Obama?s State of the Union highlights the need of congressional support for the renewables industry

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 22:59 (PV-Tech)

Over the past few weeks, GOP candidates have had been the headliners in American political news, but January 24 saw President Obama take the main stage with his State of the Union address. While the President touched on various topics, many of which will be pertinent to the November election, the cleantech industry was acknowledged, with topics such as the Solyndra debacle and the trade case with solar Chinese solar modules commented upon. Read more

China Need Not Fear Tariff Barriers in India

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 15:37 (Renewable Energy World)

Chinese solar module makers should not fear India tariff or trade barriers that could restrict or affect exports to the fast-growing market. Chinese manufacturers slowed marketing efforts in India due to the growing wave of module import opposition in the U.S., fearing that the Indian government would also impose import duties.  In Read more

Lucintel predicts global PV market to reach 33.6 GW in 2016

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 14:33 (Solarserver)

On January 23rd, 2012 Lucintel LLC (Irving, Texas, U.S.) announced the release of a report which predicts that the global solar photovoltaic (PV) market will reach 33.6 GW in 2016, representing a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years, and represent a USD 105 billion annual market. "Growth Opportunities in Solar Photovoltaic Market 2011-2016: Trends, Forecast, and Market Share Analysis" also forecasts that China will be the largest global PV market by 2016, with North American and Asia-Pacific markets growing significantly by that date. Read more

Deutsche Bank completes 122-kW PV plant at America's HQ on Wall Street

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 14:01 (Solarserver)

On January 23rd, 2012, Deutsche Bank (Frankfurt am Main, Germany) announced that it has completed a 122.4-kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its Americas? headquarters located at 60 Wall Street in Manhattan, New York. The PV system is expected to reduce the bank?s electricity consumption and decrease carbon emissions by 100 metric tons per year. Read more

Airline Hydraulics forms partnership with PV Racking

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 13:43 (Solarserver)

On January 23rd, 2012, Airline Hydraulics (Bensalem, Pennsylvania, U.S.) announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with PV Racking LLC (Southampton, Pennsylvania, U.S.), which designs, manufactures and distributes solar racking components used in roof and ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Read more

PV producer Q-Cells issues plan to restructure bonds, maintains 4Q 2011 forecast

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 12:35 (Solarserver)

On January 24th, 2012 Q-Cells SE (Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany) released a plan to implement financial restructuring measures, including plans for payment to bond holders. The company also states that it expects to meet its fourth quarter 2011 forecast, as well as its 2011 revenue forecast of roughly EUR 1 billion (USD 1.3 billion). Q-Cells further predicts a decline in revenue to EUR 865 million (USD 1.13 billion) in 2012, as well as a negative operating margin, before returning to a positive operating income in 2014. Read more

PV manufacturing: Moser Baer adopts MIST technology, announces solar cell efficiencies to 21%

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 12:28 (Solarserver)

On January 23rd, 2012 Moser Baer India Ltd. (New Delhi, India) has announced that it is adopting Metal and Intrinsic layer Semiconductor Technology (MIST) for its solar photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing process, which it says will allow it to increase cell efficiencies to 21%. Moser Baer manufactures both crystalline silicon and thin-film PV modules, and the company notes that an intensive research and development effort on multiple technological platforms has been in process at its labs in the Netherlands and India for several years. Read more

Updated: DECC loses feed-in tariff appeal

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 11:39 (Solarpowerportal)

After deliberating since January 13, the Court of Appeal has today ruled that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) did indeed act unlawfully. As a result, DECC has lost its appeal, meaning the feed-in tariff could now go back to 43.3p for <4kW systems installed until March 3, 2012. Read more

Breaking: DECC loses feed-in tariff appeal

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 11:39 (Solarpowerportal)

After deliberating since January 13, the Court of Appeal has today ruled that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) did indeed act unlawfully. As a result, DECC has lost its appeal, meaning the feed-in tariff could now go back to 43.3p for <4kW systems installed until March 3, 2012. Read more

