Tanaka Precious Metals to supply ruthenium dye compound with highest conversion efficiencies

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 14:12 (PV-Tech)

Japan-based Tanaka Precious Metals has taken-out licenses from the National Central University, Taiwan to manufacture and supply ruthenium-based dye compounds for next generation dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC).  The ruthenium complex dye was developed by Professor Chun-Guey Wu and post-doctoral researcher, Chia-Yuan Chen, with reported conversion efficiencies of 11.4%, reported in the scientific journal, ACS nano in 2009, operating in the visible light wavelength range of approximately 400 to 750 nanometers. Read more

Pike Research launches smart grid deployment tracker; global smart meter shipments increasing

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 12:51 (Solarserver)

Pike Research (Boulder, Colorado, US) announced that it released its smart grid deployment tracker report that provides detailed analysis of worldwide utility smart grid and smart meter programs in the third quarter of 2011. According to Pike Research?s analysis, global smart meter shipments reached 19.2 million in the third quarter of 2011, which represents a 5.3% increase over the second quarter of 2011. Read more

Renogy unveils "mono-like" PV modules

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 10:22 (Solarserver)

On December 31st, 2011 Renogy LLC (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.) unveiled a new line of "mono-like" crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, including a 240 watt polycrystalline PV module. Renogy states that the process for creating mono-like wafers offers features of both mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline manufacturing. The company further notes that these wafers cost about as much to produce as conventional poly-crystalline wafers while providing higher efficiency. Read more

Indian government: 180 MW of grid-tied PV commissioned in 2011

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 10:18 (Solarserver)

On December 30th, 2011 India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) released an estimate more than 180 MW of grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) plants have been commissioned in the nation in 2011, in a summary of highlights for the year. MNRE predicts that India will reach 400 MW of PV by the end of fiscal year 2011. The agency also estimates that over 1,000 remote villages were electrified through renewable energy systems, and that more than 50 MW of off-grid installations were completed. Read more

PV manufacturing: DOE warns of potential indium, tellurium shortages in critical materials report

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 10:02 (Solarserver)

On December 22nd, 2011 the U.S. Department of Energy released a report which warns that shortages of indium and tellurium could impact solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing in the short- to medium-term. The DOE's 2011 "Critical Materials Strategy" follows a similar report in 2010. The report assesses indium as "near-critical" in the period to 2015, and tellurium as "near-critical" in the period 2015-2025. Read more

Photovoltaics in Puerto Rico: Western Wind receives 42 MW of PV modules for Yabucoa project, secures TGP

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 9:54 (Solarserver)

On December 29th, 2011 Western Wind Energy Corporation (Vancouver, Canada) announced that it has received 42 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules from an un-named PV manufacturer for its Yabucoa Project on the U.S. island territory of Puerto Rico. The company notes that by receiving the modules prior to a December 31st, 2011 deadline, it qualifies for the safe harbor provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will be able to claim a USD 45 million federal grant for 30% of project costs through the now-expired Treasury Grant Program (TGP). Read more

India?s largest ESP to supply 50MW solar power to Madhya Pradesh from 2013

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 17:57 (PV-Tech)

India?s largest state-run energy service provider (ESP), NTPC, has signed a PPA with Madhya Pradesh Power Trading Company for supplying electricity from a 50MW solar plant, based in Rajgarh. It is expected to be commissioned by 2013. Read more

Renewables boost UK economy despite solar FiT uncertainty

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 17:10 (Solarpowerportal)

Figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that companies have announced £2.5 billion worth of investment in renewable technologies over the last financial year. Read more

German Solar Output Increases by 60% in 2011

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 16:22 (Renewable Energy World)

Just weeks after the solar industry installed the one millionth system in Germany, the country's solar trade association announced that the technology accounted for three percent of total energy generation in 2011 ? increasing 60 percent over 2010 to 18.6 terawatt-hours (18.6 billion kilowatt-hours). Read more

Activ Solar completes Europe?s largest solar power plant

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 16:10 (PV-Tech)

Activ Solar has finished the fifth and final construction phase of its 100MW Perovo Solar Power Station in Ukraine. This last development stage, completed on December 28, added a further 20MW to capacity, thus making the Perovo Europe?s largest PV system. Read more

Germany?s solar output rises by 60% in 2011

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 13:31 (PV-Tech)

Last year solar installations in Germany produced 60% more electricity than in 2010, according to the country?s Federal Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar). PV is playing an increasingly important role in Germany?s energy portfolio and the 18 billion kWh of electricity it generated in 2011 accounted for 3% of the country?s total power output. Read more

Solland Solar exits cell production to become PV systems solution provider

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Solland Solar has sold its Sunweb Metal Wrap Through cell manufacturing operations in The Netherlands to Pufin Group for an undisclosed sum. Solland Solar will focus on its Sunweb module development and further develop its PV systems solutions business. Schott Solar also contributed to the development of the Sunweb modules. Read more

JA Solar wins exclusive contract to supply 19MW modules for Solarhybrid?s German plant

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 13:00 (PV-Tech)

JA Solar will exclusively furnish Solarhybrid?s Allstedt I solar power plant in Halle, Germany, with approximately 19MW of high-efficiency PV modules. Read more

JA Solar wins exclusive contract to supply 19MW of modules for Solarhybrid?s German plant

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 13:00 (PV-Tech)

JA Solar will exclusively furnish Solarhybrid?s Allstedt I solar power plant in Halle, Germany, with approximately 19MW of high-efficiency PV modules. Read more

California: Stellar Solar installs over 17,000 solar panels totaling 4 MW in 2011, recognized as San Diego's best solar company

