John Lefebvre leaves Suntech America as regional president position dissolved

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 20:13 (PV-Tech)

As part its senior management restructuring process, John Lefebvre, President of Suntech America has left the company, while E.L. ?Mick? McDaniel, previously Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Suntech America, has assumed the newly introduced title of Managing Director for Suntech America. As with other recent changes, McDaniel will report directly to CEO David King. Read more

SPUK: Conergy and Waxman Energy form joint UK venture

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 13:56 (Solarpowerportal)

Conergy?s restructuring strategies do not appear to have hindered its progress, having signed a deal with distributor Waxman Energy to improve access to Conergy products across the UK. Read more

SPUK: Conergy and Waxman Energy joint UK venture

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 13:56 (Solarpowerportal)

Conergy?s restructuring strategies do not appear to have hindered its progress, having signed a deal with distributor Waxman Energy to improve access to Conergy products across the UK. Read more

International Trade Commission hears arguments over U.S. tariffs on Chinese PV

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 12:05 (Solarserver)

On October 3rd, 2012 the International Trade Commission (ITC) heard arguments from parties in favor of and against tariffs on U.S. imports of Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) cells as part of an ongoing investigation. Public statements by rival organizations the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) and the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) were predictably contentious. CASM accused the Chinese government of intentionally destroying U.S. PV manufacturing and CASE accused founding CASM member SolarWorld of endangering the future of the global solar industry. Read more

Innergex inaugurates 27 MW-AC Stardale PV plant in Ontario

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 9:15 (Solarserver)

Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (Longueuil, Canada) has inaugurated its 27 MW-AC Stardale solar photovoltaic (PV) farm at a ceremony attended by local and Ontario government officials. Electricity from the Stardale solar farm will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority under three 20-year Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program contracts. The USD 145 million project is Innergex's first solar project. Read more

Solar Frontier near 1GW installation milestone

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Several major PV power plant projects including the under construction Catalina Solar Plant in Kern County, California are supporting CIS-based thin-film module manufacturer, Solar Frontier highlight that it is nearing the cumulative 1GW installation milestone, only the second thin-film supplier to be on target to reach that level, after First Solar. Read more

Solliance initiative starts Solar Flare project to make thin-film competitive

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

A who?s who of select research institutions in Eindhoven-Leuven region have teamed-up to boost the competitiveness of CIGS thin-film technology with conventional crystalline silicon technology that would ultimately support the overall cost reduction of solar energy. Working under the Solliance initiative, the Solar Flare project includes ECN, TNO, imec, Holst Centre, TU/e and the University of Hasselt/IMO, which will also aim to make thin-film PV a viable alternative to Si PV technologies. Read more

Epuron buys 1MW Uterne PV plant in Australia from SunPower

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 18:02 (PV-Tech)

Australian renewable energy firm Epuron has acquired the 1MW Uterne PV plant ? which is said to be Australia?s largest tracking solar power plant ? from US PV manufacturer SunPower Corporation. The acquisition was financed by Australian financial services company Commonwealth Bank, making it the country?s first major bank to support a solar project of this size. Read more

How Do Installers Effectively Harness the "Solar Walmart Effect?"

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 17:40 (Renewable Energy World)

At the recent SPI 2012, I participated in a Renewable Energy World video roundtable on Big Box retail stores going solar with a representative from Walmart and another representative from SunEdison. (You can see the two part videos below.) There?s a lot of great information here, but I?d like to summarize a few of the points, and also make some sug Read more

How Can Installers Harness the "Solar Walmart Effect?"

