Philip Comberg named CEO of Conergy

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 22:27 (PV-Tech)

Philip Comberg was approved by the supervisory board of Conergy to stay with the company as CEO for three years, effective 1 January 2013. Read more

SEDA releases 20MW of non-individual PV FiT quotas

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 21:51 (PV-Tech)

The Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (SEA) unlocked 20MW of non-individual photovoltaic (PV) feed-in-tariff (FiT) quotas for installation. Read more

Five Clean-Tech Actions for President Obama

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 18:36 (Renewable Energy World)

The election is over and the people have spoken. After months of highly-charged attacks, lively and lackluster debate performances, and never-ending punches and counterpunches, Barack Obama has prevailed as the winner of the 2012 election. It won't be an easy job. Mr. Obama will need to enable the creation of millions of new jobs, embolden U.S energy, environmental, and national security, and lead our country into a robust economic future ? all while dealing with a sharply divided electorate. Read more

BREAKING: ITC Makes Unanimous Decision on Chinese Cell & Modules

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 17:26 (Renewable Energy World)

The International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted 6-0 that imports of Chinese solar cells have harmed U.S. solar manufacturers. The ruling means that tariffs will indeed be added to solar modules that include cells manufactured in China. Read more

MEMC returns to profitability in 3Q 2012

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 16:11 (Solarserver)

MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (St. Peters, Missouri, Inc.) has released its third quarter 2012 results, reporting USD 361 million in revenue in its Solar Energy division, as well as a 21% operating margin. Overall, the company returned to positive margins and a net income of USD 37 million after many quarters of losses. MEMC's Solar Energy division is a consolidation of subsidiary SunEdison LLC (Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.) and its solar photovoltaic (PV) wafer and module manufacturing. SunEdison interconnected 47 MW of PV projects during the quarter, while recognizing revenue on 48 MW of projects. Read more

Welspun to build 100 MW PV project in Chhattisgarh, India

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 12:53 (Solarserver)

The renewable energy subsidiary of Welspun Energy Ltd. (New Delhi, India) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of the state of Chhattisgarh, India for the building of a 100 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project. The Chhattisgarh government will facilitate the necessary approvals, permission, land acquisition, registration and clearances for the project. Welspun plans to commence the INR 10 billion (USD 180 million) project in 2015. Read more

GT Advanced Technologies maintains positive margins despite revenue collapse in 3Q 2012

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 9:47 (Solarserver)

GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (Merrimack, New Hampshire, U.S.) has released results for its third quarter of 2012, reporting a 49% year-over-year decrease in revenues to USD 110 million. GT earned most the vast majority of these revenues at USD 95.9 million from its polysilicon division, while revenues from its Photovoltaics (PV) division collapsed to USD 1.6 million. Despite these declines GT managed a 4.6% operating margin and a net income of USD 2.3 million. Read more

U.S. Air Force selects Ascent Solar for USD 750,000 award

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 23:55 (Solarserver)

On November 5th, 2012, Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. (Thornton, Colorado, U.S.), a developer of flexible thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules, announced that it has been selected to supply PV products for the Air Force Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 2. The SBIR Phase 2 award, subject to finalization, is expected to run 24 months with a program value of up to USD 750,000. Ascent Solar will modify its flexible monolithically integrated cooper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) technology. Read more

Study: Solar power is a bargain for ratepayers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 23:47 (Solarserver)

On November 5th, 2012, the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association (MSEIA) and the Pennsylvania Solar Energy Industries Association (PASEIA) have commissioned a new report showing that solar power in New Jersey and Pennsylvania delivers value to the electric grid that exceeds its cost by a large margin, making it a bargain for energy consumers. Read more

Renault celebrates solar installations at six production sites

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 22:12 (PV-Tech)

Renault has installed 40 hectares of solar panels at six of its French production sites for a total power output of 59MW. Read more

Abengoa breaks ground on two CSP projects in South Africa

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 21:32 (PV-Tech)

Abengoa began construction of its 50MW, Khi Solar One solar tower and 100MW, KaXu Solar One parabolic trough plant in South Africa. Read more

The Question Day 26: What is the Most Difficult Issue Facing the Solar Industry?

