project will be undertaken in collaboration with the Middle East Best Select (MEBS) Group of Funds, which has launched the "Solar Energy-Photovoltaik in Oman" private investment fund with an initial investment of USD 200 million. This fund will finance the first PV plant under Terra Nex's project. Read more

Strata Solar, Duke Energy commission 5 MW PV plant in North Carolina

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 22:01 (Solarserver)

On January 12th, 2012 Strata Solar LLC (Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.) and Duke Energy Corporation (Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.) announced that they have commissioned a 5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Cleveland County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Duke Energy Carolinas LLC (Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.) will purchase the electricity generated by the Kings Mountain Solar plant as well as the plant's renewable energy credits (RECs) under a 20-year contract. Read more

Solarhybrid to acquire 201 MW Israeli PV project pipeline

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 21:51 (Solarserver)

solarhybrid AG, (Brilon, Germany) announced the acquisition of project rights for photovoltaic (PV) systems with a total capacity of approx. 201 MWp. Several minority shareholders own on average 22% of these projects, the largest among to them being Ormat Systems Ltd, Yavne, Israel. Read more

Bloomberg New Energy finds that global new solar capacity grew 54% to 28GW in 2011

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 21:43 (PV-Tech)

According to data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the global new solar capacity grew 54% to nearly 28GW in 2011 with Germany and Italy leading in installations. Jenny Chase, head of solar analysis at the research company, advised that PV installations went up to between 26.5 and 29.4GW last year, compared to 18.2GW in 2010, and her central forecast of 28GW. Read more

Abound Solar and Solarsis commission 1MW PV plant in India

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 20:44 (PV-Tech)

Abound Solar and Solar Integration Systems India (Solarsis) revealed that they had commissioned a 1MW solar PV plant in Kadiri, Andhra Pradesh, India on January 14. The project was commissioned under the Rooftop and Other Small Solar Power Generation Plant (RPSSGP) scheme managed by IREDA under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). It is the first project in the state of Andhra Pradesh to use Abound?s CdTe thin-film modules. Read more

Jörg Henkel selected to lead sales and marketing division of Schott Solar

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 20:34 (PV-Tech)

Schott Solar advised that effective January 1, Jörg Henkel would lead the sales and marketing division for the company. Henkel comes to Schott from Metabowerken in Nürtingen, where he was VP of global marketing and sales. His past work includes solar and marketing positions with different companies throughout Europe. Read more

Bentek Solar, Borrego Solar Systems sign 25MW supply agreement

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 20:20 (PV-Tech)

Borrego Solar Systems and Bentek Solar have entered a 25MW supply agreement, which will see Bentek Solar provide various large-scale combiners, re-combiners, disconnect safety systems and accessories to Borrego Solar. Bentek?s technology will be used in Borrego Solar PV solar systems. Read more

California State University unleashes 1.16MW of solar power

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 18:39 (PV-Tech)

REC Solar, in partnership with the primary contractor for this project, AECOM Technology Corporation, has unveiled a 1.16MW installation at California State University, US. The three systems feature 4,956 REC peak energy series panels. REC Solar has installed three solar systems: two on CSU buildings at the Fullerton campus and one on a parking structure carport. The installation also includes a solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations. Read more

PV Evolution Labs gains ISO/IEC accreditation

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 17:59 (PV-Tech)

PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) has received the much-coveted ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation for its range of testing and calibration services. The Berkeley, California-based lab aims to promote best practices across the North American solar market, and with this new accreditation, gains the recognition required to deliver approval of technical system competence for PV products both across the region and on a global scale. Read more

Brussels Airport installs 7,220 monocrystalline solar panels

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 17:16 (PV-Tech)

Following a successful trial project in 2010, Brussels Airport has now installed 7,220 monocrystalline solar panels to its logistics building at Brucargo West. With a total capacity of 1.7MWp and an annual energy production of 1,500MWh, this output is comparable to the annual energy consumption of about 450 families. The energy produced is injected straight into the airport?s power grid and will cover about 1% of the annual consumption of the airport. Read more

Suntrix completes 700kW HCPV project in Golmud, Qinghai

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 17:10 (PV-Tech)

Suntrix has revealed that it completed a 700kW high-concentrated PV (HCPV) plant Golmud, Qinghai at the end of last year. The project, the date of completion of which was not revealed, is owned by GD Solar. The developer chose the area for its aridity, which is in the region of around 32% relative humidity. Read more

When We Struggle, We Learn

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 16:42 (Renewable Energy World)

If there was one key takeaway from the most recent RenewableEnergyWorld.com and Solar Power-gen webcast it was that the year ahead will be difficult for large-scale solar power development due to poor access to capital, an uncertain policy landscape, the pending trade case against China and module prices that are too low to support a healthy indust Read more

NPD Solarbuzz expects PV equipment suppliers? 2012 revenues to be in rapid retreat

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 16:34 (PV-Tech)

A broad-range of PV equipment suppliers are expected to have reported record revenues for 2011, after a year of continued capacity expansions. However, that is expected to be contrasted in a significant cut-back in capital expenditures in 2012 as the PV industry struggles with over capacity and falling prices, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz expects PV equipment suppliers 2012 revenues to be in rapid retreat

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 16:34 (PV-Tech)

A broad-range of PV equipment suppliers are expected to have reported record revenues for 2011, after a year of continued capacity expansions. However, that is expected to be contrasted in a significant cut-back in capital expenditures in 2012 as the PV industry struggles with over capacity and falling prices, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report. Read more

Strata Solar?s 28 acre solar farm now on-grid

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 16:30 (PV-Tech)

Claimed to be one of the largest solar farms in the state, this 28-acre plot on Dixon Dairy Road, North Carolina, US, is now on the grid, using a total of 22,000 panels to power 600 homes in the area. Read more

Solar Fred Solar Marketing Tip: What If We Sold Residential Solar Like Cars?

