News of the year 2012
Date: 18.10.2012
A123 Filing Shows Struggle Extending MIT Smarts to Factory Floor
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 16:03 (Renewable Energy World)
A123 Systems Inc., the electric-car battery maker that filed for bankruptcy this week, had promising chemistry and marquee customers. What it couldn't overcome, even with government funding, were missteps in manufacturing. Read moreSaint-Gobain signs MoU with Saudi Government to build CIGS PV module factory
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 15:53 (Solarserver)
Saint-Gobain SA (Courbevoie, France) has signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Prince Faisal Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia to set up a company in the kingdom, including supporting the building and operation of a copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing facility. Saint-Gobain states that the project is part of a larger program which includes the building of PV plants in the kingdom, and that this strategic alliance will lay the foundation for other solar businesses. The signing ceremony was held at the offices of Saint-Gobain affiliate Avancis (Torgau, Germany). Read moreAstronergy polycrystalline PV modules achieve JET certification
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 15:46 (Solarserver)
Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories (JET) has certified Astronergy's (Hangzhou, China) solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, which will support the sale of these modules in the Japanese market. The certification was issued for Astronergy polycrystalline silicon PV modules with ratings between 135 watts and 320 watts. Read moreOntario's "domestic content" clause ruled to violate WTO rules, Premier McGuinty steps down
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 12:29 (Solarserver)
As reported by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), an interim World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has sided with the European Union and Japan in their challenge to the Canadian province of Ontario's feed-in tariff, based on the "domestic content" requirement. The WTO panel is expected to issue a final ruling in late November 2012. ICTSD revealed this information on October 15th, 2012, the same day that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty (L), who oversaw passage of the program, announced that he will step down. Read more1MW German Conergy plant set for grid connection
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)
System supplier Conergy and Renew HGmbH have carried out a joint project to prepare a solar plant in the town of Kaisersesch, Germany, for connection to the local power grid. Read moreSunways to provide BIPV products for Novartis? head office
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 2:00 (PV-Tech)
Novartis has tapped Sunways to provide its semitransparent design solar cells for the pharmaceutical company?s US head office. This is said to the largest individual order for Sunways to date for its BIPV products. Further, the installation is being hailed, upon completion, as being the largest transparent PV roof in the US. Read moreCanadian Solar supplies PV modules for 5 MW plant in Pennsylvania
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 23:24 (Solarserver)
On October 16th, 2012, Canadian Solar Inc. (Guelph, Canada) announced that it has supplied solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for the 5 megawatt (MW) Keystone solar project in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Canadian Solar states that 20,000 MaxPower 290 watt (W) modules were installed at Keystone, which was developed by Community Energy Solar and constructed by groSolar. Read moreCSP technology provider Novatec Solar appoints Andreas Wittke as CEO
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 22:50 (Solarserver)
The Chairman of Novatec Solar?s (Karlsruhe, Germany) shareholder committee, Nicholas James, has announced the appointment of Andreas Wittke as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and member of the management board. Mr. Wittke will take over the role from departing CEO Dr. Christoph Wolff. Novatec Solar is a technology provider and original equipment manufacturer of efficient, low cost direct solar steam generators (solar boilers) based on Fresnel collector technology for concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. Read moreJeffco Public Schools adopts NREL's Solar on Schools program
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 22:42 (Solarserver)
The U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is sponsoring the "Solar on Schools" program that has been adopted by Jeffco Public Schools, the largest district in Colorado. Rooftop solar arrays are installed at 30 of the district's schools. Golden Power Partners collaborated with Renewable Social Benefit Funds (RSB Funds) for financing, using combined federal and state incentives as well as Xcel Energy renewable energy rebates, and Tecta America for construction. Read moreSunpower Renewables, Talesun Solar commission 1.5 MW PV plant in California
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 22:35 (Solarserver)
