Affiliated Distributors to supply Sustainable Energy?s Paralex inverter to North American market

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 22:05 (PV-Tech)

Sustainable Energy Technologies has partnered with Affiliated Distributors, which will distribute and market Sustainable Energy?s Paralex inverter throughout the North American market. Distributor technical and sales training and joint marketing efforts are anticipated to start this quarter. Read more

Seraphim solar modules receive Intertek salt corrosion certificate

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 21:14 (PV-Tech)

Intertek has awarded Seraphim a salt mist corrosion certificate for all of its solar PV modules as dictated under the IEC 61701 standard. Seraphim?s modules underwent, and passed, various salt, mist and corrosion tests, which resulted in the modules passing ability to tolerate harsh natural environments. The company noted that the tests and resulting certificate confirms its modules ability to be used in a coastal environment or regions with high levels of rain, fog and acidity while maintaining a high level of performance. Read more

Bank of America Merrill Lynch to fund 5 MW of PV plants for Southern California school district

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 19:32 (Solarserver)

On February 13th, 2012 Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA Merrill, New York, New York, U.S.) announced the closing of an initial transaction to finance 5 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants at 15 sites for a school district in Southern California. GCL Solar Energy Inc. (San Francisco, California, U.S.) is currently developing the PV plants for the Palmdale School District in Palmdale, California. BofA Merrill states that it intends for this transaction to be the beginning of a relationship whereby it will provide funding for a portion of GCL's 1 GW PV project portfolio. Read more

Emcore?s CPV cell sales down, backlog up

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 18:28 (PV-Tech)

The CPV solar cell business segment of Emcore accounted for US$19.1 million or 51% of the company?s total revenue in its FY2012 first quarter, representing a decline of US$2 million from the prior quarter.  However, Emcore reported a CPV cell order backlog of approximately US$51.7 million, an increase from US$43.5 million in the prior quarter. The order increase was due to the first order from its China-based JV CPV module operations, Suncore, which is starting assembly operations to meet a US$100 million project contract in the country. Read more

EuPD Research awards "TOP BRAND PV" seal to Suntech

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 16:06 (Solarserver)

On February 13th, 2012 EuPD Research (Bonn, Germany) announced that it has awarded the "TOP BRAND PV" seal of approval to Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China), as an indication of customer loyalty and satisfaction with its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. The award is based on the results of EuPD's installer and end-customer surveys. The firm notes that this is the first time it has presented the award to a Chinese PV module producer. Read more

Fourth quarter 2011 Japanese solar cells sales rise 30.7%

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 12:48 (PV-Tech)

With only three out of 54 of Japan?s nuclear power stations still functioning following the Fukishima crisis, it is encouraging to know sales of solar cells rose by 30.7% last year. Government subsidies have helped sales to top 1,000MW for the first time. Read more

Fourth quarter 2011 Japanese solar cell sales rise 30.7%

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 12:48 (PV-Tech)

With only three out of 54 of Japan?s nuclear power stations still functioning following the Fukishima crisis, it is encouraging to know sales of solar cells rose by 30.7% last year. Government subsidies have helped sales to top 1,000MW for the first time. Read more

Scottish PV company moves into new premises

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 12:22 (Solarpowerportal)

EPH Maintenance & Solar Services has moved into a new industrial unit at Langlands Place, East Kilbride in Glasgow. Read more

DuPont to sell USD 100 million worth of PV materials to Yingli

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 12:16 (Solarserver)

DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.) has announced a USD 100 million agreement under which it will supply Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Ltd. (Baoding, China) with materials including metallization pastes and backsheets for solar photovoltaic (PV) module production. The agreement was signed in a ceremony on February 13th, 2012 organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in Washington D.C., United States. The participation of the two agencies is notable given that both have open investigations of the other nation regarding the trade of photovoltaic (PV) products. Read more

Konarka?s organic PV cells get IEC certification

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 12:14 (Solarserver)

On February 13th, 2012, Konarka Technologies Inc. (Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.), an innovator in development and commercialization of the organic solar film "Power Plastic", announced that its next generation organic solar cells are the world?s first OPV product to be certified in compliance with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61646. The certification work was done by TUEV Rheinland, an international test center based in Cologne, Germany. Read more

