BISOL Group to enter U.S. PV market

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 21:39 (Solarserver)

BISOL Group (Prebold, Slovenia) announced that its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules have passed rigorous tests for ANSI/UL 1703 certification, which proves the company's modules comply with all the safety and quality regulations for the U.S. and Canadian market. The test was performed by the German TÜV Rheinland laboratory, which performed numerous tests such as temperature test, current leakage and wet insulation-resistance test, intrusive hot spot test, fire test and others. Read more

Suntech Gets Set to Tackle Debt

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 18:23 (Renewable Energy World)

Struggling solar cell maker Suntech (NYSE: STP) has just issued a euphemistically upbeat plan on how it intends to "solidify market leadership," as it tries to return to health amid a prolonged industry downturn that has seen prices plunge more than 70 percent over the last 2 years. But investors are clearly focused on the last part of the plan, sp Read more

Major management reshuffle at centrotherm photovoltaics with Dr. Peter Fath out as CTO

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Continuing to restructure the company in hope of surviving the solar shakeout, major PV equipment specialist centrotherm photovoltaics has made sweeping changes to its senior management with the notable fall of its enigmatic CTO, Dr. Peter Fath. Current CEO, Robert M. Hartung will also step down from his position, while Peter Augustin will become responsible for core solar cell and module business, amongst other management changes. Read more

Conergy plans 725kW PV plant for almond farm

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

PV systems supplier Conergy is building a 725kW solar plant for T & P Farms, an almond manufacturer, in northern California, US. The plant is estimated to generate enough power to meet 95% of the almond farm?s electricity needs for its shelling operations. Read more

IMS Research: China to install more than 4 GW of PV in 2H 2012

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 9:30 (Solarserver)

IMS Research (Wellingborough, U.K.) has released a new report which predicts that the Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) market will exceed 4 GW in the second half of 2012, to bring full year 2012 installations to 5 GW. However, the third quarter 2012 edition of "The China PV market - supply and demand quarterly" observes that manufacturing utilization rates across the value chain have all been below 60% in the third quarter of 2012, in part due to caution over the current EU trade investigation. The report also expresses concern over some aspects of the nation's PV market. Read more

S.A.G. Solarstrom, Valsolar 2006, Cavalum create JV to develop 4 PV plants in Spain

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Through a subsidiary, S.A.G. Solarstrom will be partnering with Valsolar 2006 and Cavalum SGPS to develop and construct four PV plants in Badajoz, Spain (in the region of Extremadura), as part of their newly developed joint venture. The plants will have a total output of around 440MWp with the project holding a total investment volume in the three-digit million range. Read more

Solar Frontier?s Kunitomi production plant receives ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Solar Frontier?s Kunitomi solar panel production plant recently received ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications. Both certifications are essential for Italian PV projects to be eligible for the country?s feed-in tariff, while other countries such as the UK, France and Mexico are also considering such requirements. Read more

Wells Fargo provides financing for SunEdison?s 11.3MW El Chaparral Solar Farm

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

The El Chaparral Solar Farm in New Mexico has found financial support through Wells Fargo. The solar project, developed by SunEdison, is the sixth utility-scale solar project that Well Fargo has funded, in partnership with SunEdison, in the past year. Read more

US Air Force awards US$750,000 to Magnolia Solar under its STTR program

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Magnolia Solar has been granted a US$750,000 Phase II award from the United States Air Force under its Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The two-year program aims to develop ultra-high efficiency, thin-film solar cells for space power applications. Read more

Martifer Solar Hellas finalizes installation of 1.5MW Greek PV plant

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Martifer Solar Hellas advised that its 1.5MW PV plant in Apathia Vrachaki, in the municipality of Trizinias, Greece, has reached completion. The project, which consists of polycrystalline modules and string inverters installed on fixed structures was connected to the grid on September 14. Martifer Solar Hellas expects the project to produce around 2.2GWh of electricity per year. Read more

