First Solar modules certified to meet UL 1703 standards for systems up to 1000V

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

First Solar advised that its thin-film Series 3 PV modules have met the standards and, therefore, listed by Underwriters Laboratories for UL1703 and ULC1703. The certification allows the modules to be used in PV systems up to 1,000V. Previously, the modules were UL listed as meeting the 1703 standards for use in PV systems up to 600V. Read more

Hanwha Group sets up Hanwha Q.Cells

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group has officially sealed the acquisition of German solar cell manufacturer Q-Cells by announcing the launch of Hanwha Q.Cells. Read more

Competitive PACE Environment a Smart Economic Driver in California

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 15:17 (Renewable Energy World)

Help is on the horizon for some of the hardest hit in California's downturn economy. And while it involves no public monies, this help was inspired by local government -- the City Council in California's top solar city ? San Diego. On October 23, 2012, San Diego became the first municipality in the state to introduce a competitive PACE environment for contractors and property owners by introducing FIGTREE PACE to the mix of commercial PACE providers. Read more

EDF Energies Nouvelles commissions 56 MW PV plant in Bourgogne, France

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 9:36 (Solarserver)

EDF Energies Nouvelles SA (La Défense, France) has commissioned a 56 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the Bourgogne region of France. The Massangis plant comprises roughly 700,000 First Solar cadmium telluride thin-film PV modules. EDF EN France developed and built the plant with development activities beginning in 2010, and commissioned the plant's first phase in spring 2012. Read more

Yingli Singapore tapped to provide 1MW of PV modules to solar plant in Singapore

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Yingli Green Energy Singapore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yingli Green Energy Holding?s, announced that it has been asked to provide 1MW of its multicrystalline PV modules to SolarGy, a PV system integrator in Singapore. Read more

Masdar prepares to build 15MW solar plant in Mauritania

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Masdar will be developing the first utility-scale solar power installation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The 15MW plant will be built in Nouakchott next to a new university, which is also under construction. It will not only deliver 10% of the electric capacity in Mauritania, but will also serve as a learning laboratory for solar energy development in the country. Read more

Wacker sees another drop in polysilicon sales for Q3 2012

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

The Wacker Group released its Q3 2012 financial results, which saw the company?s polysilicon business take another hit. Overall, Wacker saw the third quarter generate an EBITA of ?204.3 million, 36% less than Q3 2011 and 15% less than Q2 2012. Its polysilicon division posted sales of ?269.1 million, down 29% from the same period last year. Wacker notes that its sale and earnings for its polysilicon unit dropped because of continued pressure on prices and high inventory levels in the solar industry. Read more

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory breaks ground on solar fuel research facility

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 18:08 (Solarserver)

On October 19th, 2012, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (California, U.S.) announced that it has broken ground on its Solar Energy Research Center (SERC). SERC will house research laboratories and offices of the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), devoted to fundamental research and technology development of a solar fuel generator. This will include methods for synthesizing new light absorbing materials, catalysts for fuel generation, separation membranes, and assembly methods to build a complete integrated system. Read more

Shi, Beijing in Solar Energy Battle for Heart of Suntech

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 16:43 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar panel maker LDK (NYSE: LDK) started its long march to a takeover by the state with a major stake sale this week, but the equally cash-starved Suntech (NYSE: STP) looks like it may put up a bigger fight to maintain its independence. What's happening at Suntech comes down to a single word: Pride. The latest twist at Suntech also has broader imp Read more

SolarCity to power 26 Los Angeles schools with solar energy

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 16:06 (PV-Tech)

SolarCity has announced a 7.4MW solar power project that will bring renewable energy to 26 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools. Read more

CDB grants Sky Solar USD 1.6 billion credit facility

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 16:05 (Solarserver)

Government-owned China Development Bank (CDB, Beijing, China) has granted a USD 1.6 billion credit facility to Sky Solar Holdings Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) over the next four years. Sky Solar entered into the Developing & Financing Cooperation Agreement with the Shanghai Branch of CDB. The agreement will include access to multiple financial products from the CDB, including equity, debts, loans, leasing, bonds and securities. Read more