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 12:43 (Solarserver)

On December 30th, 2012, Stellar Solar (Encinitas, California, US) announced that it has installed 4 MW in 2011 and has been recognized as the Best Solar Company in San Diego. The company installed more than 17,000 solar panels on residential and commercial projects in 2011. Read more

Solar water heating: SunMaxx Solar to begin manufacturing non-pressure storage tanks

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 12:32 (Solarserver)

On December 31st, 2011 SunMaxx Solar Inc. (Conklin, New York, U.S.) announced that it will begin producing non-pressure storage tanks for solar water heating systems at its facility in Binghampton, New York, in sizes ranging from 610 liters to over 7,600 liters. The company states that the new tanks combine both European and U.S. technology, and will reduce costs and improve the quality and performance of SunMaxx solar thermal systems. The tanks are currently available to order for shipping globally. Read more

Sunways succumbs to LDK Solar offer bid

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 12:17 (PV-Tech)

In the first of what the financial community believe could become a wave of consolidations, especially in the German solar market, LDK Solar is acquiring Sunways. With the majority of the PV industry battling overcapacity and fallen prices, while subsidies continue to be cut, many publically traded firms have seen share valuation plummet in 2011, offering further attraction to potential buyers with sufficient cash resources. Sunways had been using LDK Solar for wafer and certain module assembly tasks, though had led to an inventory write-down of ?3.8 million in the third quarter, due to falling prices. Read more

Struggling economy forces GlobalWatt to cancel US$177M Saginaw solar plant

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 11:36 (PV-Tech)

California-based GlobalWatt is cancelling plans to build a US$177 million solar panel factory in Michigan, US. Read more

Solar PV R&D: Finnish company Picosun creates silicon nanorod PV cells

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 10:29 (Solarserver)

On December 31st, 2011 Picosun Oy (Espoo, Finland) announced that it has developed a new process to manufacture solar photovoltaic (PV) cells by growing silicon nanorod groupings on substrates. The company states that it has already reached 9% efficiencies with good long-term stability in these cells. The research represents the final results of the European Union 7th Framework Programme-funded project ROD-SOL, a three-year project to increase the efficiency of PV cells while reducing manufacturing costs. Read more

BLM seeks comments on new bidding process for solar, wind development

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 10:10 (Solarserver)

On December 29th, 2011, the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) began soliciting comments on a new plan to establish a competitive bidding process for leasing public lands for solar and wind development. The public comment period for the proposed rulemaking will be open until February 27th, 2011. The BLM states that a competitive process would enhance its ability to get a fair market value for the use of public lands, which it is required to do under federal law, as well as to ensure fair access to leasing opportunities for renewable energy development. Read more

Sempra Generation brings 42MW of solar electricity to power grid through Mesquite Solar 1

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 0:07 (PV-Tech)

Sempra Generation revealed that three blocks of solar panels, totaling 42MW, had been installed at the Mesquite Solar 1 project and were delivering solar power to the grid. The 150MW PV project in Arlington, Arizona began construction in June 2011 with the company expecting completion for the project in early 2013. Power from the site is sold to Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a long-term 20-year contract. Read more

Green Energy Technology reports 2011 sales up 7.6% in 2011

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 17:53 (PV-Tech)

Taiwan-based solar wafer producer, Green Energy Technology (GET) reported net sales for December 2011 of NT$880 million (US$29.05 million), down approximately 57%, compared to the same month in 2010. Total net sales for 2011 reached NT$18,615 million, (US$614.5 million) up 7.6% from 2010. Read more

Deadline Extended to January 5th ? Submit Your Nomination for the 2012 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards!

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 17:23 (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/awards/2012 Read more

juwi seeking 40 apprentices as new office expansions underway

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 15:27 (PV-Tech)

Renewable energy project developer, juwi is looking for 40 apprentices as it prepares to expand operations in 2012 after a successful 2011, according to the company. The project developer is currently building a third office block at its headquarters in Wörrstadt, Germany which is expected to house a total of 400 employees when the new office expansion is completed. Read more

Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2012

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 15:08 (Renewable Energy World)

There is a silver lining to the horrible year clean energy stocks had in 2011: the opportunity to buy clean energy stocks (often considered a growth sector) at prices one would expect from value stocks. Read more

Barker defends decision to appeal High Court ruling

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 12:49 (Solarpowerportal)

Greg Barker, the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, has today defended his decision to appeal the High Court ruling which labelled the proposed cuts to the solar feed-in tariff as “legally flawed”. Read more

Installations in India fall short of fiscal year forecast

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 12:46 (PV-Tech)

India will connect just 400MW of the 1200MW the state and central governments originally planned to install during the current fiscal year. To date, India has installed 180MW during the year ending March 31, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Read more

PV producer Daqo New Energy wins "2011 China Cleantech Top 20" award

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 12:38 (Solarserver)

On December 31st, 2011, solar PV company and polysilicon manufacturer Daqo New Energy Corp (Chongqing, China) announced that it has received the ?2011 China Cleantech Top 20? award from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Deloitte) and Tsing Capital, a venture capital management company based in China. After three months? application and accreditation process, Deloitte and Tsing Capital selected Daqo New Energy as winner of the award based on its accumulated revenue growth and "direct contribution" to environmental efficiency for the three years from 2008-2010. Read more

Daqo New Energy bestowed a China Cleantech Top 20 award

Tuesday, 1.3.2012 - 0:32 (PV-Tech)

Daqo New Energy was named a 2011 China Cleantech Top 20 winner by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Tsing Capital. The award aims to recognize organizations in the cleantech sector in China that support the sustainable growth in the country. Read more