HCPV producer Semprius closes on USD 3 million in funding, adds Gregory Wolf to the company?s board of directors

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 20:52 (Solarserver)

On January 11th, 2012, Semprius Inc. (Durham, North Carolina, US), an innovator in high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar modules, announced that it has secured an additional USD 3 million in its latest round of venture funding. This tranche of funding is a follow-on to the series C round in July 2011 led by Siemens Venture Capital. In addition, Semprius announced that the company has appointed Gregory Wolf to the company?s board of directors. Wolf serves as president of Duke Energy Renewables, a unit of Duke Energy Corp. Read more

California City of Desert Hot Springs approves two PV plants at 2.94 MW

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 20:51 (Solarserver)

On January 12th, 2012, the Planning Commission for the City of Desert Hot Springs, California, has approved all land use entitlements for the Aloha Solar Energy project, which includes two photovoltaic plants with a combined generating capacity of 2.94 MW. Read more

Canadian Standards Association opens new testing, certification lab in Hong Kong

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 15:57 (Solarserver)

On January 16th, 2012 the Canadian Standards Association (CSA, Mississauga, Canada) announced that it has opened a new testing and certification laboratory in Hong Kong. The lab will provide localized testing services for clients producing multiple products including transformers, wiring devices and other electrical products. CSA states that the opening of the 476 square meter facility reflects the importance of the greater China region as a key market for the organization, as well as its business strategy for accelerating investments in technologies including solar photovoltaics (PV). On January 10th, 2012 CSA announced the opening of a similar lab in Shanghai, China. Read more

Canadian Solar modules pass salt mist tests

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 14:11 (PV-Tech)

Canadian Solar has announced that its solar modules have passed salt spray corrosion testing by independent body TÜV NORD, certifying them for use in coastal or marine environments. Read more

Q-Cells sets two new world records for multicrystalline and quasi-mono solar modules

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 13:54 (PV-Tech)

Verified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Q-Cells said it had set new conversion efficiency records for multicrystalline and quasi-mono solar modules. A module with 60 multicrystalline solar cells, using its ?Q.ANTUM? cell concept was reported to have achieved 18.5% efficiency, up from a record Q-Cells claimed it had achieved of 18.1% last year. The market introduction of the Q.ANTUM solar cells and modules is planned for 2012 with pilot production at its advanced facility in Thalheim, Germany already underway. Read more

Q-Cells sets two new world records for multi-crystalline and quasi-mono solar modules

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 13:54 (PV-Tech)

Verified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Q-Cells said it had set new conversion efficiency records for multi-crystalline and quasi-mono solar modules. A module with 60 multicrystalline solar cells, using its ?Q.ANTUM? cell concept was reported to have achieved 18.5% efficiency, up from a record Q-Cells claimed it had achieved of 18.1%, last year. The market introduction of the Q.ANTUM solar cells and modules is planned for 2012 with pilot production at its advanced facility in Thalheim, Germany already underway. Read more

Solvay and Air Liquide form JV to provide onsite fluorine production

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 13:03 (PV-Tech)

Citing growing world demand for environmentally-friendly production equipment cleaning gases within the flat panel display and silicon thin film photovoltaic industries, Solvay and Air Liquide have formed a joint venture to provide onsite fluorine production. The partners claim to be able to offer significant economic benefits based on Solvay?s modular fluorine production technology. Read more

GMR commissions 25 MW PV plant in Gujarat, India

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 12:25 (Solarserver)

GMR Energy Ltd. (Bangalore, India) has commissioned a 25 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, located in the Patan District of the Indian state of Gujarat, as its first PV project. The plant is located in a solar park set up by the Government of Gujarat at Charanka Village. GMR commissioned the plant on December 31st, 2011, making it the first of several projects in the solar park to be commissioned. Read more

PV Evolution Labs achieves ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 12:21 (Solarserver)

On January 13th, 2012 PV Evolution Labs (PVEL, Berkeley, California, U.S.) announced that it has achieved ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation for its solar photovoltaic (PV) module testing and calibration services. PVEL describes ISO 17025 accreditation as an important global standard for laboratories which provides a benchmark for approving technical and quality system competence, with a focus on continual process improvement. Read more

Smart meters are changing the way we use our energy

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 12:21 (Solarpowerportal)

A new report conducted by British Gas has revealed how smart meters are changing the way UK consumers control their energy use, helping them to better manage how much energy they are using and when. Read more