JinkoSolar PV modules power 6.4MW solar farm in North Carolina

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

The latest addition to the Watts solar farm in Robeson County, North Carolina, comes in the form of a 6.4MW solar farm, which uses JinkoSolar PV modules. Developed by Strata Solar, the solar farm joins the ?southern cluster? of solar power farms in the state. Read more

World Bank to fund Jordan solar project

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 20:49 (Solarserver)

The World Bank has agreed to give USD 70 million to Jordan, the organizers of the GulfSol exhibition for the PV and solar industries of the MENA region, GulfSol announced in a press release. World Bank's financing supports a USD 600 million project to create a solar power plant with a total generation capacity of 100 megawatts (MW), according to reports emanating from the region. Read more

Unisolar files for insolvency, Photon reports

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Spain-based BIPV firm Unisolar, also known as Soliker, filed for insolvency on September 6, Photon has confirmed after speaking with the general manager of the company. Read more

SolarPark Korea passes PID tests with 0.1% power degradation

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Major Korean PV module manufacturer, SolarPark Korea has had two 60 cell mono-crystalline and three multi-crystalline modules pass the Potential Induced Degradation (PID) test, conducted at Photovoltaic Institute Berlin (PI Berlin) and certified by TÜV-SUD. Read more

IKEA connects Georgia?s largest private rooftop PV system

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

Swedish furniture giant IKEA has further stamped its mark in the US solar market and has officially turned on its 34th completed solar project in the US at its distribution centre near Savannah, Georgia. Covering 182,300 square feet, the 1,458.2kW solar array also represents Georgia?s largest private rooftop PV system. Read more

Lux Research report explores technologies for managing more intermittent renewable

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 16:06 (Solarserver)

Lux Research Inc. (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) has released a new report which finds that as renewable generation including wind and solar near 30% grid penetration, operators will need to employ more natural gas generation, implement automated demand response (AutoDR) and employ an increasing amount of energy storage. "Cloudy with a chance of energy: Evaluating technologies to manage grid intermittency" estimates that at 30% wind and solar generation, AutoDR will be needed to manage up to 2% of peak loads, and energy storage will be needed for at least 0.5% of the annual electricity generated to avoid renewables curtailment and outages. Read more

GPCL seeks bidders for 25MW rooftop PV projects in Gujurat

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 16:06 (PV-Tech)

Following the success of two pilot 2.5MW solar rooftop projects in the state capital city of Gandhinagar in India, Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd. (GPCL), an Indian project developer for the energy sector, has invited companies to bid for five rooftop PV projects in the state of Gujarat, India. The projects have a combined capacity of 25MW. Read more

First Solar, GE Energy, Verve commission 10 MW PV plant in Western Australia

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 16:00 (Solarserver)

First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.), GE Energy Financial Services Inc. (Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.) and Verve Energy (Perth, Australia) have commissioned a 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Western Australia, as the largest PV plant in the nation. The output of the Greenough River Solar Farm will be purchased by the WA Water Corporation to help offset the energy requirements of its Southern Seawater Desalination plant. The companies were joined by Western Australia Energy Minister Peter Collier, community members and contractors for an official commissioning ceremony. Read more

The Question Day 7: What is the Most Difficult Issue Facing the Solar Industry?

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 15:27 (Renewable Energy World)

It's been a year of both continued expansion and mounting challenges for the global solar industry. RenewableEnergyWorld asked solar industry executives to share their thoughts and insights on one burning question: Read more

Analysts Say Solar Power Company Suntech's Debt May Be Insurmountable

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 15:16 (Renewable Energy World)

Suntech Power Holdings Co., the biggest solar-panel maker in the world, may have few options as it seeks to renegotiate its debt, according to Pavel Molchanov, an analyst at Raymond James & Associates Inc. Read more

Solar: A Fall From Grace for Investors

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar is no longer the favorite among investors. Read more

