PPG Industries offers heat-strengthened glass for PV applications

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 21:01 (Solarserver)

On November 26th, 2012, PPG Industries (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.) announced that it is ready to produce heat-strengthened glass for solar photovoltaic (PV) applications. The company becomes the first major glass manufacturer in North America to offer this capability, PPG emphasizes. PPG Industries states that its flat glass business can now produce heat-strengthened SOLARPHIRE PV, Solarphire AR/2XAR and Solarphire NaB glasses in thicknesses of less than 3 millimeters with surface-compression strength that exceeds that of fully tempered glass. Read more

Nova Scotia Schedules Hearings on Tidal Feed-in Tariffs

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 20:44 (Renewable Energy World)

Nova Scotia has called for hearings on feed-in tariffs for tidal power plants in the Bay of Fundy. The hearings begin 19 March 2013 by the Canadian province's electricity regulator. Read more

US modernises Native Indian land regulations for renewables development

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 18:08 (PV-Tech)

The US Department of the Interior has announced the final regulations that will streamline the leasing approval process on Native Indian land for commercial development, including renewable energy projects. Read more

Sunways struggling to curtail losses as going concern risks increase

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 17:34 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer Sunways continues to make quarterly losses, unable to match product cost reduction efforts with falling prices driven by overcapacity and demand weakness in core European markets. Read more

Solar shakeout: centrotherm photovoltaics can remain under self administration

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 14:29 (PV-Tech)

Major PV manufacturing equipment supplier, centrotherm photovoltaics has been told by the Ulm county court in Germany that it can continue to operate under self administration during its insolvency proceedings. Read more

Solliance OPV R&D alliance gets ThyssenKrupp to join for BIPV applications

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 13:54 (PV-Tech)

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe has joined the Solliance (ECN, imec, TNO, Holst Centre, TU/e, Forschungszentrum Jülich) R&D alliance that is focused on organic photovoltaics (OPV) thin film technologies. Read more

IHS: Emerging PV markets will add up to 12 GW in 2017

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 9:42 (Solarserver)

IHS (Englewood, Colorado, U.S.) has released a report finding that "emerging" markets will help to bring stability to the global solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. The report predicts that markets outside the core of Western Europe and North America, China and Japan will add up to 12 GW in 2017. The "IHS Solar Emerging Markets Study" looks at 40 national PV markets in the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, Africa and Europe, which will total a mere 1.6 GW in 2012. The report notes that while entry to these markets may include significant risks for PV companies, many also offer very strong potential for growth. Read more

Ontario to continue feed-in tariff, microFIT programs, with modifications

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 9:35 (Solarserver)

On November 23rd, 2012 the Ministry of Energy in the Canadian province of Ontario issued a directive to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA, Toronto, Canada) to continue the province's feed-in tariff (FIT) and microFIT programs, as well as making adjustments to FIT rules. This includes re-opening the Small FIT application window for 200 MW of projects "as soon as possible", as well as advancing development of a pilot rooftop small FIT program for new construction. The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA, Ottawa, Canada) has praised aspects of the changes related to land use restrictions. Read more

Global trade war: India begins anti-dumping investigation of PV imports from four nations

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 1:54 (Solarserver)

On November 23rd, 2012 the Indian Ministry of Commerce & Industry announced that it will begin an anti-dumping investigation into solar photovoltaic (PV) cell and module imports from China, Malaysia, Taiwan and the United States. Read more

NREL releases updated version of National Solar Radiation Database

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 20:37 (Solarserver)

On November 27th, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced that it has released a 20-year updated version of the U.S. National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB), a web-based technical report that provides critical information about solar and meteorological data for 1,454 locations in the U.S. and its territories. Read more

Severn Trent Costain rolls out solar-powered water meters for British Ministry of Defence

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 20:29 (Solarserver)

On November 22nd, 2012, Severn Trent Costain (Birmingham, England) announced that it will extend the roll out of solar-powered water meters to 1,300 Ministry of Defence (MoD) sites following a successful trial. Read more

Eni researchers develop the first LSC-based prototype PV system

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 19:03 (PV-Tech)

Researchers at Italian energy company Eni have developed the first prototype PV system based on a new solar energy technology which utilises luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) to generate electricity. Read more

Solar Leasing One Step Closer In Georgia

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 16:35 (Renewable Energy World)

On Tuesday the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) took a big step forward to encourage more solar power in the state. The PSC acts on behalf of telecommunications, electric power, and natural gas consumers in Georgia and ensures safety, reliability, and affordability. Georgia Solar Utilities Inc., a company launched in Macon, GA earlier this y Read more

Yingli Solar Order: Sunnier Days Ahead?

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 16:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Struggling solar panel maker Yingli (NYSE: YGE) is trying the good news-bad news approach to distract investors from its latest downbeat earnings, announcing its biggest-ever new order on the same day it released its dismal third-quarter results. Based on shareholder reaction, the approach has been quite successful, with Yingli's stock surging more Read more

Who Needs Third-Party Finance? Loan Programs Offer Low-Cost Direct Ownership Opportunities

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 15:51 (Renewable Energy World)

Direct ownership of solar systems offers an array of benefits generally not available to third-party finance. And new loan programs are making it easier to achieve that goal. Read more

Orix and Kyudenko Corporation plan 8.5MW PV plant at former Japanese airfield

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 15:51 (PV-Tech)

Orix Corporation, a financial services company based in Tokyo, Japan, has entered into a strategic partnership with Kyudenko Corporation to jointly launch a ?mega-solar? power generation business on the Japanese island of Kyushu. Read more

