SunPower completes four PV plants for public water districts in California

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 12:22 (Solarserver)

On January 2nd, 2012 SunPower Corporation (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that it has completed four solar photovoltaic (PV) plants totaling 3.8 MW at public water agencies and treatment facilities in California. Two of the SunPower systems will serve Rancho California Water District (RCWD, Temecula, California, U.S.), including a 1.1 MW PV plant at a pump station using SunPower's T0 Trackers, and a 612 kW solar parking canopy system at RCWD headquarters. The other two are a 1 MW PV plant in Santa Clarita and a 983 kW system in Galt, both of which use T0 Trackers. Read more

SPI contracted to build 11.3 MW PV plant in New Jersey

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 12:17 (Solarserver)

On January 3rd, 2012 Solar Power Inc. (SPI, Roseville, California, U.S.) announced that it has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract by Seahorse Solar Development LLC (New Jersey, U.S.) to build a 11.3 MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the U.S. state of New Jersey. SPI expects to begin construction on the plant in Egg Harbor Township by the first quarter of 2012, upon closing of project finance by Seahorse Solar. The company estimates that the plant will create 200 local jobs. Read more

Tata Power secures financing for 25 MW PV plant in Gujarat, India

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 12:13 (Solarserver)

Tata Power (Mumbai, India) has secured financing for a 25 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant which will be located in Mithapur in the Indian state of Gujarat. The INR 365 crore (USD 68.6 million) project will be funded through a 70:30 debt equity mix, with INR 110 crore (USD 10.7 million) in equity and INR 255 crore (USD 47.9 million) in INR-termed loans. Subsidiary Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd. (Mumbai, India) has completed pre-disbursement conditions and received the first loan disbursement on December 8th, 2011. Read more

U.S. Department of Commerce to delay preliminary judgment in China PV trade case

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 12:07 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Department of Commerce will delay a preliminary determination until February 13th, 2012 in its countervailing duty investigation currently underway regarding U.S. imports of Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) products. The date change is the result of a request by SolarWorld Industries Americas Inc. (Hillsboro, Oregon, U.S.), which led a petition for the investigation. The preliminary determination was previously due on January 12th, 2012. Read more

DECC launches solar feed-in tariff appeal

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 18:54 (Solarpowerportal)

After a High Court judge ruled that Government’s December 12 solar installation deadline was “unlawful” the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) vowed to file a case with the Court of Appeal. Today, that appeal was lodged, and DECC is hopeful its case will be heard. Read more

Trina Solar establishes international school in Changzhou, China

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 18:18 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer Trina Solar has announced the establishment of the Changzhou Trina International School as part of its 2012 CSR strategy. Alongside the Changzhou New District Government and the Changzhou Education Bureau, it is estimated that Trina Solar will invest an estimated US$11.9 million for an approximate 31% equity stake. Read more

Trina Solar?s 2012 CSR offering: the Changzhou Trina International School

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 18:18 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer Trina Solar has announced the establishment of the Changzhou Trina International School. Alongside the Changzhou New District Government and the Changzhou Education Bureau, it is estimated that Trina Solar will invest an estimated US$11.9 million for an approximate 31% equity stake. Read more

Hanwha Solar America places order for crystalline silicon cell development tool

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 18:07 (PV-Tech)

Hanwha Solar America has placed an order for a multi-chamber research tool with plasma etch and deposition tool manufacturer Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology. The PlasmaPro System100 will be installed at Hanwha Solar America?s Advanced PV Research Laboratory in Santa Clara, California and enable research into new materials, cell concepts and process characterisation for crystalline silicon cell development. Read more

Invest in Portugal, says Lux Research

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 17:09 (PV-Tech)

Lux Research?s latest Solar Demand Forecaster claims Portugal?s installations cap to be the most alluring in Europe to investors. The country?s internal rates of returns (IRR) for the six major solar technologies remain high in 2011 along with Cyprus and Greece, though the financial crisis in Europe could significantly hinder that market. Read more

Indian government committee attacks ?disappointing? National Solar Mission

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 15:56 (PV-Tech)