BofA Merrill, GCL-Poly close initial transaction for funding of US solar developments

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 21:55 (PV-Tech)

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have closed the initial transaction to fund 15 solar power systems that will be developed by GCL-Poly?s US subsidiary, GCL Solar Energy. The 15 solar sites will total 5MW of solar energy and serve the Palmdale School District in southern California. Read more

U.S. DOE makes USD 12 million available for SunShot

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 19:39 (Solarserver)

On February 8th, 2012, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than USD 12 million funds for the DOE?s SunShot Incubator program. The funding will accelerate American innovation in solar energy and manufacturing by supporting advancements in hardware, reductions in soft costs, and the development of pilot manufacturing and production projects. Read more

Solar water heating: Aztec Solar acquires Solahart Services

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 19:27 (Solarserver)

On February 9th, 2012, Aztec Solar Inc. (Sacramento, California, U.S.), a residential and commercial solar company, announced that it has acquired Solahart Services (Stockton California, U.S.) for an undisclosed price. Solahart provides solar installation and repair as well as solar water heating products. Read more

Principal Solar names J. Peter Lynch expert to advisory board

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 19:24 (Solarserver)

On February 13th, 2012, renewable energy holding company Principal Solar Inc. (PSI, Dallas, Texas, U.S.) announced that it has appointed J. Peter Lynch to its advisory board. Lynch served as contributing editor for the "Photovoltaic Insider Report" for 17 years. He provides thought-leadership on a global basis to major energy companies, utilities and governments, the company states. Read more

Solar PV equipment replacements to ramp from 2013-2016

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 19:20 (Renewable Energy World)

After a punishing 2011 and expectations of a tough 2012, look for a surge of demand to upgrade solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing equipment over the next few years, says IMS Research. Read more

Solar PV Equipment Replacements To Ramp from 2013-2016

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 19:20 (Renewable Energy World)

After a punishing 2011 and expectations of a tough 2012, look for a surge of demand to upgrade solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing equipment over the next few years, says IMS Research. Read more

Quantum orders management reshuffle

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 16:07 (PV-Tech)

Quantum Solar Power has had a management reshuffle in order to reduce administrative costs and insists this will focus more of its resources on research and development. Read more

Stepnell secures refinancing for 10MW of large-scale solar

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 16:03 (Solarpowerportal)

Construction and civil engineering company Stepnell, in partnership with Wirsol Solar UK, has secured £26 million to re-finance two 5MW solar parks. Read more

Borrego Solar secures funding to build more than 11 MW of PV plants in California, Massachusetts

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 16:00 (Solarserver)

On February 14th, 2012 Borrego Solar Systems Inc. (San Diego, California, U.S.) announced that it has closed a new USD 47 million fund with partners U.S. Bank (Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.) and East West Bank (Pasadena, California, U.S.) to finance solar projects for corporate, educational and municipal customers. The fund will be used to build 6 MW of PV plants in California including ten projects at three school districts, as well as two PV plants in Massachusetts. One of the Massachusetts plants will be 4.7 MW in size, and is expected to be the largest PV plant in the state when completed. Read more

Gehrlicher Solar completes its largest PV plant in Spain

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 15:49 (PV-Tech)

Gehrlicher Solar has announced it has completed and commissioned its largest PV plant in Spain. Pereruela Solar Park is the second connected installation in the province of Zomara; the area now generates a total of 14MW. The company will then sell the plant to German investment company KGAL. Read more

AU Optronics to trade under BenQ Solar?s name

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 14:58 (PV-Tech)

Solar solutions provider AU Optronics has announced it will now trade under BenQ Solar in order to enhance its global presence on the solar market through a ?global operation, local delivery? business strategy. Its solar modules, by M. Setek in Japan, have achieved 22.5% efficiency rate. Read more

SunPower sues former employees and SolarCity for corporate theft of US$100 million

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 13:49 (PV-Tech)