IMS Research estimates 26.5 GW of PV installed globally in 2011

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 8:35 (Solarserver)

On January 16th, 2012 IMS Research (Wellingborough, U.K.) released a preliminary estimate of global aggregate solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in 2011, stating that the PV market reached up to 26.5 GW. The company notes that it is still finalizing its 2011 data, however it currently estimates that 10 GW was installed in the fourth quarter of 2011, the highest amount in any quarter to date. IMS has further increased its 2012 forecast to between 26 and 28 GW. Read more

Sunflower Inspires New Space-saving CSP Layout

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 22:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Researchers at MIT and Germany's RWTH Aachen U. have devised a new way to set up a concentrated solar power (CSP) project that both increases the system's efficiency and reduces the land footprint -- all thanks to inspiration from Mother Nature. Read more

Dubai Supreme Council of Energy to present 1,000MW solar park at WFES 2012

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 20:53 (Solarserver)

The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (Abu Dhabi, UAE) will present plans for the 1,000 megawatt Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park at this week's World Future Energy Summit. The AED12 billion solar project was announced on January 9th, 2012 by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and forms a cornerstone of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 unveiled by the Council last year. Read more

Moser Baer India completes 5-MW solar PV project in India

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 20:51 (Solarserver)

On January 11th, 2012, Moser Baer India Ltd. (New Delhi, India) announced that it has completed a 5-MW solar PV plant at village Tinwari, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The project will generate about 9,2 MWh of electricity per year and save carbon emission equivalent to 8,400 tonnes annually. Read more

Swiss Commission for Technology & Innovation selects NEP Solar & SPF Rapperswil for government grant

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 18:57 (PV-Tech)

Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation has selected CST collector, NEP Solar and research institute, SPF Rapperswil among the winners of a research grant. The grant will allow NEP to accelerate progress towards solar cost reduction, collector certification and opening up of new application segments. Read more

SPI Solar partner with Global Energy and LDK to develop 2MW facility in Greece

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 18:27 (PV-Tech)

SPI Solar has completed the acquisition process to serve as the developer of a 2MW fixed-tilt ground-mount solar energy facility in Greece. It will be working alongside Global Energy Services with modules supplied by LDK. This will be the company?s second major development in Evros, a north eastern region of the country. Read more

Dow Solar selects preferred dealers for US distribution of Powerhouse Shingles

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 17:43 (PV-Tech)

Dow Solar is taking its Powerhouse Solar Shingles to the US, as it has announced that it has named three authorized sellers of its BIPV roofing solution in Colorado. Academy Roofing, B&M Roofing and D&D Roofing will be supplying the solar technology to the homeowners of Colorado, while Dow Solar has plans to roll out the product across the country. Read more

China Sunergy?s 13MW modules commissioned in 25MW Indian solar project

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 17:42 (PV-Tech)

Solar cell and module manufacturer, China Sunergy, supplied 13MW of solar modules to a 25MW solar project in Gujarat, India. The project was completed in partnership with Visual Percept Solar Projects. Read more

GMR Energy completes 25MW project in large-scale solar park, Gujarat

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 14:00 (PV-Tech)

In spite of reports at the beginning of January about Indian project developers campaigning for extensions on deadlines for commissioning solar projects, GMR Energy has announced the completion of a 25MW grid-interactive solar power project. Read more

ET Solar supplies 1.5MW modules to residential project in the Netherlands

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 13:28 (PV-Tech)

ET Solar is the sole module supplier of a residential project in the Netherlands, codenamed ZonVast. Working in partnership with Zonnefabriek, a local system integrator and local utility operator, Greenchoice, ET Solar will supply 1.5MW of solar modules. Annually, the system is expected to generate 1.28 million kWh. Read more

EDF and STMicroelectronics sign non-disclosure agreement with Photowatt

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 12:55 (PV-Tech)

The French daily publication, Les Echos, claims energy provider EDF Energies Nouvelles and the Franco-Italian company STMicroelectronics have entered into a non-disclosure agreement with Photowatt to secure financial information regarding the activities of the bankrupt solar manufacturer. Read more

aleo solar?s 2011 preliminary revenues higher than expected: Chief Sales Officer leaves

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 12:41 (PV-Tech)

