Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry approves 1.03 GW of PV applications through FiT in July, August 2012

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 10:44 (Solarserver)

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has announced the results of the first two full months of the nation's feed-in tariff program (FiT), reporting that 1.03 GW of applications for solar photovoltaic (PV) projects were approved in July and August 2012. METI further predicted that 2 GW of PV will be added through the FiT by April 2013, in the first nine months of the program. The ministry forecasts that 1.5 GW of this capacity will be residential rooftop PV, with another 500 MW of commercial, industrial and other PV installations, and 500 MW of other renewable energy sources. Read more

Wuxi coordinates USD 31.6 million bailout of Suntech

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 10:36 (Solarserver)

The government of the city of Wuxi, China has coordinated a USD 31.6 million emergency funding package for Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) through a consortium of banks including the Bank of China (Beijing, China). Wuxi city government describes the loan as part of a series of "positive countermeasures" to assist the company. The assistance comes less than a month after Suntech announced that it will reduce its annual PV cell capacity by 600 MW, affecting 1,500 workers, and less than a week after the New York Stock Exchange threatened the company with de-listing due to its depressed stock prices. Read more

SEMI: Taiwan PV equipment market to reach 2.5 - 3.5 GW over next four years

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 10:00 (Solarserver)

The Taiwanese chapter of the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) trade group reports that the Taiwanese solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing industry continues to operate at high capacity utilization, despite a slowdown in overall global PV production. SEMI Taiwan states that the nation's PV manufacturers are expected to leverage both their competitive advantages in producing crystalline silicon PV cells and modules and the tariffs placed on Chinese PV products in the United States. The organization forecasts a 2.5 - 3.5 GW opportunity for PV manufacturing equipment in Taiwan in the period 2013-2016 through upgrades and replacements of existing equipment. Read more

GCL-Poly Energy, Foxconn Technology partner for solar plant in Shanxi province

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Bloomberg has reported that GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and Foxconn Technology Group plan to cohesively work on building and operating a solar plant in China?s Shanxi province. The 310MW plant will use GCL?s solar cells, which will be assembled by Foxconn, with both companies agreeing to share the revenue produced from selling the electricity to the government utility. Read more

XsunX anticipates completing its assembly of CIGSolar deposition system in October

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

XsunX advised that it expects to complete the assembly of its CIGSolar thin-film PV cell evaporation system this month. The company employed a fast-track completion schedule in order to accelerate its technology demonstration and marketing efforts. This summer, XsunX received equity financing through Ironridge Energy, which allowed it to focus on building a demonstration of the CIGSolar thin-film PV cell evaporation system while simultaneously forming technology marketing operations in its new Irvin, California, facility. Read more

Tucker Crawford steps down as CEO of South Coast Solar to take over presidency of GSREIA

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 22:12 (PV-Tech)

South Coast Solar advised that its CEO, Tucker Crawford, has stepped down in order to work full-time as president of the Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association (GSREIA). The group is specifically dedicated to expanding the use of solar power in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Read more

SolarMax sees increased interest in residential solar systems over summer months

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 21:58 (PV-Tech)

Heat waves and higher energy costs make the summer months slightly miserable for most consumers, but SolarMax noted that this past summer those two factors helped the company install and sell over 600 residential solar power systems in Southern California. Read more

Solar Panel Tariffs ? No Benefit, Only Problems

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 21:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Testimony at the October 3 hearing before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) confirmed the misguided nature of government-imposed solar panel "dumping" tariffs and highlighted the dangers of antagonizing one of our strategic trade partners. With mere days to go before ITC's final determination on the contentious tariffs issue, key members of the U.S. solar industry used the hearing to voice serious concern about the policy's effects. Read more

Battlefield: Georgia ? Who Is Allowed To Sell Solar Energy in the Peach State?

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 21:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In a state that has been teeming with solar resources since the beginning of time, it's ironic that a fight to seize upon that great, untapped resource is only now taking place. In a recent study performed by the University of Arizona, Georgia ranked in the top three U.S. states most capable of harnessing that abundance of solar to not only create clean energy, but to also create new jobs and dramatically increase state and local revenue. Yet to date, that potential remains far from full realization. But if a certain Atlanta-based startup gets its way, it may only be a matter of time before the first giant leap is taken. Read more

GE Banking on Saudi Arabia's Shift Toward Solar Power

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 19:48 (Renewable Energy World)

General Electric Co. predicts demand for its gas turbines will increase in Saudi Arabia, even with the kingdom working to supply a third of power needs from solar energy within the next two decades. Read more

GCL-Poly Planning Massive Solar Power Installations in China

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 19:30 (Renewable Energy World)

Foxconn Technology Group and GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd. will build and jointly operate a solar- power plant in China's Shanxi province. Read more

Solyndra Has No Impact on U.S. Public Support Solar

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 18:32 (Renewable Energy World)