Ikea to spend USD 1.8 billion on wind, solar projects

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 15:58 (Solarserver)

Ikea (Leiden, The Netherlands) has released a new sustainability strategy which includes a plan to become energy and resource independent, including producing as much energy from renewable sources as is consumed in Ikea stores and buildings by 2020. Under the "People & Planet Positive" strategy, the company will allocate EUR 1.5 billion (USD 1.8 billion) to wind and solar projects. In the U.S. Ikea has installed solar photovoltaic (PV) plants at 34 stores and distribution centers, representing a 90% solar presence in the United States. Read more

REC Is Merger Candidate as Solar Takeovers Loom, CEO Says

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 15:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Renewable Energy Corp., the Norwegian solar-energy company struggling with falling demand and excess capacity, said it's a merger candidate as the industry gears up for a probable consolidation. Read more

The Question Day 16: What is the Most Difficult Issue Facing the Solar Industry?

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 15:00 (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

DBSA approves US$980 million of loans for South African solar projects

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has approved loan facilities worth R9,668.50 billion (US$980 million) earmarked for 13 solar projects in South Africa. Combined, the projects have a total capacity of 762.6MW. Read more

Trina formally opens APMEA headquarters

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 14:08 (PV-Tech)

Trina Solar?s new Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) headquarters in Singapore has been put into formal operation, the company has announced. Read more

CDB grants Sky Solar US$1.5 billion credit facility

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 14:00 (PV-Tech)

Shanghai-based developer Sky Solar Holdings has been granted a RMB10 billion (US$1.5 billion) credit facility from the China Development Bank Corp. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne hires new president and CTO

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Hanwha SolarOne, a vertically-integrated manufacturer of silicon ingots, waters and PV cells and modules, has announced two new appointments to its senior management team. Min-Su Kim has been appointed as the company?s new president while Jeong Eui Hong joins as the chief technology officer. Read more

Saudi Arabia eyes solar to fuel 100% renewables goal

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia has plans to become entirely powered by renewable and low carbon forms of energy, an influential member of the kingdom?s royal family has revealed. Read more

Intersolar China postponed, Conference will take place in Beijing as planned from December 11th-13th

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 10:27 (Solarserver)

The organizers of Intersolar China have decided to postpone the event until 2013. Against a background of ongoing consolidation in several areas of the solar industry, factors such as economic trends in the photovoltaics (PV) sector played a crucial role in the decision. The Intersolar China Conference is taking place as planned at the Intercontinental Hotel Beichen in Beijing from December 11th-13th. Some 500 national and international industry experts are expected to attend. Read more

Chinese authorities approve sale of Oerlikon's Solar segment

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 9:47 (Solarserver)

OC Oerlikon Corporation AG (Pfäffikon, Switzerland) reports that the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has approved the sale of its Solar Segment to Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TEL, Tokyo, Japan). This was the final regulatory approval needed for the divestment, under a contract signed by Oerlikon and TEL on March 2nd, 2012. The companies are now entering the closing process, and PV-Tech states that TEL is paying USD 275 million for the company. Read more

Heng Rui Xin Energy Company to buy 20% of LDK Solar shares

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 9:41 (Solarserver)

LDK Solar Company Ltd. (Xinyu City, China) has entered into an agreement whereby Heng Rui Xin Energy Company Ltd. (HRX) will purchase newly issued shares to equal 20% of LDK's total issued and outstanding capital. HRX will pay USD 0.86 per share, and will also gain the right to designate three additional directors to the LDK Solar board. Both companies have also agreed to add two independent directors to the LDK board. This arrangement must still be approved by Chinese regulatory authrorities. Read more

Engineering Microbes for Sustainable Manufacturing and Better Biofuels

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 15:43 (Renewable Energy World)

Like mini-recycling plants, microbes ingest and break down material to create something new. Scientists around the world are now using bioengineering to harness and improve this processing power to apply it towards solving major environmental challenges. Read more