A Parliamentary panel has labelled India?s New and Renewable Energy Ministry?s (MNRE) approach to its Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) as ?disappointing? and ?lackadaisical?. Read more

Satcon sets restructuring path that sheds 35% of workforce: folding Solstice product line

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 15:49 (PV-Tech)

PV inverter supplier, Satcon Technology is realigning its business operations and significantly cutting operating expenses to reach breakeven mid-year. The company said it would focus on the commercial and utility solar markets with concentration on North America, China, India and Thailand as well as other emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Europe and Canada business efforts are being scaled back, which includes closure of its manufacturing facility in Ontario, Canada and an overall headcount reduction of 140 worldwide, or approximately 35%. Satcon will also stop production of its Solstice product line due to challenges in production cost reductions needed to be Read more

Latin America Report: U.S. Solar Company Looks to Mexico and Beyond

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Latin America is revered for its solar resource. Concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) is seen as a promising technology because of its ability to further harness that solar power. Now, an American-based CPV company is working to bring large-scale developments south of the U.S. border. Read more

TFG Radiant spends US$4 million for extra 20% of CIGS start-up Assent Solar

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 13:43 (PV-Tech)

TFG Radiant Investment Group has significantly increased its shareholding in struggling flexible CIGS thin-film producer, Assent Solar. Acquiring the existing shareholding of Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS for US$4 million, or approximately US$0.50 per share, TFG Radiant has raised it stake in Ascent from approximately 21% to 41%. Read more

TFG Radiant spends US$4 million for extra 20% of CIGS start-up Ascent Solar

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 13:43 (PV-Tech)

TFG Radiant Investment Group has significantly increased its shareholding in struggling flexible CIGS thin-film producer, Ascent Solar. Acquiring the existing shareholding of Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS for US$4 million, or approximately US$0.50 per share, TFG Radiant has raised it stake in Ascent from approximately 21% to 41%. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne raises bar on module warranties

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 13:10 (PV-Tech)

As competition increased in 2011, so did module product and performance warranties.  Taking an early lead in stretching warranties further for 2012 would seem to be Hanwha SolarOne, having announced from January 1, that its materials and workmanship warranty has been extended to 12 years, up from 5 years previously offered. Hanwha SolarOne also said it had replaced its existing warranty for power generation capacity with an improved 25-year linear warranty. Read more

New Spanish energy minister calls for changes to solar tariff scheme

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 13:01 (PV-Tech)

The new head of the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, criticized the renewables incentive scheme implemented by his predecessor, Socialist Miguel Sebastian, in a radio interview this week. Read more

SAG Solarstrom completes sale of 48MW Serenissima plant

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 12:37 (PV-Tech)

SAG Solarstrom has sold its 48MW Serenissima PV plant in Northern Italy to an unnamed institutional investor. The purchase contract, valued ?in line with the market rate in the triple-digit million-euro range?, was signed on December 31, 2011 and is subject to the usual conditions precedent. Payment will be made to SAG Solarstrom sometime in Q1. Read more

Solar grade silicon producer Timminco obtains temporary creditor protection

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 12:27 (Solarserver)

On January 3rd, 2012 Timminco Ltd. (Toronto, Canada) announced that the company and subsidiary Bécancour Silicon Inc. (Canada) have obtained creditor protection through the Ontario courts under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). As a result of the ruling, the court has provided CCAA protection for an initial period ending on February 2nd, 2012. Timminco states that the action is in the best interests of stakeholders of both companies, following a deterioration in its liquidity position. Read more

LDK Solar acquires stake in German PV producer Sunways AG, announces public takeover offer

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 12:01 (Solarserver)

On January 2nd, 2012 LDK Solar Company Ltd. (Xinyu, Jiangxi, China) announced that its German subsidiary will acquire 33% of Sunways AG's (Konstanz, Germany) increased share capital following a capital increase from its authorized capital. The move has been approved by Sunways' management board and supervisory board. Concurrently, LDK Solar Germany Holding GmbH (Germany) announced its intent to acquire all outstanding shares in the company. Subject to approval by Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, this takeover offer is expected to be published in late January 2012. Read more