Solar Power Lights up Future for Mongolian Herders

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

About a quarter of Mongolia's 2.8 million people are nomadic herders of yaks, cattle, sheep, goats and camels who live in gers ? as their traditional tent dwellings are known ? on the country's vast steppes. It is a simple life that has endured for centuries. Until recently, it was also a life without electricity. Read more

Solar Power Lights Up Future for Mongolian Herders

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

About a quarter of Mongolia's 2.8 million people are nomadic herders of yaks, cattle, sheep, goats and camels who live in gers ? as their traditional tent dwellings are known ? on the country's vast steppes. It is a simple life that has endured for centuries. Until recently, it was also a life without electricity. Read more

Ferro looking at disposal of conductive pastes business

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 13:51 (PV-Tech)

Having introduced over 20 new conductive paste-based products for the solar sector in the last 18 months the lack of customer adoption and overall weak demand due to industry overcapacity has forced materials specialist Ferro Corporation to explore strategic options for solar pastes business. As a result of the poor business environment in the PV sector, Ferro revised down its earnings guidance proposing to take an impairment charge of between US$175 million to US$200 million in its financial third quarter of 2012. Read more

Australia?s first large-scale PV project comes online

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Joined by Western Australia?s Energy Minister Peter Collier, representatives from Verve Energy, GE Energy Financial Services and First Solar are celebrating the opening of Australia?s first large-scale PV project. The 10MW Greenough River Solar Farm is located on 80 hectares of land near Geraldton, Western Australia, and was officially connected on October 9. Read more

Order Focus: Canadian Solar 20MW supply agreement with Australian REDSET

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 12:57 (PV-Tech)

Canadian Solar has announced a module supply agreement with Australia-based REDSET, a solar products distribution company serving a network of over 1,000 licensed installers across Australia. Read more

T-Solar plans 55MW PV projects in the US and Puerto Rico

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)

T-Solar Group, a utility-scale PV project developer based in Spain and a subsidiary of Isolux Infrastructure, is continuing to expand its international footprint and has announced plans for 55MW of contracted projects in the US and Puerto Rico. Read more

Canadian Solar to supply 20 MW of PV modules annually to Redset for Australian market

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 11:13 (Solarserver)

Canadian Solar Inc.'s (Guelph, Canada) Australian subsidiary has signed an agreement to supply 20 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules annually to Redset Pty Ltd. (Canning Vale, Australia) for commercial and residential PV installations in Australia. Redset has stated that Canadian Solar's approach to product development and strong warranties make it an attractive partner. Read more

India sets goal to provide 24/7 electricity to entire nation within 5 years, emphasizes solar

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 11:08 (Solarserver)

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced a goal to ensure affordable access to electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all households in the nation within five years. In a speech at the inauguration of the International Seminar on Energy Access, PM Singh put an emphasis on solar and other renewable energy technologies in meeting that goal. He noted that one million households in India are now using solar energy to provide lighting, and reiterated a goal of supplying 20 million rural households with solar home lighting by 2022. Read more

Mercom Capital: Solar industry funding falls across the board in 3Q 2012

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 9:43 (Solarserver)

Mercom Capital LLC (Austin, Texas, U.S.) has released its third quarter 2012 "Solar Funding and M&A" report, which finds that funding levels have fallen for both solar companies and projects, including a collapse in venture capital (VC) funding to USD 72 million, the lowest level since 2008. Mercom also reports four bankruptcies and insolvencies during the quarter, as well as 14 restructuring and downsizing announcements, to bring the total to 22 solar bankruptcies and 42 restructuring and downsizing announcements in 2012 to date. Read more

Chilean government announces online platform to assess solar potential

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 9:25 (Solarserver)

At the inauguration ceremony for Chile's largest operational solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, Chilean Minister of Energy Jorge Bunster announced a public online information platform to provide solar radiation values for developers. Minister Bunster also noted that over 900 MW of PV projects in the nation have received environmental approval, and promised additional initiatives to support the development of more solar capacity in coming months. The 1.4 MW PV plant in the town of La Huayca in northern Chile has been supplying electricity since the end of August 2012. Read more