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 17:40 (Renewable Energy World)

At the recent SPI 2012, I participated in a Renewable Energy World video roundtable on big box retail stores going solar with a representative from Walmart and another representative from SunEdison. (You can see the two part videos below.) There?s a lot of great information here, but I?d like to summarize a few of the points, and also make some sug Read more

Sumitomo acquires 25% share in 550MW Desert Sunlight Solar Farm project

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Sumitomo Corporation of America (SCOA) and its parent company Sumitomo Corporation have invested in the 550MW Desert Sunlight Solar Farm which is currently under construction in the Californian desert in the US. As a result, the companies have acquired a 25% share in the project. Read more

EH Smith announces two new partnerships at Solar Power UK

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 17:14 (Solarpowerportal)

Midlands-based solar distributor, EH Smith, has announced two new partnerships that it hopes will strengthen its current product offering. Read more

SPUK: EH Smith announces two new partnerships at Solar Power UK

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 17:14 (Solarpowerportal)

Midlands-based solar distributor, EH Smith, has announced two new partnerships that it hopes will strengthen its current product offering. Read more

The Question Day 4: What is the Most Difficult Issue Facing the Solar Industry?

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 17:00 (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

Kenya's M-KOPA Offers Cheaper Solar Power to Off-Grid Villages

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 16:21 (Renewable Energy World)

M-KOPA LLC, a mobile-technology startup, is extending credit to low-income earners in Kenya to buy solar-power systems that are otherwise out of their financial reach, Managing Director Jesse Moore said. Read more

PV and CPV Standards on the Rise

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Reliability of PV and CPV modules is a key requirement for sustainable consumption of solar energy. To ensure their reliability and safety, PV modules must be tested to and comply with a universally accepted set of standards. Additionally, several initiatives are currently underway to enhance product reliability, some of which are likely to become industry-enforced standards in the near future. Read more

GeoModel Solar launches SolarGIS PvSpot assessment tool

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 11:59 (Solarserver)

GeoModel Solar sro (Bratislava, Slovakia) has launched a new geographic information system (GIS) - based performance assessment tool for solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. The company says that its SolarGIS PvSpot enables precise comparisons of actual versus expected energy production, made possible through satellite-based modeling and electricity simulation. The application is currently available for locations in Europe and South Africa. Read more

Bridge to India: Viability gap funding for solar projects to be provided under National Solar Mission phase 2

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 9:11 (Solarserver)

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plans to provide viability gap funding (VGF) for solar projects in the nation under phase 2 of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), according to the latest report by Bridge to India (New Delhi, India). The firm's latest India Solar Compass states that VGF is being considered under phase 2 due to insufficient private investments, but warns that this could make projects relying on the solar renewable energy certificate (SREC) mechanism in India unviable. Read more

Gestamp Solar partners with Kankyo Keiei to build rooftop PV in Japan

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 9:06 (Solarserver)

Gestamp Solar SL (Madrid, Spain) has signed a partnership agreement with Kankyo Keiei Senryaku Soken (Yokohama, Japan) to develop rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects across Japan. The agreement will focus on permitting, operations and maintenance of PV plants in different locations, beginning with 30 MW. Gestamp has a larger goal to develop 300 MW of ground-mounted and rooftop PV in the nation over the next three years. Read more

Gestamp Solar to develop 300MW of solar power in Japan

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 4:15 (PV-Tech)

Over a three-year period, Gestamp Solar intends to develop 300MW of solar power in Japan, focusing on rooftop projects. Bloomberg reported that the company is forecasting the cost at US$5,000 per kilowatt, which according to Jorge Barredo, CEO of Gestamp Solar, would be an investment of US$1.5 billion. Read more

SMA Solar to provide inverters for Japan?s largest solar plant

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

SMA Solar Technology has been selected to supply its inverters to Kagoshima Mega Solar Power?s 70MW solar plant. Bloomberg noted that the construction of the plant started last month and is set to be finished by next fall. The plant, located in Kagoshima City in southern Japan, is said to be the country?s largest solar plant. Read more

SkyFuel to supply parabolic trough solar collectors to City of Medicine Hat gas power plant

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

SkyFuel has been tapped by the City of Medicine Hat in Alberta, Canada to provide its parabolic trough solar collectors for the city?s combined cycle gas power plant. The company noted that its 1.1MW project will be the first CSP project to be built in Canada as well as the first integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC). Read more