On October 16th, 2012, Sunpower Renewables Inc. (Newark, Delmarva, U.S.) and Talesun Solar USA Ltd. (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that they have co-developed a 1.5 megawatt (MW) AC solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Hollister, California. The PV plant has been officially transferred to Sun Benito Power LLC, a special purpose entity established by the permanent project financier. Read moreUpsolar launches smart module line with Tigo Energy optimizer
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 21:11 (PV-Tech)
Upsolar has unveiled a new line of smart modules featuring an optimizer by Tigo Energy. The modules have been certified by TÜV Rheinland for use in Europe and North America and are available for residential, commercial and utility-scale installations. Read moreFirst Solar opens new global operations centre
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 20:58 (PV-Tech)
First Solar has opened its new global operations centre, which will monitor and control power plants in the company?s operation and maintenance programme from one central location. Read moreSolar Junction Does it Again, Sets New CPV Efficiency Record
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 16:53 (Renewable Energy World)
World records are broken every day, some to more fanfare than others. While earlier this week the eyes of the world were watching daredevil Felix Baumgartner's 24-mile skydive from the edge of space, a San Jose-based solar energy company called Solar Junction was busy breaking another kind of record. Read moreWork to begin on new SolarMax HQ
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 15:56 (PV-Tech)
US installer SolarMax has announced plans to begin work on its new headquarters in Riverside, California. Read moreThe Question Day 12: What is the Most Difficult Issue Facing the Solar Industry?
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 15:51 (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 moreChile gives go-ahead to 162MW solar power park
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 14:02 (PV-Tech)
Chile?s environmental evaluation service has given the green light to the construction of a 162MW solar power park in the mineral-rich Atacama region. Read moreSolar mentioned in second U.S. presidential debate
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 12:38 (Solarserver)
Solar and other renewable energy sources were again mentioned in the second debate between U.S. President Barack Obama (D) and Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney (R), with solar mentioned twice by Obama and once by Romney. U.S. President Obama took credit for doubling energy production from solar, wind and biofuels, while Presidential Candidate Romney gave a nod to renewables but emphasized coal, petroleum and natural gas production and use. Both candidates tried to position themselves as champions of greater oil and gas production. Read moreFirst Solar chosen to build first phase of landmark solar PV project in Dubai
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 9:44 (Solarserver)
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA, Dubai, UAE) has selected First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) to build a 13 MW-DC solar photovoltaic (PV) plant 50 km south of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. First Solar will also supply its cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film PV modules for the plant. The project is the first phase of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, a USD 3.3 billion project to build 1 GW of PV and concentrating solar power (CSP) plants over an area of 48 square kilometers. Read moreGerman PV producer Solarwatt comes out of insolvency
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 9:40 (Solarserver)
Dresden Municipal Court has repealed insolvency proceedings for Solarwatt AG (Dresden, Germany), following the court's ratification of Solarwatt's restructuring plan. The company states that it will now accelerate orientation to the PV systems sector with new products in 2012 and 2013. Solarwatt's creditors approved the reorganization plan on September 11th, 2012. Read moreNASDAQ warns JA Solar of potential de-listing
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 9:34 (Solarserver)
JA Solar Holdings Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) has received a notice from the NASDAQ stock exchange stating that it no longer meets the requirements for continued listing, as its stock price has fallen below USD 1 per share for 30 consecutive business days. The company has 180 calendar days to regain compliance with the minimum bid price rule, or be de-listed. JA Solar states that it is currently in compliance with all of NASDAQ's other listing requirements, and plans to take measures to regain compliance with the rule. Read moreReport: King?s Cross Solar rooftop solar project brings solar energy to busy rail station
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 5:05 (PV-Tech)
