News of the year 2012

Date: 05.01.2012



Photovoltaics

Polysilicon price rises only temporary says Deutsche Bank analyst

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 17:17 (PV-Tech)

Recent months have seen polysilicon spot prices sink below the US$30/kg mark as weak demand and overcapacity dogged the sector as the prices were at or below manufacturing cost for the majority of over 100 small-scale producers. However, in recent weeks, with low trading volumes, pricing has stabilized and inched higher to around US$28-30/kg versus low to mid-US$25/kg levels. However, Deutsche Bank Securities, financial analyst, Vishal Shah believes this is only a temporary move. Read more

Polysilicon price rises only temporary, says Deutsche Bank analyst

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 17:17 (PV-Tech)

Recent months have seen polysilicon spot prices sink below the US$30/kg mark as weak demand and overcapacity dogged the sector. Prices were at or below manufacturing cost for the majority of over 100 small-scale producers. However, in recent weeks with low trading volumes, pricing has stabilized and inched higher to around US$28-30/kg versus low to mid-US$25/kg levels. However, Deutsche Bank Securities? financial analyst, Vishal Shah, believes this is only a temporary move. Read more

Cupertino Electric completes 480 kW PV plant for City of Morgan Hill, California

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 15:14 (Solarserver)

On January 3rd, 2012 Cupertino Electric Inc. (CEI, San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that its Energy Alternatives Division has completed rooftop and parking canopy solar photovoltaic (PV) plants totaling 480 kW for the City of Morgan Hill in California. Cupertino Electric designed and built the PV plants, which total 2,044 PV modules, at the Centennial Recreation Center between August and November 2011. Read more

PV inverter producer Satcon to restructure, lay off 140 workers

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 12:27 (Solarserver)

On January 4th, 2012 Satcon Technology Corporation (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) announced a set of cost reduction initiatives, including closing its Canadian inverter manufacturing facility and reducing its global workforce by 140 employees, roughly 35% of the total number of workers it employs. The company states that the plan will allow it to improve its financial performance and align its global workforce and operations infrastructure. Satcon will focus product development and marketing efforts on turnkey solutions for commercial and utility solar photovoltaic (PV) markets, concentrating on North America, China, India and Thailand, as well as emerging Asia-Pacific markets. Read more

US Commerce Department needs more time on imposing tariffs on Chinese solar modules

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 11:29 (PV-Tech)

A decision over antidumping penalties that target Chinese solar module imports into the US has been delayed by a month, according to a Bloomberg report. Initially, February 13 was earmarked for a determination of penalties by the US Commerce Department, but more time was said to be needed for analysis. Read more


Thermal Power/Heating

Sunvalley Solar lands 176kW commercial solar installation with XL Biofuels

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 21:37 (PV-Tech)

Sunvalley Solar has scored another commercial solar installation; this time with XL Biofuels in Thermal, California. Late last year, Sunvalley was awarded a US$2 million contract for a project in Long Beach, California, which was followed by two more project contracts for Southern California sites. Read more

Azure Power commissions solar plant in Rajasthan, its third in less than two years

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 21:26 (PV-Tech)

According to a report by PV Magazine, Azure Power has advised that it has commissioned its third solar plant in just under two years. Located in Rajasthan, the latest 5MW plant will be is found in Kathauti village and is said to be the first 5MW plant under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). Read more

EnterSolar completes 877kW rooftop PV system for organic food manufacturer Chelten House?s NJ site

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

EnterSolar advised that the installation of an 877kW rooftop PV system at Chelten House Products? Bridgeport, New Jersey facility had been completed. The system uses over 3,650 solar panels and is set to produce over 1,000,000kWh of electricity per year. Over the next 25-years the PV project is expected to generate 26 million kWh of electricity, which is said to be enough to power over 125 homes. Read more

Solar Draws Top Investment Dollars in 2011

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 20:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Venture capital investors put solar on top as the sector that received the most dollars globally in 2011, but a lack of stellar initial public offerings means investors have to pump in more money while waiting for their companies to exit, said Sheeraj Haji, CEO of Cleantech Group, on Thursday. Read more

Canadian Solar completes 10MW project in northern China

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 18:43 (PV-Tech)

Canadian Solar and the Ningxia Electric Power Group have finished work on a 10MW ground-mounted PV system in northwest China. The joint development is part of a larger 50MW plant in the Hongsibao district of Ningxia and will generate around 13.5 million kWh of electricity a year. Read more

Developers awarded deadline extension for Gujarat projects

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 18:09 (PV-Tech)

Gujarat?s government has responded to calls for a deadline extension from project developers working within its solar programme by moving the completion date back to January 28. Read more

First Solar praises module encapsulant supplier STR at first annual Supplier Recognition Day

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 17:49 (PV-Tech)