Orix begins developing 82MW of PV capacity across 17 Japanese sites

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 13:30 (PV-Tech)

Orix Corporation, a Japanese financial services group, has announced it will begin developing 81.6MW worth of ?mega-solar? PV plants at 17 sites across Japan. Read more

JA Solar reduces losses but shipments and revenue stall

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 12:12 (PV-Tech)

Despite shipments exceeding guidance, JA Solar?s revenue and shipments have stalled since Q2 2012 and are expected to remain flat in Q4. Read more

JA Solar reports ongoing losses, market diversification

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 10:15 (Solarserver)

JA Solar Holdings Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) has released results for the third quarter of 2012, reporting a 34% year-over-year fall in revenues to USD 261 million, a -38% operating margin and a net loss of USD 59.1 million. JA Solar has increased its share of PV module shipments to 68% of revenue and 59% of shipment volume, and more than doubled shipments to China over the previous quarter. The company's overall shipments of 418 MW were flat sequentially and a 6.1% decline from the third quarter of 2011. Read more

Hive Energy announces construction of 60MW of solar parks

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 10:02 (Solarpowerportal)

Hampshire-based solar developer, Hive Energy, has announced the successful pre-construction development of nine solar parks across the UK totalling 60MW of new capacity. Read more

Real M&A: Western Wind Seen Luring Bids to Top Priciest Offer

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 16:59 (Renewable Energy World)

Traders are betting that Western Wind Energy Corp.'s executives will persuade suitors to top what's already the most expensive valuation for an alternative- energy takeover on record. Read more

ECN workshop declares MWT cell technology ready for mass production

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 13:27 (PV-Tech)

A workshop held last week by ECN and Fraunhofer-ISE in Nemo, Amsterdam has decreed that Metal Wrap Through (MWT) solar cell technology is ready for volume production among a number of PV manufacturers. Read more

EIB supports Enel Green Power with EUR 160 million loan for new renewable energy generation facilities in Italy

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 20:48 (Solarserver)

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Enel Green Power (EGP) signed a EUR 160 million (USD 207.5 million) loan for financing the four-year plan of the Enel Group concerned with renewable and alternative energy sources. This financing operation will support the programme to develop EGP?s activities in Italy until 2014. The investments financed by the EIB will enable EGP to increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources by developing a range of innovative technologies involving solar photovoltaics (PV), wind and geothermal energy as well as hydro power. Read more

Applied Materials combines Energy and Environmental Solutions, Display divisions under new leader

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 15:48 (Solarserver)

On November 28th, 2012 Applied Materials Inc. (Santa Clara, California, U.S.) announced that it will combine its Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) division with its Display division. Applied has hired Ali Salehpour to serve as group vice president and general manager of the EES and Display Groups, effective November 29th, 2012. Applied Executive VP and EES General Manager Mark Pinto and Applied VP and Display General Manager Tom Edman will both leave Applied after assisting in the transition. Read more

Fight Climate Change like a German

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 15:43 (Renewable Energy World)

The in-progress Doha Climate Change Conference presents the perfect opportunity to read Global Cooling: Strategies for Climate Protection by Hans-Josef Fell. Green parliamentarian Fell is one of the fathers of Germany?s Renewable Energy Law, the seminal legislation guiding the country's Energiewende. Fell refutes the tired line that saving the plan Read more

DOI reforms lease regulations for Native American lands

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 15:41 (Solarserver)

On November 27th, 2012 the US Department of the Interior (DOI) announced that it has finalized regulations to streamline the leasing approval process on Native American lands, which it says will expedite development including renewable energy projects. DOI states that this reform overhauls antiquated regulations governing the Bureau of Indian Affairs' process for approving surface leases for the 230,000 square kilometers of Native American lands in the nation. The reforms were developed in consultation with tribal leaders. Read more

Government sets out plans for energy efficiency incentives

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 15:19 (Solarpowerportal)

Companies and homeowners could be paid for adopting energy efficient technologies under new government plans to reduce the nation?s energy demand. Read more

MHI and SSE Partner to Bring Cargo Container Battery Storage to Orkney Islands Power Grid

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has announced a partnership with SSE plc, an electric utility company located in Scotland, for an energy storage demonstration project that will use two 40-foot cargo containers full of thousands of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries to store as much as 800 kWh of generated clean energy, with a maximum power output capacity of 2 megawatts. The recipient of the joint effort will be Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc, the arm of the SSE that's responsible for distributing power in Scotland. Read more

Energy Bill introduced to parliament

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 14:37 (Solarpowerportal)

Described as a ?once in a generation opportunity? to drive low-carbon economic growth by Energy Secretary Ed Davey, the Energy Bill has been introduced to parliament today after repeated delays. Read more

European Investment Bank and Enel Green Power sign ?160m loan agreement

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 14:08 (PV-Tech)

The European Investment Bank is to loan Enel Green Power ?160 million (US$233 million) to help fund the company?s development programme in Italy through 2014. Read more

The Grafton Group obtains Green Deal authorisation

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 12:25 (Solarpowerportal)

The Grafton Group has announced it has become the first building and plumbing company to be authorised to operate as a Green Deal provider. Read more

Ernst & Young calls for energy certainty as UK slips down world renewables index

Thursday, 11.29.2012 - 11:17 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewable energy investment in the UK will suffer further if today?s Energy Bill does not show a united political front, Ernst & Young has warned. Read more