Better than expected revenue figures have been reported by aleo solar, though previously guided losses of ?25-?30 million are still expected for the full-year 2011, according to the company. aleo solar had previously guided revenue to be in the region of ?440 million but this has been raised to ?462 million, down 17% compared to 2010 revenue of ?554 million. Read more

Solar in India: Gujarat proposes INR 7.49/kWh FIT rate for plants commissioned after January 28th

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 12:35 (Solarserver)

The state government of the Indian state of Gujarat has proposed a maximum feed-in tariff (FIT) rate of INR 7.49/kWh (USD 0.146/kWh) for solar power developers who fail to commission their plants by January 28th, 2012, according to the Natural Group. The government's proposed rate is half the INR 15/kWh (USD 0.292/kWh) that will be paid for PV plants connected by the January 28th, 2012 deadline, and lower than rates proposed by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC). A final decision by GERC on FIT rates, as well as whether or not to extend the control period, is expected in coming weeks. Read more

NREL confirms latest CdTe module efficiency record from First Solar

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 12:09 (PV-Tech)

Announced in conjunction with the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, cadmium-telluride (CdTe) thin film leader, First Solar has achieved a new total area efficiency record for its standard-sized modules of 14.4%. NREL was said to have confirmed the record, which was previously held by First Solar at 13.4%. Actual volume production of modules with efficiencies between 14.5-15%, are expected in 2015. First Solar reached volume production of modules with an efficiency of 11.7% in 2011. Read more

Eurener donates PV modules to water purification system

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 12:09 (PV-Tech)

Spanish scientists and students have developed a biosynthetic water purification system that is powered by solar PV energy. Eurener has donated modules producing 60-80W to operate the system. Read more

First Solar announces another world record for CdTe PV: 14.4 percent total module area efficiency confirmed by NREL

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 9:30 (Solarserver)

First Solar, Inc. (Tempe, Ariz.) on January 16th, 2011 announced it set a new world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) solar module efficiency, achieving 14.4 percent total area efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) confirmed the record, which eclipsed the prior record of 13.4 percent, which also was set by First Solar. Read more

ZeaChem and the Renewable Fuel Standard

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 15:29 (Renewable Energy World)

ZeaChem launches its 250,000 gallon per year core process. How could this possibly matter in the context of a 500 million gallon cellulosic biofuels target for 2012 that was waived down to 10 million? As it turns out, a lot. The RFS is in much better shape than its critics advertise. Here's why. Read more

$1 Billion Deal: BP, Sempra Combine on Projects in Pennsylvania, Kansas

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 20:52 (Renewable Energy World)

BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power announced plans to further expand their strategic relationship by jointly developing the Mehoopany Wind Farm in Pennsylvania and the Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Kansas, representing a total investment of more than $1 billion. Read more

Last of the ?big six? cuts energy prices

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 18:33 (Solarpowerportal)

Scottish power has become the last of the ‘big six’ energy providers to reveal cuts to the price of its fuel, with the announcement that it will reduce the cost of gas by five percent from February 27. Read more

U.N. launches year of Sustainable Energy for All at opening of WFES

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 16:05 (Solarserver)

On January 16th, 2012 Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the fifth annual Wold Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). The summit is hosted by Masdar (Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.), and featured a keynote speech by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. During the summit's opening ceremony United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon launched the Year of Sustainable Energy for All, part of a U.N. initiative that aims to ensure universal access to modern energy services while doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030. Read more

Renewable Heat Incentive: Phase 2 rollout will be delayed

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 14:11 (Solarpowerportal)

Although the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was made available to the industrial, business and public sector on November 28, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is at a relatively early stage in putting together its proposals for phase 2, according to the Renewable Energy Association (REA). Read more

Blue Chip Energy leases land for development of 60 MW PV plant in Florida

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 12:39 (Solarserver)

On January 10th, 2012 BlueChip Energy LLC (Lake Mary, Florida, U.S.) announced that it has signed an agreement to lease 1.2 square kilometers of land from the City of Eustis, Florida for the development of a 60 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. The property is adjacent to the company's 40 MW Sorrento Solar Farm, which is currently under construction. BlueChip has already secured connection to the electricity grid through agreements with Progress Energy Inc. (Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.) and SECO Energy (Sumterville, Florida, U.S.). Read more

Green Deal will constrict home insulation market

Tuesday, 1.17.2012 - 11:52 (Solarpowerportal)

According to the Government’s own figures, the number of cavity wall and loft insulation installations will fall dramatically under the Government’s flagship green policy: the Green Deal. Read more