Wells Fargo to provide up to $100 million to Enfinity for development of PV projects throughout US

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 23:09 (PV-Tech)

Enfinity America advised that Wells Fargo & Company had partnered with the solar company and would be providing up to US$100 million for the development of US solar PV projects developed by Enfinity. The company advised that the financing by Wells Fargo will enable it to continue its mission to provide clean and reliable sources of electricity to its customers while dually expanding its pipeline of distributed generation and utility-scale projects in the US. Read more

AQT Solar?s CIGS 3.0 technology achieves high efficiency with sputter deposited CZTS

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 22:26 (PV-Tech)

AQT Solar advised that using a low cost and production friendly sputter deposited copper-zinc-tin-sulfide (CZTS) thin-film solar cell, it had achieved high efficiencies. The company noted that the same manufacturing-ready processes and platforms used for its CIGS 2.0 solar cells was dually acceptable for CZTS and dubbed the term CIGS 3.0 for its future CZTS products. Read more

ESA Renewables sells 500kW PV rooftop array in NC to Holocene

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 20:30 (PV-Tech)

ESA Renewables advised that it had not only completed its latest 500kW PV rooftop array in North Carolina, but has also sold the system, for an undisclosed amount, to Holocene. The 500kW array spreads over 55,867 square feet and uses 2,016 panels from Canadian Solar. Electricity from the array will be sold to Progress Energy Carolinas. Read more

One leader, lots of consolidation as CIGS market emerges

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 19:44 (Renewable Energy World)

2011 was "a breakout year" for CIGS solar PV as suppliers continued to trim production costs, increase module conversion efficiencies, and widen adoption in commercial rooftops. But while CIGS (and thin-film brethren CdTe, thanks to First Solar's market leadership) continue to press on, the solar PV industry is still very much dominated by silicon, which has more standardized manufacturing on the one end and far more installed capacity on the installation side -- and all-important bankability thanks to both. Read more

One Leader, Lots of Consolidation as CIGS Market Emerges

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 19:44 (Renewable Energy World)

2011 was "a breakout year" for CIGS solar PV as suppliers continued to trim production costs, increase module conversion efficiencies, and widen adoption in commercial rooftops. But while CIGS (and thin-film brethren CdTe, thanks to First Solar's market leadership) continue to press on, the solar PV industry is still very much dominated by silicon, which has more standardized manufacturing on the one end and far more installed capacity on the installation side -- and all-important bankability thanks to both. Read more

IKEA completes 14th US solar energy project in collaboration with REC Solar

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 16:30 (PV-Tech)

IKEA teams up with REC Solar again to construct a now operational, 128,000ft2 PV array, consisting of a 1,026kW system and built with 4,186 panels. IKEA West Chester?s program will produce approximately 1,334,300kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 1,014 tons of CO2, eliminating the emissions of 180 cars or powering 115 homes yearly. Read more

U.K. court rejects government appeal over solar FIT cuts

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 16:19 (Solarserver)

The U.K. Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court ruling that December 12th, 2011 cuts to the nation's feed-in tariffs (FIT) for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems were illegal. The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) had appealed the High Court decision, which the Court of Appeal rejected on January 25th, 2012. The DECC states that it is now seeking permission to appeal to the U.K. Supreme Court. Read more

GreenVolts teams up with Independent Solar Developers to promote use of solar in agriculture

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 14:51 (PV-Tech)

GreenVolts has entered into a strategic partnership with Independent Solar Developers (ISD), a turnkey solar system developer and operator, which aims to promote the uptake of solar power in Southern California to satisfy the sometimes massive electricity requirements of agricultural developments. Read more

German PV distributor Donauer Solartechnik opens new office in Oman

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 14:27 (Solarserver)