SolarCity opens new locations in New York

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

SolarCity has expanded its presence in the northeast with new locations in New York?s Westchester County and Long Island joining its recently magnified Albany operations centre. Read more

PSEG Solar sees 25.2MW Arizona solar project reach commercial operation

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 3:14 (PV-Tech)

PSEG Solar Source advised that its 25.2MW DC (19MW AC) Queen Creek Solar Farm has reached commercial operation. Located in Queen Creek, Arizona, the solar plant is built on 148 acres of land and uses nearly 90,000 crystalline solar panels, which operate on a single axis tracking system. Read more

ITC presented with CASM testimony against Chinese manufacturers

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

Executives from American solar manufacturers, distributors and installers testified before the International Trade Commission demanding Chinese manufacturers be held accountable for the ?unmistakable causes of damage to the American solar industry.? They added that without relief, including the application of duties for the surge in imports after the cases were filed, it is unlikely that the American industry can survive. Read more

New Zealand Curbs Gas Emissions as Polluters Use More Wind, Geothermal

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 16:34 (Renewable Energy World)

New Zealand's energy industry reduced its greenhouse gas emissions for the third straight year in 2011 as polluters decreased their reliance on coal and gas in favor of renewable sources. Read more

Despite Setbacks, San Diego Unified School District Asserts Commitment to Clean Energy Alternatives

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 18:15 (Renewable Energy World)

Citing safety concerns and the risk of fire, solar panels have been removed from the rooftops of 24 San Diego Unified School District buildings. The panels, which were manufactured and installed by Solar Integrated Technologies (SIT) in 2005, were found to have a number of defects that resulted in premature corrosion of the solar cells. The last of the defective panels were removed on August 31. Read more

A Cleantech State of the Union

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 17:15 (Renewable Energy World)

With October now upon us, data providers are beginning to issue their preliminary analyses of cleantech investment in the third quarter of 2012 that just closed. This quarter, the Clean Energy pipeline service of London?s VBResearch is the first to weigh in, counting cleantech venture capital & private equity investment (excluding buyouts) as appro Read more

Ofgem predicts spare electricity capacity problems

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 15:57 (Solarpowerportal)

A new report from Ofgem has warned that the high level of spare capacity in the UK electricity market is ?set to end quite rapidly over the next few years.? The report shows that spare electricity margins might fall from the current 14 percent average today to just 4 percent by 2015/16. Read more

PV in the UK: The Future Is Still Bright

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The UK's stated policy aims at the start of the feed-in tariff scheme in 2010 were twofold: to create more demand for modules in order to ramp up production and bring their unit price down; and to increase public awareness of renewable energy. In 2011 both these aims succeeded beyond expectations. As a result, the tariff rate has been reduced from 43p to 16p per kWh for common domestic installations. Yet the costs of modules have also almost halved (although the balance of system costs have not). Read more

Energy Storage: Q4 2012 Winners and Losers

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In late June I wrote a forward looking article that identified several companies in my energy storage and vehicle electrification group that I expected to perform well or perform poorly during the third quarter. Since short-term market changes are notoriously hard to predict, it's worthwhile to look back and see where I got things right and where I got them wrong. So I'll start today with a quick summary table and assess the relative accuracy of my Q3 calls, and then turn my attention to Q4, which is shaping up as a time of bright opportunity for some companies and continuing risk for others. Read more

German electricity production from coal falls while renewable generation increases

Friday, 10.5.2012 - 11:56 (Solarserver)

German electricity generation from coal has steadily decreased over the last 22 years as renewable energy generation has increased, according to the latest analysis by renewable energy policy expert Paul Gipe of Wind-Works. Coal-fired generation has fallen from 57% to 43% of German electricity production from 1990 to 2011, while renewable energy increased from 3.6% to 20% during this time. Gipe has published these statistics from the Work Group on Energy Balance to counter what he describes as a "propaganda war against renewables" being waged as part of the U.S. presidential race. Read more