Solland Solar group sells its cell production facilities to the Pufin Group, secures jobs for over 70 employees

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 11:54 (Solarserver)

Solland Solar Group (Heerlen, The Netherlands) and Pufin Group (Frigento (Av) - Italy) have reached an agreement about the sale of Solland Solar?s activities in the field of solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing to Pufin Group. Pufin Group is involved in the PV industry through its affiliates EL.ITAL. (Avellino, IT) and ELIFRANCE (Saint Etienne, FR). Employment of around 70 employees of Solland Solar?s staff engaged in cell manufacturing, is expected to be continued under the new ownership and will be increased in the future according to the production?s increase, Solland Solar announced in a press release. Read more

Project developers in Gujarat campaign for deadline extension

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 11:51 (PV-Tech)

Over 30 Indian developers have filed petitions with Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) to extend the commissioning deadline for solar projects. The developers, which include Tata Power Renewable Energy, GMR Gujarat Solar Power and the Solar Energy Association of Gujarat, have already committed to build projects totalling 450MW. Read more

Cupertino Electric installs rooftop and parking canopy installation in California

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 2:30 (PV-Tech)

Cupertino Electric?s energy alternatives division has finished installing a rooftop and parking lot canopy solar installation totaling 480,340kW. Designed for the City of Morgan Hill in California, the solar system was designed and built by CEI. Installations are found at the city?s Centennial Recreation Center roof. Cupertino Electric installed 2,044 solar panels to complete the installation. Read more

Stephen Mullennix named senior VP of operations for SolarReserve

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 1:03 (PV-Tech)

SolarReserve announced that it had selected Stephen Mullennix as its new senior vice president of operations. Bringing 16 years of experience in the renewable energy and infrastructure industries to his position at SolarReserve, Mulleninx will oversee SolarReserve?s asset management, operations and corporate development. He most recently served as managing director at US Renewables Group, SolarReserve?s founding investment group. Read more

Top 10 Biofuels Predictions for 2012

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

As the sunset of 2011 gives way to the dawn of 2012, here at the Digest we resist the holiday temptation to look back over the challenges and highlights of the year gone by, and instead once again roll out our crystal ball as we list the 10 Biofuels Predictions for 2012. Read more

American Exceptionalism and Renewable Energy: What the Tea Party Missed in 2011

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 21:07 (Renewable Energy World)

In the political gladiator wars within the U.S. parties, there is mostly heated mud-slinging. This fighting may make great sound bites, but it doesn't make much sense. Republicans are attacking everything "green" mainly because the president has made "green" a major theme of his administration. But many republicans over the decades have embraced green: If you heard former California republican Governor Schwarzenegger speak recently at the ACORE dinner or sitting Governor Haley Barbour (former head of the Republican National Committee) speak about the new biofuel and PV manufacturing plants in Mississippi, you'd wonder what all the fuss is about. Read more

Renewable Sources Continue Explosive Growth

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 18:19 (Renewable Energy World)

According to the most recent issue of the "Monthly Energy Review" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data through September 30, 2011, renewable energy sources continue to expand rapidly while substantially outpacing the growth rates of fossil fuels and nuclear power. Read more

Barker hits out at ?environmental Taliban?

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 15:54 (Solarpowerportal)

The Minister of State for Climate Change, Greg Barker has criticised the ‘environmental Taliban’ for what he believes are false accusations that the Government has repeatedly abandoned low-carbon ambitions and is reneging on its promise to be “the greenest Government ever.” Read more

Scott Hammond, Christopher Harris join New Energy Technologies

Wednesday, 1.4.2012 - 1:54 (PV-Tech)

New Energy Technologies advised that it had appointed Dr. Scott Hammond as principal scientist and Dr. Christopher Harris to its board of advisors. Both Hammond and Harris join New Energy from the US DOE?s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which has been partnering with New Energy through a cooperative research and development agreement for the advancement of the company?s SolarWindow technology. Read more