The media feeding frenzy over government support for now-bankrupt Solyndra has had no apparent impact on public impressions of solar energy or even of government support for solar, says a new poll from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Hart Research. Read more

Solyndra Has No Impact on US Public Support Solar

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 18:32 (Renewable Energy World)

The media feeding frenzy over government support for now-bankrupt Solyndra has had no apparent impact on public impressions of solar energy or even of government support for solar, says a new poll from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Hart Research. Read more

Solyndra Has No Impact on US Public Support for Solar

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 18:32 (Renewable Energy World)

The media feeding frenzy over government support for now-bankrupt Solyndra has had no apparent impact on public impressions of solar energy or even of government support for solar, says a new poll from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Hart Research. Read more

SPUK: Wagner Solar shows off new TRICs for the UK

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 18:20 (Solarpowerportal)

Wagner Solar has announced the launch of the TRIC F box, flat roof racking system and TRIC clip panel fastener for the UK market at Solar Power UK 2012. Read more

SPUK: Antaris Solar presents new off-grid eKiss PV system

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 18:04 (Solarpowerportal)

German solar firm Antaris Solar is showcasing its new standalone, portable off-grid PV system, eKiss, at Solar Power 2012 which is being held in Birmingham this week. Located on booth B36, visitors are able to view and test the eKiss system. Read more

Canadian Solar delivers 26MW of PV modules for Puerto Rican project

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer Canadian Solar has announced that it has delivered 26MW of its CS6P-P PV modules to EPC contractor TSK Solar for use in the San Fermin solar power plant project located in Puerto Rico. Read more

Sonnedix and HSH Nordbank close ?90 million project deal

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Sonnedix and HSH Nordbank have announced the financial closing of its long-term non-recourse 24MW ground-mounted project for ?90 million. Announced in July, the Toul 3 solar plant is located near Nancy in north-eastern France. This plant is one of three adjacent solar plants forming the 115MW Toul-Rosieres solar park, claimed to be the largest in Europe to date. Toul 3 started producing solar generated electricity this summer, claimed to be adding in excess of 26GWh per year. Read more

SPUK: Sungift Solar launch BenQ modules in the UK

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 13:36 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewable energy specialist Sungift Solar has become the exclusive supplier of BenQ modules in the UK and has launched the product at Solar Power UK 2012, held October 2-4 in Birmingham. Read more

SPUK: Sungift Solar launches BenQ modules in the UK

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 13:36 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewable energy specialist Sungift Solar has become the exclusive supplier of BenQ modules in the UK and has launched the product at Solar Power UK 2012, held October 2-4 in Birmingham. Read more

Wikoda introduces solar PV trackers for residential use

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 13:03 (Solarserver)

On September 28th, 2012, Wikoda Inc. (West Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.) announced that it has introduced a cost effective and affordable solar photovoltaic (PV) tracker for home users. The company utilized its heliostat technology to create a PV tracker with a price of USD 349. It can hold solar PV panels with up to 200 W. Read more

SPUK: Solar power a saviour to 6.3 million households suffering from fuel poverty

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 12:52 (Solarpowerportal)

Current uSwitch figures dictate that fuel poverty affects 6.3 million households in the UK. With almost 30,000 deaths blamed on low incomes and high energy bills, John Penny, Policy Advisor at the Chartered Institute of Housing, offered solutions to the audience at Solar Power UK in Birmingham today. Read more

SPUK: Lark Energy completes 3.4MW solar farm in Whittlesey

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 11:46 (Solarpowerportal)

Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire has become home to one of the first major solar power generation plants in the region according to Licolnshire-based Lark Energy, after the company, along with Prosolia UK and Oakapple Renewable Energy, completed a 3.4MW solar farm in the town. Read more

SPUK: China Sunergy expands UK presence with 50MW MoU

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 11:34 (Solarpowerportal)

China Sunergy has signed a 50MW Memorandum of Understanding with a view to expand its UK presence. The MoU was inked just before the start of Solar Power UK 2012 which kicked off on October 2 and runs until October 4. Read more

SPUK: REW Solar announces new distribution partnership with RDCM

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 11:32 (Solarpowerportal)

Hertfordshire-based solar PV specialists, REW Solar UK Ltd, has just announced the latest addition to its family of distributors, Renewables Distribution Centre Midlands. Read more

Solar Shakeout: 3S Soluciones announces bankruptcy

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 11:15 (PV-Tech)

The bankruptcy of Spain-based 3S Soluciones has been announced in the the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE) (Spanish for Official Bulletin of the State) - the official gazette of the government of Spain. A resolution is yet to be made and no details of potential buyers have been released as yet. Read more

LBNL explores soft costs for U.S., German solar PV installations

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 10:58 (Solarserver)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL, Berkeley, California, U.S.) has released a briefing exploring comparative "soft costs" for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in Germany and the United States. "Why are residential PV prices in Germany so much lower than in the United States? A scoping analysis" finds that German PV installers reported soft costs of USD 0.62 per watt in 2011, less than a fifth of the USD 3.32 per watt reported by U.S. installers in 2010. Among other conclusions, the report finds much lower customer acquisition and labor costs in Germany. Read more