The iconic King?s Cross railway station in London is sporting a new 240kW rooftop PV system with a price tag just over US$2 million. Renewable Energy World notes that the project is part of larger (over US$887 million) redevelopment program at the rail station. The PV project consists of 1,392 custom-made glass laminate solar panels and covers over 2,300 square metres of the station. It is anticipated that the PV project will supply 10% of King?s Cross electricity use with a per year energy output of 175,000kWh. Read moreJFE Holdings wins bid to construct 3 solar plants in Japan
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 4:19 (PV-Tech)
Bloomberg has reported that JFE Holdings was awarded a contract from Mitsui & Co. and Tokio Marine Asset Management, which will see the company build three solar plants in Japan through subsidiaries. Four of JFE Steel?s units will provide for the Japanese solar plants with a combined 8.3MW capacity. Read moreJFE Holdings win bid to construct 3 solar plants in Japan
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 4:15 (PV-Tech)
Bloomberg has reported that JFE Holdings was awarded a contract from Mitsui & Co. and Tokio Marine Asset Management, which will see the company build three solar plants in Japan through subsidiaries. Four of JFE Steel?s units will provide for the Japanese solar plants with a combined 8.3MW capacity. Read moreET Solar signs MOU with Denmark?s EnergiMidt
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 4:15 (PV-Tech)
ET Solar Group announced that it has signed an MOU with EnergiMidt under which is will be the Danish company?s major PV module supplier. The MOU forms the strategic tie between the two companies and will be prominently utilized for EnergiMidt?s 2013 rooftop PV project requirements. Read moreJeff Haas moves to Renusol America as new director of business development
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 4:15 (PV-Tech)
Jeff Haas, former regional sales director of Schott Solar and the regional West Coast account executive for groSolar, has been appointed Renusol America?s West Coast director of business development. He has worked in the solar industry for six years and is an almost twenty-year veteran in operations and management for the commercial construction industry. Read moreFirst Solar selected to build first phase of new Dubai solar power farm
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 0:15 (PV-Tech)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai has launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which aims to construct a 13MW solar PV power plant in its first phase. The project was initiated by the Supreme Council of Energy and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority will be managing and executing the solar park. Read moreThere are no news available
What Is the Most Economical U.S. Wind Project Size?
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 18:36 (Renewable Energy World)
Big dreams for renewable energy often goad people into imagining big wind projects, with hundreds of turbines. But lots of smaller projects are just as likely to add up to big numbers. Counting wind projects from 1999-2010 (based on data from LBNL's excellent Wind Technologies Market report) the average size of an American wind project is 80 megaw Read moreThere are no news available
There are no news available
Indonesia Geothermal Sector Attracts Panax, Mitsubishi, BP, Chevron
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 16:29 (Renewable Energy World)
Indonesia has had the lowest volatility in economic growth of any OECD or BRIC economy over the past decade, while its economy in the short term is conjectured at close to 7% growth per year, according to Proactiveinvestors.com.au. Read moreItaly?s proposed FiT-free National Energy Strategy opens for consultation
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 18:50 (PV-Tech)
The Italian Ministry of Economy and Industry has opened a public consultation on its recently approved new National Energy Strategy. The document will be open for discussion for a month. Read moreCameron's Proposed UK Energy Plan Causes 'Chaos'
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 15:47 (Renewable Energy World)
U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Davey promised to give industry more clarity about power market reforms due next month, seeking to allay the concerns of renewable and nuclear power developers that ministers are bogged down in analysis of the problem. Read moreGreen Growth Still Setting the Pace
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)
Renewable energy markets and policy frameworks have evolved rapidly in recent years. Despite a challenging economic backdrop, reports reveal growth across all sectors. Read moreOPIC to dedicate staff member for South Africa in 2013
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 14:42 (PV-Tech)
The US Government?s development finance institution, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), is to dedicate a senior staff member for South Africa who will help implement the body?s US-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative (US-ACEF). Read moreCBI: ?Less politics in UK energy policy?
Thursday, 10.18.2012 - 10:36 (Solarpowerportal)
The Government must provide greater certainty in energy policy to help investors boost growth and provide secure low-carbon power, the CBI Deputy Director-General has warned. Read moreThere are no news available