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 18:00 (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

Pennsylvania Senate Introduces Solar Bill to Effect Change in the Declining SREC Market

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In August 2012, Senator Dave Argall (R-29) of the Pennsylvania State Senate, introduced legislation to spur change to the state?s declining solar renewable energy credit (?SREC?) market. This bill has been introduced in response to the lack of movement on a similar House Solar Bill introduced in 2011. The House Solar Bill (HB 1580) has remained sta Read more

Energy Savings Trust: Larger, cheaper solar delivers increased savings

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 13:06 (Solarpowerportal)

The average combined savings and income from households with solar PV in the UK has increased by nearly £100 since last May according to new data published by the Energy Saving Trust (EST). Read more

Tokelau islands powered by 100% solar

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 11:53 (PV-Tech)

A third New Zealand-funded PV system has been completed in Tokelau which means that the New Zealand-owned territory now has the capabilities to be powered by 100% solar energy, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said. Read more

Community Energy Plus relaunches project offering free solar PV

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 11:46 (Solarpowerportal)

Sustainable energy charity Community Energy Plus has re-launched its successful Solar Communities project, which offers homes and businesses free solar PV. Read more

Abengoa signs PPAs, begins construction on 150 MW of CSP in South Africa

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 9:52 (Solarserver)

Abengoa SA (Seville, Spain) has begun construction on its 50 MW Khi Solar One and 100 MW KaXu Solar One concentrating solar power (CSP) plants in South Africa's Northern Cape region. The company also signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for both plants with state-owned utility Eskom (Sunninghill, South Africa), as well as closing project finance agreements with a group of South African and international finance institutions. Read more

Intersolar India 2012 honors outstanding solar projects in India for the first time

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 8:29 (Solarserver)

On November 6th, 2012 the Intersolar AWARD for the category Solar Projects in India was presented for the first time at Intersolar India, India's largest exhibition and conference for the solar industry. The international solar industry prize pays tribute to companies for particularly outstanding solar projects. The award for the topic of Industrial and Commercial Use was presented to Clique Developments for its solar-operated air-conditioning system. The award for Utility Scale Projects went to the Gujurat Power Corporation for its Gujurat Solar Park project. And SunCarrier Omega was awarded for its project entitled Omega Net-Zero Energy Building. Read more

Obama launches second term with pledge to free US from foreign oil

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 11:47 (PV-Tech)

Barack Obama, elected this morning for a second US presidential term, has promised to reduce America?s dependence on foreign oil, but the future of key national policies on renewable energy remains unclear. Read more

Concrete Wind Towers: A Low-tech Innovation for a High-tech Sector

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 16:51 (Renewable Energy World)

Innovation does not need to be cutting edge, it only needs to solve a problem: three reasons why wind energy is borrowing solutions from the construction sector. Romeu Gaspar, X&Y Partners The global onshore wind sector is expected to grow 19% per year till 2015. Not as much as it has grown in the past (28% per year from 2006 to 2011) but still ver Read more

Vestas Seeks 20 Percent Stake Sale, to Cut 3,000 More Jobs

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 15:43 (Renewable Energy World)

Vestas Wind Systems A/S is seeking to sell a stake of as much as 20 percent and said it's reducing headcount by 3,000 to raise the staff cuts by the biggest wind turbine maker to almost a third over two years. Read more

Japan?s largest solar and wind power project breaks ground

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 15:34 (PV-Tech)

Seven Japanese companies have been celebrating the ground breaking of their solar and wind power project at a ceremony held today at the project site in Midorigahama, Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture in Japan. Read more

Iceland: High Penetration of Renewables in the Modern Era

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 18:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Iceland's famous for its breathtaking scenery, its geysers, its Blue Lagoon ? and for sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Among energy wonks, Iceland is also well known for using its abundant renewable energy, and especially for tapping the volcanic roots of the island in developing its geothermal resources. Read more

Energy storage start-up receives USD 37.3 million from investors

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 23:50 (Solarserver)

On November 5th, 2012, LightSail Energy (Berkeley, California, U.S.), a startup that is developing energy storage technology, announced that it has raised USD 37.3 million in series D funding. The funding round was led by PayPal Co-Founder Peter Thiel and included Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, Innovacorp and several other investors. Read more