In the space of a fortnight, SunPower has launched a second lawsuit in a US federal court ? this time against five former employees and SolarCity Corp, accusing them of corporate theft. All five employees moved to SolarCity at around the same time. Read more

meeco installs off-grid solar PV energy storage and carport system for workers camp 120 km South West of Abu Dhabi, UAE

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 13:15 (Solarserver)

In February, 2012 the meeco Group, headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, will complete a solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage installation located 120 km South West of Abu Dhabi for Consolidated Contracting Company (CCC). The PV project is composed of a 33,7 kWp "SunCarrier" single-axis tracking system, a 18,5 kWp Schletter carport structure and a CellCube 10 kW / 100 kWh Vanadium Redox flow battery. Read more

Mercury Solar completes 3.6 MW PV plant in New Jersey

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 13:06 (Solarserver)

On February 13th, 2012 Mercury Solar Systems Inc. (Port Chester, New York, U.S.) announced that it has completed a 3.6 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Manalapan in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Mercury Solar collaborated with plant owner NJR Clean Energy Ventures (Wall, New Jersey, U.S.) and developer Spano Partners Holdings LLC (Millstone Township, New Jersey, U.S.) on the USD 17.2 million project, which is comprised of over 12,000 PV modules. Read more

German authorities approve LDK Solar takeover of Sunways

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 12:21 (Solarserver)

On February 13th, 2012 Sunways AG (Konstanz, Germany) announced that the German Federal Cartel Office has approved LDK Solar Germany Holding GmbH's (Munich, Germany) acquisition of Sunways, and that LDK has published its offer document following regulatory approval. According to the Federal Cartel Office ruling, LDK may acquire roughly 33% of the increased share capital of Sunways AG as well as additional shares under the takeover offer. Read more

ECD files for bankruptcy, will sell subsidiary Uni-Solar

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 12:12 (Solarserver)

On February 14th, 2012 Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ECD, Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S.) filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. bankruptcy court. As part of its bankruptcy plan, the company plans to sell subsidiary United Solar Ovonic LLC (UNI-SOLAR, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.) as well as other assets. UNI-SOLAR will continue to operate during the sale process, and has also filed for Chapter 11 relief. A day prior on February 13th, 2012 ECD sold subsidiary Ovonic Battery Company Inc. (Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S.) to BASF Corporation (Florham Park, New Jersey, U.S.) for USD 58 million in cash before adjustments. Read more

PTC Update: Colorado, Iowa Delegations Offer Support as Wind Industry Hits the Hill

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The American wind industry's efforts to extend its key federal tax incentive received several promising bits of news last week. A bipartisan group of Colorado's congressional delegation, including Republican Representatives Scott Tipton and Cory Gardner, called on a congressional conference committee to extend the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) as part of the payroll tax extension. Read more

Praxair Electronics to supply its gas delivery system for Applied Materials? ion implant platform

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 20:14 (PV-Tech)

Applied Materials? Varian VIISta ion implant platform will be using Praxair Electronics? UpTime sub-atmospheric dopant gas delivery system. Praxair Electronics noted that it is also the preferred sub-atmospheric dopant supplier for the Solion implant tool developed by Varian Semiconductor Equipment. Read more

SRC adds three new members to its Energy Research Initiative

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 20:03 (PV-Tech)

Hydro One Networks, NEC and ON Semiconductor have joined Semiconductor Research Corporation?s (SRC) global Energy Research Initiative (ERI) joining established members such as Applied Materials, Bosch, First Solar and IBM. The now 10 member ERI will continue to focus on finding new materials, devices and methodologies for power control/management and energy collection, conversion and storage. Read more

California PUC on RPS: Renewable Energy Procurement Up in 2011, Costs Falling

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In a report to the state legislature released Feb. 3, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said that in 2011, the state recorded its largest increase in renewable generation since the beginning of its ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), and that the cost of electricity from new renewable energy projects is dropping. Read more

Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards Winners: Innovation

Wednesday, 2.15.2012 - 12:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The nominations have been reviewed; the editors votes are in and we are now pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards. Over the next three days, we'll be announcing the winners in the Innovation, Leadership, Project and Readers' Choice categories. Today we announce the Innovation winners. Read more