SPUK 2012: Enphase microinverter system now available in the UK

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Enphase Energy announced that its microinverter system is immediately available in the UK and can be purchased through authorized distributors. The Enphase Microinverter System combines Enphase M215 microinverters with Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten web-based monitoring and analysis software to simply system management. Read more

PV System Values: Transforming the PV Industry

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 22:00 (Renewable Energy World)

PV systems can have more values than are currently being captured if the business model enables the utility to obtain more of the benefits. This article is about obtaining greater values from PV systems, such as energy storage, power factor correction, voltage support, frequency response, and other ancillary services. The proposed business model enables the control and capture of these utility services by means of utility inverter ownership. Read more

centrotherm photovoltaics gets court approval to plan reorganization

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

With financial holdings of ?110 million the District Court of Ulm, Germany has said that centrotherm photovoltaics can start its financial restructuring proceedings under its own administration. The major PV equipment supplier will now submit a plan in the next 12-days to the court with approval from creditors, which if successful could mean the end of insolvency proceedings for the company. Read more

China Sunergy solar modules pass PID test

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 18:07 (Solarserver)

On September 27th, 2012, China Sunergy Co. Ltd. (Nanjing, China) announced that its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules passed the potential induced degradation (PID) test. The PID test was conducted by TUEV Rheinland Group to assess loss of power output of solar modules under severe conditions of high voltage, high temperature and high humidity. Read more

Conergy commissions two PV plants totalling more than 2 MW in Andalusia, Spain

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 18:00 (Solarserver)

On September 28th, 2012 Conergy AG (Hamburg, Germany) announced the commissioning of two solar PV plants with an additional total capacity of over 2 MW in southern Spain. The company delivered 9,000 PowerPlus modules, nine IPG C central inverters and a Conergy VisionBox monitoring system for each plant. The first plant with a total capacity of 1.8 MWp is located in Jerez de la Frontera on an industrial rooftop area of some 24,000 square metres. The second solar power plant, which has a capacity of 320 KWp, has been installed on an area measuring 8,000 square metres in the village of Segura de la Sierra in Jaén Province. Read more

Solibro officially transferred to Hanergy

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 16:06 (PV-Tech)

The sales of Solibro to Chinese Hanergy Holding Group, has officially been successfully concluded by Schorisch, from law firm hww wienberg wilhelm, Q-Cells SE?s insolvency administrator. The companies assured that all of the just under 400 jobs are to be maintained. Read more

PV production technology: SCHMID presents laser treatment with breakage-free automation for PERC solar cell manufacturing

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 12:33 (Solarserver)

SCHMID Group (Freudenstadt, Germany) consistently promotes the industrial use of the SCHOTT Solar licensed PERC processes, which is backed up by the continuous increase in efficiency from the record level of 20.2% in summer 2012 to the current 20.74%. A further process building block after the successful backside passivation using the APCVD is the opening of the passivation layer at the highest speed by SCHMID?s Laser Treatment Machine for PERC (LTM-PERC), the company emphasizes. Read more

Q-CELLS awarded with first-ever VDE quality certificate for PV plants

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 12:26 (Solarserver)

The VDE (Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies) has awarded Q-CELLS? standardized block unit for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants a new seal of quality. As of now, Q.MEGA, the 1.4-MW standard block unit for ground-mounted systems, holds the VDE Quality Tested certificate for managed planning and correct construction. Read more

JA Solar?s Cypress cell reaches new high in average conversion efficiency

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

JA Solar Holdings publicized that its monocrystalline and multicrystalline Cypress solar cells have reached a new high in their average conversion efficiency. The monocrystalline Cypress solar cell reached an average 19.1% efficiency, while the multicrystalline Cypress cell reached 17.4%. The industry average is said to be 18.8% and 17% for monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cells, respectively. Read more

Solarbuzz predicts polysilicon capacity to grow 22% in 2012

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

In releasing its latest Polysilicon and Wafer Supply chain Quarterly Report for Q3 2012, NPD Solarbuzz is predicting that polysilicon capacity will grow 22% in 2012 and another 18% in 2013.  According to the report, the industry?s polysilicon processes for PV applications are anticipated to drop 52% this year while plant utilization will decline from to 63%, from 77% in 2011. Total polysilicon capacity will be in excess of 385,000 tons this year, of which 70% will be held by a small group of tier 1 producer. Read more

Detroit Edison looks to buy large PV installations

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Detroit Edison, an electricity utility firm owned by DTE Energy, has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to purchase one or more large PV installations as part of its parent company?s SolarCurrents programme. Specifically, it is looking to purchase PV installations which have a capacity of 500kW to 2MW. Read more

Japan's Agressive FIT Already Unlocking Gigwatts of Wind and Solar Power

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 16:22 (Renewable Energy World)

As Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and billionaire Masayoshi Son lead a swarm of investors exploiting Japan's solar power subsidies, the world's biggest, Sumitomo Corp. is betting on wind. Read more

Japan's Agressive FIT Already Unlocking Gigawatts of Wind and Solar Power

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 16:22 (Renewable Energy World)

As Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and billionaire Masayoshi Son lead a swarm of investors exploiting Japan's solar power subsidies, the world's biggest, Sumitomo Corp. is betting on wind. Read more

SunEdison sells planned 30MW Spectrum solar project in Nevada, US

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 16:05 (PV-Tech)

PV project developer SunEdison has announced that it has sold its forthcoming 30MW Spectrum solar project which is due to begin construction in October to Southern Company and Turner Renewable Energy. The price of the transaction has not been disclosed. Read more