On January 23rd, 2012, specialist PV distributor Donauer Solartechnik (Gilching, Germany) announced that it is opening a new branch in Muscat, Oman. The new branch, to be operational on February 1st, 2012, will build a sales and service network in Oman. Saleh Ahmed Al Badi will direct the Muscat branch under a joint venture agreement with Donauer. Al Badi previously was member of the executive board of Haya Water, one of the desert country's largest companies. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: China leads solar PV demand in Asia Pacific region with 2.9GW installed in 2011

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 14:19 (PV-Tech)

The sleeping giant has finally awoken, according to the latest report from NPD Solarbuzz as PV installations in China reached 2.9GW in 2011, a massive 500% increase over 2010. The Asia Pacific region as a whole saw demand increase 165% year-on-year, reaching a total of 6GW. Like Germany, NPD Solarbuzz noted that 2.8GW of installations in the region were installed in the fourth quarter alone. Read more

US DOE announces university research grants to study solar technology

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 13:56 (Solarserver)

On January 19th, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that the DOE will provide up to USD 10 million grants to support the development of more efficient heat transfer fluids to reduce the cost of energy from concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. In addition, Secretary Chu announced the next round of SunShot Initiative postdoctoral research awards. Read more

AQT Solar to commercialize copper zinc tin sulfide PV cells

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 12:42 (Solarserver)

On January 24th, 2012 AQT Solar Inc. (Sunnyvale, California, U.S.) announced that it has achieved conversion efficiencies near 10% with sputter-deposited copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. AQT states that this process, which it currently uses for its copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) PV cells, is ideally suited to CZTS cells. The company states that it plans to have its CZTS modules, which it describes as "CIGS 3.0", operational later in 2012, as well as to begin the product commercialization process. Read more

KYOCERA provides solar power generating system to Republic of Palau?s international airport

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 12:28 (PV-Tech)

The first grid-connected system in the Republic of Palau is comprised of modules from Kyocera. 1,080 Kyocera 210W solar modules have been supplied to a solar power generating system at Palau international airport, installed on top of the shading structures in the parking lot. Read more

KYOCERA provides solar power generating system Republic of Palau?s international airport

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 12:28 (PV-Tech)

The first grid-connected system in the Republic of Palau is comprised of modules from Kyocera. 1,080 Kyocera 210W solar modules have been supplied to a solar power generating system at Palau international airport, installed on top of the shading structures in the parking lot. Read more

Sol Systems announces a 10 year, fixed-price solar renewable energy credit offer for PV projects in Massachusetts

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 12:15 (Solarserver)

On January 24th, 2012, Sol Systems (Washington, D.C., U.S.) announced Sol Annuity 10, a new product for Massachusetts solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. Sol Annuity 10 provides a price of USD 200 per SREC guaranteed for 10 years for any PV system located in Massachusetts. Customers that lock in this price will not have to worry about a potentially volatile SREC spot market as supply increases, nor the risk associated with the Massachusetts Clearinghouse, Sol Systems emphasizes. Read more

DESERTEC Foundation and Nur Energie launch 2GW solar project in Tunisia

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 12:07 (PV-Tech)

In accordance with the DESERTEC Foundation?s solar plans in Tunisia, project developer, Nur Energie, has partnered with Top Oilfield Services to construct TuNur CSP plants. The plants are expected to eventually produce 2GW ? roughly double the average nuclear power plant. Read more

DESERTEC Foundation and Nur Energie launch solar project in Tunisia

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 12:07 (PV-Tech)

In accordance with the DESERTEC Foundation?s solar plans in Tunisia, project developer, Nur Energie, has partnered with Top Oilfield Services to construct TuNur CSP plants. The plants are expected to eventually produce 2GW ? roughly double the average nuclear power plant. Read more

MidAmerican Energy Holdings launches new renewable energy business division

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 20:52 (PV-Tech)

MidAmerican Energy Holdings advised that its new division, MidAmerican Renewables, had been established to expand the company?s presence in the wind, geothermal, solar and hydro projects for the renewables market. The new division will be based in Des Moines, Iowa and will consist of MidAmerican Wind, MidAmerican Geothermal, MidAmerican Solar, MidAmerican Hydro and project development and commercial management. Read more