SPUK: Romag launches BIPV Partnership Programme

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 10:53 (Solarpowerportal)

In a bid to encourage PV installers to take advantage of the growing BIPV market in the UK, PV manufacturer and glass specialist Romag has launched its new BIPV Partnership Programme at Solar Power 2012 which is being held this week in Birmingham. Read more

SPUK: Solar ENLES launches UK?s first retrofit energy storage system for domestic solar PV

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 10:29 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar ENLES Ltd has launched the UK?s first domestic-scale grid storage system at this year?s Solar Power UK event in Birmingham. Read more

SPUK: Solar ENLES launches UK?s first retrofit energy storage system for domestic solar PV ? the Sun

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 10:29 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar ENLES Ltd has launched the UK?s first domestic-scale grid storage system at this year?s Solar Power UK event in Birmingham. Read more

Concentrating solar power in Southern California: 500 MW Rio Mesa project passes first regulatory hurdle

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 10:06 (Solarserver)

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has released the first part of a Preliminary Staff Assessment (PSA) of the 500 MW Rio Mesa concentrating solar power (CSP) project proposed for Southern California. This portion of the PSA finds that the project complies with all applicable laws and regulations and would have less than significant environmental impact. This is the first step towards approval for BrightSource Energy Inc.'s (Oakland, California, U.S.) Rio Mesa Solar Electric Generating System (SEGS). The project will comprise two 250 MW solar power tower CSP plants located on privately-owned land in Riverside County, California. Read more

Bio-Power Shows Competitive Edge

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, has published a study on the costs of biomass power generation, concluding that the most competitive projects can generate electricity at a cost as low as US$0.06/kWh. Read more

Vestas Says Emerging Wind Markets Can't Offset EU, US Decline

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 19:34 (Renewable Energy World)

Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world's biggest wind-turbine maker, said higher sales in emerging markets won't make up for a decline in demand in the U.S. and European Union next year. Read more

Chevron Announces Re-Entry into US Geothermal Market

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 20:04 (Renewable Energy World)

Chevron announced yesterday that the company is re-entering the US geothermal power market after an absence of some years.  Gregg Rotenberg ? Vice President of Strategy and Renewable Energy Investment at Chevron made the announcement during a speech at the Opening Session of the 36th GRC Annual Meeting in Reno, Nevada.  Gregg said that Chevron has Read more

Rexel: Britain needs renewable heat education

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 17:32 (Solarpowerportal)

Rexel is advising British consumers need educating on the benefits of renewable heat following the recent publication of wave 2 of DECC?s Public Attitudes Tracker. The company?s survey highlights that 56% of customers have not heard of combined heat and power units, while nearly half (46% and 42% respectively) are unaware of air-source and ground-source heat pumps. However, the government is now ready to work on the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme for summer 2013. Read more

Cities Getting Local Energy Choice with Aggregation

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 19:35 (Renewable Energy World)

Over 200 Illinois towns helped cut their citizens' electric bills in 2012, and some even achieved 100% renewable energy, thanks to a state law that lets cities choose their electricity provider.  The law, called community choice aggregation, lets municipalities pick from competitive electricity suppliers for their residential and small business cus Read more

SPUK: Enphase Energy takes ?no compromise approach? to UK launch

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 17:31 (Solarpowerportal)

If you?ve been at Solar Power UK 2012 this week then you can?t fail to have noticed Enphase Energy?s booth, between the live demonstrations, candy-filled shot glasses and fish tanks it?s been hard to miss. Read more

SPUK: NuVision Energy unveils 2013 energy saving product range

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 17:22 (Solarpowerportal)

NuVision Energy has unveiled its new energy saving and renewable product range for 2013 at Solar Power UK 2012, held this week in Birmingham. Read more

Presidential Election: BURN Radio produces energy documentary special

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 13:09 (Solarserver)

On September 28th, 2012, SoundVision Productions announced that a two-hour Election Special titled, The Power of One, will go on air on Public Radio's BURN: An Energy Journal. The Power of One is a far-ranging examination of how individuals, new scientific ideas, grassroots initiatives and potentially game-changing inventions are informing the energy debate in this Presidential Election year, and redefining America's quest for greater energy independence. Read more

On the right track to super batteries: EU Commission promotes research of novel materials for energy storage and conversion with EUR 1.5 million

Wednesday, 10.3.2012 - 12:58 (Solarserver)

The European Research Council awards the ERC Starting Grant for top-level early-career scientists to Xinliang Feng, who is employed at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P, Mainz, Germany). With that the chemist receives development funds amounting to EUR 1.5 million for the next five years in order to set up a research group. These funds allow Dr. Feng to continue and intensify research on two-dimensional materials, the institute reports in a press release. Read more