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

While solar is making steady progress towards the main stream, it ain’t there yet. Many consumers are still suspicious of solar because it’s unfamiliar. They’ve seen panels and solar homes in pictures, but it’s not like buying or selling a car… or is it? Making analogies to something familiar can be very helpful fo Read more

BlueChip acquires 300 acres to complete 100MW solar project

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 14:39 (PV-Tech)

BlueChip Energy has announced that the Commission of the City of Eustis, Lake County, US, authorized the mayor to execute a commercial lease with the company for 300 acres of land to be developed into a 60MW solar farm. The property, owned by the city, was use for as a wastewater spray field and is no longer needed. Read more

Yash Birla Group plans US$1.9 billion components, solar-grade poly plant in Andhra Pradesh

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 13:19 (PV-Tech)

Planning stages are underway for the construction of a proposed INR10,000 crore (US$1.9 billion) PV components and polysilicon factory in the Andhra Pradesh region of India, according to The Economic Times. Indian conglomerate Yash Birla Group has reportedly submitted a proposal to the region?s government for approval to commence construction of a polysilicon plant by Power Solutions. Read more

Sunfest Solar secures grant to open manufacturing facility in North England

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 12:41 (PV-Tech)

The UK solar industry has finally received some good news this week, with the opening of a solar panel manufacturing facility in Jarrow, South Tyneside, creating more than 20 jobs. Read more

U.K. courts delay decision on solar FIT cut appeal

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 12:33 (Solarserver)

On January 13th, 2012 the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced that the U.K. Court of Appeal has not yet decided whether or not to grant an appeal to the ruling against the DECC's cuts to the nation's feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation. The agency states that it expects a decision within the next few weeks. The U.K. High Court ruled on December 21st, 2011 that the DECC's cut to the nation's FIT for PV eleven days in advance of the close of a consultation was illegal. Read more

Sunfest Solar provides manufacturing boost for the North East

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 12:32 (Solarpowerportal)

A new solar photovoltaic manufacturing plant in the North East is set to provide up to 60 new jobs on Tyneside. Production started this week at the £5 million-a-year manufacturing plant, which aims to provide high-specification photovoltaic modules to the whole European market. Read more

European investors plan 400MW of solar generating capacity in Oman

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 11:14 (PV-Tech)

Solar industry business people are continuing to investment in the Middle East. Terra Nex, a wealth management company specializing in Middle East investment and Germany-based Middle East Best Select (MEBS) plan a US$2 billion integrated project to develop 400MW of solar technology in the oil and gas exporting country, including facilities to manufacture solar panels for Oman and for export. Read more

PV production: Oerlikon Solar?s 2nd generation "ThinFab" presented in Abu Dhabi delivers 23 % investment cost reduction and 17 % higher capacity; record thin film silicon cell reaches 12.5 % efficiency

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 9:16 (Solarserver)

Oerlikon Solar (Truebbach, Switzerland), presented its 2nd generation ThinFabTM at the World Future Energy Summit 2012 (WFES) in Abu Dhabi on January 16th, 2012. This end-to-end production line resets the standard for manufacturing sustainable solar modules at low cost and high quality. The new design due to the company reduces capital expenditure (Capex) by 23 % to just $ 1/Wp including engineering support and performance guarantees. Read more

Sustainable Energy Fund initiated by Eight19 and SunnyMoney for off-grid communities in East Africa

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 21:03 (PV-Tech)

The ?KickStart Sustainable Energy Fund? has been officially launched by Eight19 and SunnyMoney, a division of SolarAid. The revolving fund aims to provide affordable solar lighting to rural off-grid communities in East Africa with the IndiGo pay-as-you-go solar lighting products. The initial investment will fund the development of 4,000 IndiGo units. Read more

First 82 Local Energy Assessment Fund winners revealed

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 17:48 (Solarpowerportal)

The first 82 local energy projects have today been awarded financial support from the £10 million Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF). Approximately 200 projects are expected to be named as fund recipients before the scheme closes to new applications on January 20. Read more

Asia Report: China, South Korea Leaders at World Energy Summit

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 15:21 (Renewable Energy World)

Weeks after the end of the U.N. climate talks, international leaders from across the world are meeting again on the world stage to discuss fossil fuels, nuclear energy and the growth of renewables. Read more

How to Go Green without Going Crazy

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Utilities worry about a lot of things, such as keeping the lights on, earning a return for investors, and making regulators and customers happy with their service. Now there is a new worry: How can they protect customers from what one utility refers to as “mental fatigue?” In this particular case, the utility raises the issue as it pr Read more

Calor Gas announces green partnerships

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 14:20 (Solarpowerportal)

Calor Gas’s investment in the green energy sector has recently helped the company achieve certification from the Carbon Trust as well as endorsement from the Energy Savings Trust. Calor’s green commitment has been further enhanced by the announcement of a partnership with Midlands-based energy efficiency company, Mark Group. Read more

DECC launches the Green Deal Skills Alliance

Monday, 1.16.2012 - 14:00 (Solarpowerportal)

With just months to go before Government’s flagship Green Deal policy kicks off, Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has launched a partnership to ensure the UK has the skills required for an effective rollout of the scheme. Read more