MidAmerican establishes new renewables business unit, solar development company

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 12:22 (Solarserver)

On January 24th, 2012 MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.) announced that it has established a new renewable energy business unit, as well as a company specifically for its solar business. MidAmerican Renewables LLC will be based in Des Moines, Iowa, and will comprise separate LLC companies for solar, wind, geothermal and hydro projects. This includes the establishment of MidAmerican Solar LLC in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. under the leadership of Paul Caudill. Read more

Under Pressure: Startup Company Turns Water into Power

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 20:39 (Renewable Energy World)

When Frank Zammataro thinks about water pressure, he sees an opportunity to create electricity. Zammataro, 53, is President and Co-Founder of Rentricity?a New York City energy company that has discovered a new way to tap into the excess pressure in water-treatment plants, reservoirs, and factories to help power our water infrastructure, which consumes four percent of America's electricity. Read more

Industry insights: how will today?s court ruling affect you?

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 17:56 (Solarpowerportal)

This morning the Court of Appeal ruled against the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), upholding the High Court judgement that Government’s December 12 feed-in tariff deadline was unlawful. Today’s ruling means that feed-in tariff rates will remain uncut until March 3, but how does this really affect the UK solar industry? Read more

UK Government loses FiT appeal

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 16:45 (PV-Tech)

The Court of Appeal has today upheld a High Court ruling that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) acted illegally over planned cuts to Britain?s feed-in tariff. Read more

UK government loses FiT appeal

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 16:45 (PV-Tech)

The Court of Appeal has today upheld a High Court ruling that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) acted illegally over planned cuts to Britain?s feed-in tariff. Read more

Obama State of the Union addresses clean energy, manufacturing, trade with China

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 16:24 (Solarserver)

Government support for clean energy was a repeated theme of U.S. President Barack Obama's January 24th, 2012 State of the Union address. The speech before the U.S. Congress connected clean energy ambitions to the rebuilding of a U.S. manufacturing sector, with the president almost immediately speaking of high-tech manufacturing, high-paying jobs, and energy security as national aspirations. In the address, U.S. President Obama also engaged in nationalistic appeals, promising further and deeper trade action against China. The president also placed his support for clean energy within the context of an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy that includes expanded oil and gas development, Read more

Supreme Court appeal could take up to a year

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 16:21 (Solarpowerportal)

The Supreme Court has today warned that if Government decides to launch a feed-in tariff appeal, it could take up to a year to be heard. The announcement comes after the Court of Appeal this morning ruled against the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), consequently putting a stop to Government’s intended feed-in tariff cuts. Read more

Obama: Sticking to "Promise of Clean Energy"

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 16:17 (Renewable Energy World)

In his Jan. 24 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama reinstated his commitment to renewable energy. Despite the demise of solar manufacturer Solyndra looming over the past year of his term, Obama said that he “will not walk away from the promise of clean energy.” Obama called for a commitment by the Defense Department Read more

Understanding Manufacturing Economics for Grid-scale Energy Storage

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 15:57 (Renewable Energy World)

I have a new favorite word ? aggregation. At the risk of sounding like a reporter, I'm going to summarize a pre-holiday news story you might have missed but need to know about. Read more

Smart Grid Initiatives Address Cyber Security, Renewable Energy Intermittency

Wednesday, 1.25.2012 - 15:33 (Renewable Energy World)

Securitizing renewable energy networks from cyber-attacks is not complicated by their oft-cited operational headache of intermittency, but rather by their separation from a utility's control system, said smart grid executives at the Gridwise Global Forum in Washington, DC in early November. Though renewable intermittency adds to the challenge of stabilizing a grid, the forum revealed new evidence of real-world smart grid load shifting that continues to chip away at the tired argument that renewable energy cannot successfully integrate into a legacy grid. Read more