First Solar has recently held its inaugural annual Supplier Recognition Day, which was said to have been attended by approximately 60 companies that were considered critical suppliers to the company. At the event, encapsulant supplier, STR Holdings which is First Solar?s main supplier of the material was recognised as 1 of 3 suppliers with the ?NOVA? award, designed to recognise premier suppliers that significantly support its mission. Read more

UK solar market ranks among world?s Top 10

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 17:01 (Solarpowerportal)

For the first time in history, the UK solar market has entered into the list of top 10 solar countries. Although the final figures for last year are yet to be collated, PV installations globally are set to hit a record 23.8GW, with the UK ranking among the highest solar energy generators in the world. Read more

BRIDGE TO INDIA: Capital cost for solar power production hits new low; further lows are expected

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 15:52 (Solarserver)

According to the January 2012 Edition of the India Solar Compass, the latest issue of BRIDGE TO INDIA?s (New Delhi) quarterly Indian solar market analysis report, the latest round of reverse bidding under India?s National Solar Mission (NSM) Phase I Batch II has shown that capital costs for solar power production have fallen to record lows. According to newly released research by BRIDGE TO INDIA, further lows are expected in the coming months. Read more

LDK Solar provides update on China Development Bank financing; CDB approves fifteen-year project loan for two PV plants with a total capacity of 8 Megawatts in California

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 15:46 (Solarserver)

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (Xinyu City, China), a vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic products, on Janaury 4th, 2012 announced that China Development Bank Corporation (CDB) has recently approved a fifteen-year project loan for two solar PV power plants with a total capacity of 8 Megawatts ("MW") combined. The solar power plants will be located in California and are wholly-owned by LDK Solar. Read more

Solar3D projects 25.47% efficiency for new three-dimensional PV cell

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 15:28 (Solarserver)

On January 3rd, 2012, Solar3D Inc. (Santa Barbara, California, U.S.) announced that it has performed a series of tests that project a 25.47% efficiency for its new three-dimensional silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) cell design. If it can be realized in a prototype, this efficiency will be higher than has been achieved with other single-junction solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. The company states that its new 3D PV cell design offers increased cell surface area, to permit each cell to extract more energy from incident sunlight. Read more

Lux Research solar demand forecast: Portugal, Cyprus, Greece markets to continue to grow, Asian PV markets to rise later

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 14:19 (Solarserver)

Portugal?s solar market remains one of the hottest for investors able to build systems under that country?s installations cap, according to Lux Research?s (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) latest Solar Demand Forecaster. 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

Innovative leap in PV module production allows for overall cost reduction by approximately 14%; Bystronic glass completes mechanical load test for TPedge module

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 13:28 (Solarserver)

The "TPedge" module, jointly developed by Bystronic glass (Heimsheim, Germany) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (Freiburg, Germany), has successfully completed the mechanical load test and hail impact test. The characteristic features of the TPedge module technology are the local fixing of the cell array ? without lamination ? and a glass edge sealing. The TPedge modules in the full-format measuring 1636 mm x 985 mm were subjected to the mechanical load test up to a force measuring 2400 N/m2 and the hail impact test with ball speeds of 23 m/s. Read more

REC to further reduce Norwegian solar PV wafer production

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 13:20 (Solarserver)

On January 4th, 2012 Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC, Sandvika, Norway) announced that it will begin a process with trade unions to reduce by 50% of the output of its 300 MW monocrystalline wafer facility in Glomfjord, Norway through the first quarter of 2012. REC expects the temporary slowdown to affect roughly 65 workers. The move is the latest the company has made to reduce its wafer capacity over the last six months, and after these reductions and plant closures REC expects to produce roughly 105 MW of wafers in Norway in the first quarter of 2012. Read more

U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association merges with Solar Alliance

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 13:15 (Solarserver)

On January 3rd, 2012 the U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.) announced that it has formally merged with the Solar Alliance (N. Scituate, Massachusetts, U.S.), which will now operate under the SEIA brand. SEIA states that this will allow the organizations to present a unified voice for solar industry advocacy at the state level, where the Solar Alliance's work was focused. Solar Alliance President Carrie Hitt will now serve as vice president for state affairs at SEIA, and the Solar Alliance team will join SEIA's new department for State Affairs. Read more

Israeli utility awards license for 180MW solar thermal portfolio

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 13:14 (PV-Tech)

Israel?s Public Utility Authority has awarded licences to build two solar thermal power plants with a combined capacity of 180MW. The larger of the plants has a capacity of 120MW and is being installed by Israel?s largest construction firm, Shikun & Binui. The contract for the smaller, 60MW station was handed out to a subsidiary of US investment company Two Sigma. Read more

Adani Group commissions 40MW Gujarat project

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 11:50 (PV-Tech)

Adani Group has commissioned a new large-scale PV project in the Kutch district of Gujarat. With a capacity of 40MW, it is India?s largest solar installation to date and Adani is planning to ramp it up to 100MW in the future. Read more

SEIA, Solar Alliance merge to create a more unified voice for advocacy of the solar industry