RenewableUK joins nuke and carbon capture associations to call for passage of energy bill

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 23:39 (Solarserver)

On November 5th, 2012, RenewableUK (London, U.K.) announced that it has joined Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) and Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) urging for the passage of the energy bill. The three associations sent a joint letter to the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Edward Davey MP in support of the energy bill and the fostering of a low-carbon electricity generation mix, as well as the need for swift progression to ensure that investment is urgently realized. Read more

Renewable Energy Industry Weighs In On Obama Victory

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 19:39 (Renewable Energy World)

With the 2012 election over and President Barack Obama's re-election secured, U.S.-based renewable energy producers are already looking ahead to what they expect will be four more years of continued support for their endeavors. Read more

SunEnergy connects 5.3 W plant to grid in southern Germany

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 16:44 (PV-Tech)

EPC contractor, SunEnergy Europe, has announced that a 5.3MW power plant has been connected to the grid in Hessia, southern Germany. Read more

Future of U.S. environmental, renewable energy policy unclear after Obama victory

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 16:05 (Solarserver)

The environmental community has applauded the victory of U.S. President Barack Obama (D) over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R) on November 6th, 2012 for another four-year term. However, the future of U.S. federal environmental and renewable energy policy remains cloudy, as the opposition Republican Party has maintained a strong majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. These legislators have made many attempts to block or overturn Obama's renewable energy policies and EPA regulation of greenhouse gases. Read more

Victory for Obama: A Mandate for Clean Energy

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 15:20 (Renewable Energy World)

With President Obama's victory, the renewable energy industry keeps an important ally in the White House. The win comes at a time when energy is rising in national importance. Read more

Ghana Seeks $1 Billion to Develop Renewable Energy Resources

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 14:41 (Renewable Energy World)

Ghana is seeking investment of as much as $1 billion to develop renewable-energy resources over the next eight years, according to the Energy Ministry. Read more

Solfex Energy Systems announces online enhancements

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 13:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Solfex Energy Systems has announced the launch of its newly revamped website, along with an enhanced web portal and an online sales shop. Read more

Installed PV capacity in Italy surpasses 16GW

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 13:02 (PV-Tech)

Italy has a total of 456,575 grid-connected PV plants currently in operation, benefitting from the country?s Conto Energia V incentive programme, according to figures published by Italian energy agency GSE. Read more

UPA, BYD install 500KWh energy storage system to balance renewable generation in North Carolina

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 12:49 (Solarserver)

BYD Company Ltd. (Shenzhen, China) and Utility Partners of America (UPA, Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.) have put into a service a rechargeable Energy Storage Station (ESS) including a 500 KWh iron phosphate battery and a 200 kW bi-directional inverter in South Charlotte, North Carolina. The ESS will serve to balance fluctuations in electricity generation from renewable energy sources. BYD describes the system as "the first rechargeable chemistry that is completely environmentally friendly", containing no heavy metals or toxic electrolytes. Read more

Lincoln Renewable Energy signs PPA with Southern California Edison for 37.5 MW of PV

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 12:45 (Solarserver)

Lincoln Renewable Energy (LRE, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Southern California Edison (SCE, Rosemead, California, U.S.) for the delivery of electricity from its 25 MW-DC Marathon and 12.5 MW-DC Agincourt solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. Lincoln plans to begin construction on both plants in 2013. The two plants will be located in San Bernardino County, Southern California, and will comprise more than 150,000 PV modules. Read more

Moncada Energy Group signs contract to build 94.5 MW PV plant in South Africa

Wednesday, 11.7.2012 - 9:39 (Solarserver)

Moncada Energy Group SRL (Aragona, Italy) subsidiary Solar Capital De Aar (De Aar, South Africa) has signed an agreement with the South African Department of Energy (DoE) and will begin work on a 94.5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in South Africa, the largest on the continent. Additionally, Moncada's South African construction subsidiary has entered into a EUR 182 million (USD 233 million) engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the De Aar 1 plant, which will use Moncada amorphous silicon thin-film PV modules. The company expects to complete the De Aar 1 PV plant in July 2013. Read more