Iconic King?s Cross solar project officially turns on

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 14:15 (Solarpowerportal)

A 240kWp rooftop PV system has officially switched on at King?s Cross railway station in London. In addition to being one of the most iconic solar projects in the UK, the £1.3 million project is also said to be one of the largest and most complex BIPV systems in the country. Read more

ET Solar and China Sunergy modules pass PID test

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 14:03 (PV-Tech)

Although both ET Solar and China Sunergy failed to mention which of its modules actually passed recent PID (Potential Induce Degradation) test, both companies achieved Class A-PID free status. Read more

US Ex-Im Bank guarantees PV module export loan for Barbados project

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

The Export-Import Bank of the US has agreed to provide a 10-year guarantee for a PNC Bank loan worth US$6.4 million. The loan will be used to finance the export of PV modules from SolarWorld Americas, based on the west coast if the US, to Barbados-based Williams Industries-Williams evergreen Ltd. Read more

Solar Power in Barbados: U.S. Ex-Im guarantees USD 6.4 million loan to finance one of the largest PV projects in the Caribbean

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 12:40 (Solarserver)

Ex-Im Bank (Washington, USA) provided a USD 6.4 million loan guarantee to finance the export of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules SolarWorld Americas (Hillsboro, Oregon, U.S.) to Williams Industries Inc. of St. Thomas (Barbados). This project, one of the largest in the Caribbean, includes engineering services and solar-system racking exported from two American companies. Williams Industries-Williams will use the solar power arrays to provide 1.4 MW of on-site power to ten sites within the Williams Group portfolio. Read more

Southern Company acquires largest tracking PV project in the U.S., 30MW-Spectrum Solar facility to be built, operated and maintained by SunEdison

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 9:30 (Solarserver)

Southern Company (Atlanta, GA) on September 28th, 2012 announced its acquisition of the largest direct current solar photovoltaic (PV) tracking array of its kind. The Spectrum Solar Facility ? a 30-megawatt (MW) installation in Clark County, Nev. ? will have greater DC capacity than any tracking-based PV installation in the United States. The plant is located on a 311-acre site and will be built, operated and maintained by SunEdison, a leading global provider of solar energy services and a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials. Read more

Solar power in Africa: JinkoSolar, CJIC to develop Kenya's largest PV project; 50MW plant to be built in Garissa

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 9:23 (Solarserver)

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) on September 27th, 2012 announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic & Technical Co, Ltd. (CJIC) to provide technical support for CJIC's 50MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project development in Kenya. Under the agreement, JinkoSolar is also appointed by CJIC as the preferred PV module supplier. Read more

Obama Blocks Chinese Company from Owning Four Wind Farms in Oregon

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 18:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Sany Group Co., China's biggest machinery maker, will use all legal efforts to win compensation after U.S. President Barack Obama barred the building of wind farms near a navy base in Oregon, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Read more

New Wind Farm Is Nation's Largest, Means More Clean Energy, Jobs

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Last week marked the opening of the largest wind farm in the U.S. -- a site that will power 235,000 homes. The Shepherds Flat Wind Farm near Arlington, Ore., is a just the latest example of our nation's clean energy industry powering our homes, businesses, and economy. Read more

High-Tech Tools Tackle Wind Farm Performance

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

From a distance, a wind farm can seem almost placid, turbines turning slowly, steadily, churning out electricity. But there's more to it than meets the eye. Read more

Choppy Waters for Offshore Wind in Germany

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 13:06 (Renewable Energy World)

Germany?s offshore wind power is one of the missing links in the Energiewende. The German government wants to see a ginormous 25,000 megawatts of offshore wind parks installed in the Baltic and North Seas?the equivalent of 20 large nuclear power reactors. Yet there are only two wind parks in commercial operation, and one of them operates at just a Read more

Geothermal Heat Pumps are Renewable and our Most Efficient HVAC Technology

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 14:53 (Renewable Energy World)

The question arises from time to time in building industry blogs about whether or not geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) are a source or renewable energy. GHPs, or ground-source heat pumps, don't fit neatly into any box, but suffice it to say that their appeal is for their efficiency AND the abundant renewable energy that they provide. Read more

3M to acquire Ceradyne under new definitive agreement

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

3M and Ceradyne revealed that they have entered a definitive agreement, which will see 3M buy Ceradyne for US$35 per share. The transaction holds an aggregate value of nearly US$860 million, or US$670 million net of cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and debt acquired. Ceradyne, a major producer of crucibles used in the production of polysilicon chunks for multicrystalline ingots and then wafers, will join the 3M Energy Advanced Materials Division. Read more

Arista Power completes first phase of an intelligent micro-grid for the U.S. Army

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 18:11 (Solarserver)

On September 27th, 2012, Arista Power Inc. (Rochester, New York) announced that it has completed phase one of the multi-phase U.S. Army program. Phase one includes development of an intelligent micro-grid for the renewable energy for distributed under-supplied command environments (REDUCE) program under the guidance of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC). Read more

Sustainable Energy Technologies launches AC battery technology in Europe

Monday, 10.1.2012 - 18:04 (Solarserver)

On September 27th, 2012, Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd. (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), a designer and manufacturer of power inverters for a wide range of distributed generation and storage technologies, announced that it has introduced its proprietary AC battery technology to energy storage integrators in Europe. Sustainable Energy has begun marketing its AC battery technology in Europe. Initial market feedback confirms that the company's low voltage pulsed step technology guarantees at least 5% higher efficiencies for low voltage AC battery systems at much lower costs than any other product on the market, the company notes. Read more