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 1:13 (PV-Tech)

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Alliance have merged, whereby Solar Alliance will now operate under the SEIA brand. The organizations acknowledge that the move is a way to better advocate the establishments of solar policies at the state level. As part of the merger, Carrie Cullen Hitt, president of the Solar Alliance, is now vice president for State Affairs at SEIA. The Solar Alliance team will join Hitt as part of SEIA?s new department for State Affairs. Read more

CBD Energy authorizes equity investment to Westinghouse Solar

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 0:55 (PV-Tech)

Westinghouse Solar has been granted an equity investment from CBD Energy; a partnership that will also see the companies mutually explore a wider strategic relationship. The investment saw Westinghouse Solar issue common stock at a price of US$0.60 per share for gross proceeds of US$1,000,000. Read more

China Development Bank approves LDK?s project loan for 2 solar plants totalling 8MW

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 0:45 (PV-Tech)

LDK Solar revealed that China Development Bank (CDB) approved a 15-year loan for two solar plants with a combined 8MW capacity. Both plants are located in California and are wholly owned by LDK Solar. CDB additionally agreed to a 15-year buyer?s credit to KDC Solar for the Imclone and White Rose solar plants based in New Jersey. Read more

China Development Bank approves LDK?s project loan for two solar plants totalling 8MW

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 0:45 (PV-Tech)

LDK Solar revealed that China Development Bank (CDB) approved a 15-year loan for two solar plants with a combined 8MW capacity. Both plants are located in California and are wholly owned by LDK Solar. CDB additionally agreed to a 15-year buyer?s credit to KDC Solar for the Imclone and White Rose solar plants based in New Jersey. Read more

Pike Research report speculates global remote microgrid market will reach 1.1GW by 2017

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 0:33 (PV-Tech)

According to a new report by Pike Research, ?Remote Microgrids?, the worldwide market for remote microgrids over the next six years will expand from 349MW of generation capacity to over 1.1GW by 2017. The catalyst behind the increase will be the integration of solar PV, which Pike advised would help reduce diesel fuel consumption. Read more


Biomass/Pellets

There are no news available

 



Wind Energy

China Increases Target for Wind Power Capacity to 1,000 GW by 2050

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 15:50 (Renewable Energy World)

The National Energy Administration of China has set a series of development goals for the country's renewable energy sector during the 12th Five-year Development Plan, which shows that by 2015 the country's wind power capacity will reach 100 GW, based on the current capacity of 40 GW. Read more


Hydropower

There are no news available

 



Hydrogen/Fuel Cell

There are no news available

 



Geo Thermal/Heat Pump

There are no news available

 



Energy Policy/Climate/CO2

Insurance for Crossing the Valley of Death

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 16:52 (Renewable Energy World)

To achieve a modest reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions, global investment in renewable energy assets would need to increase from current levels of about $100 billion per year to $500 billion per year. Some of this increase can be accomplished by investment in existing, commercially proven technologies; but to meet the challenge of rapidly scaling renewable energy, we also need to roll out cutting-edge technologies. Read more

New Energy Technologies appoints scientists to company, board positions

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 15:20 (Solarserver)

On January 3rd, 2012 New Energy Technologies Inc. (Columbia, Maryland, U.S.) announced the appointment of Dr. Scott Hammond as principal scientist and Dr. Christopher Harris as advisory board member. Both scientists previously worked at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL, Golden, Colorado, U.S.). New Energy has been working with NREL through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to advance the company's SolarWindow technology, which incorporates photovoltaic (PV) technology on transparent glass. Read more

West Virginia Energy Outlook 2012: Identifying Synergies Between Renewables and Fossil Fuel

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 15:15 (Renewable Energy World)

With the strident partisanism in Washington (clean vs. dirty energy) and the international solar trade debate (China vs. America) in mind I believe President Carter's words ring true today: "Energy will be the immediate test of our ability to unite as a nation, and it can also be the standard around which we rally. On the battle field of energy we can win for our nation a new confidence, and we can seize control again of our common destiny." Read more

30,000 homes in DR Congo to receive energy storage systems

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 12:49 (PV-Tech)

PDI Global will provide an electric energy storage system to a social housing project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With the intention to supply at least 300,000 homes with solar power, a contract with Korea-based Leo Motors has been concluded. Leo Motors will supply 20,000 units of e-Box to the project. Read more

Richard Kelly appointed as chairman to BrightSource Energy?s board of directors

Thursday, 1.5.2012 - 1:55 (PV-Tech)

Richard Kelly, Xcel Energy chairman and CEO, has recently been appointed chairman of BrightSource Energy?s board of directors. Bringing over 40-years of experience in electricity generation and the public utility industry, Kelly?s appointment allows for former company chairman John Bryson to depart and fulfill his appointment by President Obama as US Secretary of Commerce. Read more


Solar-/Electromobil

There are no news available

 



Here you find the news of the last years:

HomeDirectory