Salazar Announces Approval of 3-GW Wind Farm in Wyoming

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 15:12 (Renewable Energy World)

For a state so often associated with cowboys and so evocative of "old west" imagery, Wyoming has a surprisingly progressive record. In 1869, Wyoming became the first state to grant women the right to vote. And on October 9 of this year, Wyoming became the future home to what could end up becoming the biggest wind power farm the world has ever seen. Read more

?Undercooked? Green Deal could damage green investor confidence

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 17:51 (Solarpowerportal)

The Managing Director of Liverpool-based renewable energy specialists Eco Environments, David Hunt, has warned Ministers that they face an uphill battle to convince businesses and consumers to invest in the ?undercooked? Green Deal. Read more

Geothermal Broken Down by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The After Dark at the Park event at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park always draw a crowd, but this past Tuesday's talk was different. Read more

Washington Gas awarded contract to build 803 kW PV plant for Maryland school

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 21:33 (Solarserver)

On October 4th, 2012, Washington Gas Energy Systems (Herndon, Virgina) announced that it has signed a contract with the Dorchester County Public School System (DCPS) and Kenyon Energy to build, own and operate an 803 kilowatt (kW) ground-mounted, solar photovoltaic (PV) plant for Mace's Lane Middle School in Cambridge, Maryland. The solar array will consist of 3,276 PV panels and is expected to produce 1,108 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity per year. Read more

NJR Clean Energy to develop 2.4 MW rooftop PV system for Wakefern's distribution center in New Jersey

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 20:52 (Solarserver)

Wakefern Food Corp. and NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV) announced a 2.4 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop system to be installed at a Wakefern's distribution center in Keasbey, New Jersey. The PV system will supply power to a refrigerated warehouse, helping lower Wakefern's long-term electricity costs and its greenhouse gas emissions. The system is expected to produce nearly 2,900,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of solar power annually, eliminating 2,000 metric tons of carbon-equivalent emissions from the atmosphere. Read more

SunPower acquires 42% of Diamond Energy

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Having sold its 1MW Uterne PV plant last week, SunPower has announced it has invested in Diamond Energy, a privately-owned, alternative energy project developer and clean electricity retailer headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. SunPower has acquired a minority stake of approximately 42% in Diamond Energy and under terms of the agreement has an option to increase its ownership percentage over time. SunPower will also assume a seat on the company?s board of directors. Read more

SIG selects Sunergis and Giulio Barbieri for PV carport project

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

Swiss electricity, water and gas provider SIG has appointed Sunergis to manage its 44kW PV carport project at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland while Italian carport manufacturer Giulio Barbieri has been selected to supply its PV carport system for the project. Read more

Free Webcast TOMORROW 10/11/12 To Learn More About Renewable Energy World North America Conference This December.

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 16:33 (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.power-eng.com/webcasts/2012/10/power-gen_preview.html Read more

Free Webcast 10/11/12 To Learn More About Renewable Energy World North America Conference This December.

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 16:33 (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.power-eng.com/webcasts/2012/10/power-gen_preview.html Read more

New Tool Makes Saving Electricity Easier

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Thirty-one million American homes will be getting computer-friendly data about their electricity use from their utility companies, thanks to the work of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and a nudge from the White House. Read more

Renewable Energy, Contaminated Sites: A Match Made in Heaven or Insurmountable Development Hurdles?

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

At first blush, the siting of renewable energy projects on contaminated properties may seem like an ideal reuse of environmentally compromised sites. However, the redevelopment of contaminated properties can pose unique challenges for renewable energy projects. Overcoming these obstacles requires careful planning as well as communication with oversight agencies. Many agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have new programs in place to assist renewable energy developers with contaminated property redevelopment. Read more

Barker defends Conservative?s green record amidst escalating gas row

Wednesday, 10.10.2012 - 12:22 (Solarpowerportal)

In a speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham yesterday, the Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker, has hit back at claims that his party has abandoned its ambition to become ?the greenest Government ever?. Read more