NRG Gets U.S. Lease for 450-Megawatt Delaware Offshore Wind Farm

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 15:59 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. Interior Department awarded a lease for more than 96,400 acres of ocean off the coast of Delaware for an offshore wind farm, while NRG Energy Inc., the project's owner, contemplates selling it. Read more

Solar and Wind Energy Provide 100% New US Electrical Capacity in September

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 15:49 (Renewable Energy World)

According to the latest "Energy Infrastructure Update" report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects, 433 MW of new electrical generating capacity was added in the U.S. in September -- all from solar and wind sources. The total consisted of five wind projects totaling 300 MW and 18 solar projects totaling 133 MW. Read more

PVEL partners with AlsoEnergy to offer customers access to online data monitoring system

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 21:11 (PV-Tech)

PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) and Also Energy have teamed up in order to bring PVEL customers the ability to access their systems? testing data online. This will allow customers to track the performance and energy yield, as well as download historical data and generate performance plots, of their system in real time with AlsoEnergy? s PowerTrack energy management software. Read more

REC marks several changes in its management team

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) has advised of several changes to its management team, including the extension of Ole Enger?s position as CEO until July 2014. Bjørn Brenna, EVP and CFO, will be leaving the company to work as CFO for privately held Agra AS. Brenna was with REC for seven years. Read more

Vote Now for Your Favorite Project of the Year! Readers' Choice Voting Closes Soon

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 19:41 (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/awards/2012/vote Read more

Falling prices and declining sales hit REC?s Q3 results

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 18:53 (PV-Tech)

Norway-based Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC) has revealed that its revenues from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2012 fell by 24% to NOK1.51 billion compared with the corresponding period one year earlier. Read more

Masdar awards contract for design and construction of the new Masdar and IRENA complex

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 18:23 (Solarserver)

On October 21st, 2012, Masdar (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) announced that it has awarded the design and construction contract for its new headquarters complex in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The complex will also house the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Completion is set for summer of 2014. The headquarters will be a three building, 32,000 square-meter building complex. It will be one of the most advanced, sustainable multi-use complexes in the UAE. The complex will be the cornerstone of Masdar City ? the special economic zone, clean-technology cluster and low-carbon city in Abu Dhabi. Read more

IKEA set to invest £1.2 billion to achieve all-renewable energy supply by 2020

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 16:39 (Solarpowerportal)

IKEA has allocated £1.2 billion to solar and wind projects up to 2015 in a bid to meet all its on-site energy demands from renewable sources by 2020. Read more

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, RWE form joint venture energy consulting company

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 14:28 (Solarserver)

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA, Dubai, UAE) has entered into a joint venture (JV) with RWE Technology GmbH (Trier, Germany) to form an energy consulting service company. The JV will provide services to utilities, the oil & gas industry, and associated related activities of the steel/petrochemical and aluminum industries. The companies note that services offered will be based on existing expertise, which includes the fields of solar and other renewable energies, as well as water desalination and electricity transmission and distribution. Read more

REA: Role of renewables in increasing energy bills greatly exaggerated

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 13:27 (Solarpowerportal)

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has set out the true cost of supporting renewables ahead of a key opposition day debate over the escalation of energy bills. Read more

Role of government in energy R&D explored in third U.S. presidential debate

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 10:14 (Solarserver)

U.S. government investments in energy technologies and research and development (R&D) were points of argument in the third debate between U.S. President Barack Obama and Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney. In the debate Romney attacked Obama for government investment in renewable energy and electric car companies, referencing Solyndra LLC (Fremont, California, U.S.), while Obama stressed investment in both new energy sources and R&D. Read more

UK Reports Major Renewable Energy Advancements in 2012

Wednesday, 10.24.2012 - 6:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Britain has reached several major milestones in its development of renewables during the past year. It established a national Green Investment Bank and confirmed a reduction from one tradable Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) to 0.9 ROC/MWh for onshore wind ? ending speculation over much deeper cuts, which had eroded industry confidence. This 10 percent cut was originally proposed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), but rumors that further cuts ? up to 25 percent ? were under consideration had driven leading wind turbine manufacturers to write to the energy minister, warning that continuing uncertainty was a risk to investment in the UK. Read more