EuPD Research awards Sovello Top Brand PV

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 15:37 (Solarserver)

On February 16th, 2012 EuPD Research (Bonn, Germany) announced that it has awarded Sovello GmbH (Thalheim, Germany) with its "Top Brand PV" seal, in honor of the company's excellent brand position. EuPD awards the Top Brand PV seal based on a multi-level analysis, noting that Sovello gained high marks in brand awareness, distribution depth and recommendation of installers. EuPD states that in Germany, Sovello is viewed as a leading global solar photovoltaic (PV) module brand. Read more

Tata Power commissions 25 MW PV plant in Mithapur, Gujarat, India

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 13:53 (Solarserver)

On February 10th, 2012, Tata Power (Mumbai, India) announced that it has commissioned a 25 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Mithapur, Gujarat, India. Spread over 100 acres of land, the PV plant is based on crystalline silicon photovoltaic technology. Read more

CNPV gets higher position in Photon's PV panel Field Performance Test, performance ratio of 88.8% for CNPV modules recorded

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 13:38 (Solarserver)

On February 16th, 2012, CNPV Solar Power SA (Dongying, China) confirmed its position within the international leading group of solar photovoltaic (PV) module providers with their field performance ratio results measured by Photon Laboratory during 2011. Read more

Veolia installs 50-kW PV system at Arndell Park facility in Australia

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 13:33 (Solarserver)

On February 16th, 2012, Veolia Environmental Services (New South Wales, Australia) announced the installation of a 50 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its Arndell Park facility in New South Wales, Australia. The USD 550,000 solar facility supports the company?s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy expenses and increase generation of renewable energy. Read more

Suntech expects fall in revenues, slight decline in shipments during 4Q 2011

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 9:01 (Solarserver)

On February 17th, 2012 Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) released selected preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter of 2011, estimating a 23% decline in revenues to between USD 610 and 630 million and a gross margin between 9% and 11%. Suntech also estimates that it exceeded its shipment guidance for the quarter, with shipments only 10% lower than third quarter 2011 levels. With these results, the company expects shipments of roughly 2.09 GW and revenues between USD 3.13 and 3.15 billion for the full year 2011. Read more

Odersun PV honoured with iF gold award for BIPV modules

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 22:23 (PV-Tech)

Odersun was one of 100 products or ideas to be selected for the iF gold award 2012, making it the first company from the solar sector to be chosen for the prize. The company?s PV modules were additionally recognized for their aesthetics with an iF material design award 2012. Read more

NRG Solar receives delivery of 13.2MW module supply from Solar Frontier

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 22:13 (PV-Tech)

NRG Solar, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, advised that its December 2011 module supply agreement with Solar Frontier had been shipped and delivered recently. Per the module supply agreement, Solar Frontier provided NRG Energy with 13.2MW of its CIS thin-film solar modules. Read more

Intersolar exhibitors encouraged to apply for the 2012 Intersolar Award

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 21:54 (PV-Tech)

Celebrating its 5th anniversary this year, the Intersolar Award is soliciting Intersolar exhibitors to apply for the award between February 1 and March 30. Up to three winners from the Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technology and PV Production Technology categories will be announced at Intersolar Europe on June 13 in Munich. The event?s organizers note that for the first time, exhibitors from Intersolar China can present their application for the award, joining exhibitors from Intersolar Europe, North America and India. Read more

Solar Frontier helps power Mt. Komekura solar plant in Japan

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 21:12 (PV-Tech)

Solar Frontier provided 10MW of its CIS thin-film solar modules to power the Mt. Komekura Solar Power Plant in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, which started operations on January 27. Shigeaki Kameda, president of Solar Frontier, was in attendance for the plant?s opening celebration. Read more

MBJ Solutions installs electroluminescence inspection systems in Centrosolar production lines

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 17:20 (PV-Tech)

MBJ Solutions has completed installation of its electroluminescence inspection systems into the production lines of Centrosolar Sonnenstromfabrik. The new equipment inspects 100% of Centrosolar?s module production to ensure any anomalies, not visible to the naked eye, will be detected. Read more

Solar Frontier supplies CIS modules for 10 MW PV plant in Yamanashi Prefecture

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 15:31 (Solarserver)

Solar Frontier K.K. (Tokyo, Japan) has announced that it supplied its copper indium gallium selenium (CIS) solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for a 10 MW PV plant in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, which was commissioned on January 27th, 2012. The Mt. Komekura PV plant is one of the largest PV plants in Japan, as well as one of the largest plants in the world to use CIS technology. The facility is operated jointly by Yamanashi Prefecture and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO, Tokyo, Japan). Read more

Simulated Flight: 3 days and nights in Solar Impulse cockpit

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 13:51 (Solarserver)

From February 21st to 24th, 2012, Solar Impulse will simulate a 72-hour flight in a full-size mock-up cockpit of the second airplane, currently under construction. Solar Impulse HB-SIA, is the first airplane designed to fly day and night without fuel, powered only by solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. André Borschberg will put the design and configuration of the cockpit to the test, and evaluate the demands that a flight lasting several days will make on the human body. Read more

Assyce and Sonnedix complete 7.5MW plant in Thailand

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 12:39 (PV-Tech)

A 7.5MW solar plant, worth ?22.8million has been built in the north-west province of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Read more

CPUC approves SCE changes to Solar PV Program

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 12:38 (Solarserver)

On February 16th, 2012 the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) granted approval to Southern California Edison (SCE, Rosemead, California, U.S.) to make changes to its Solar Photovoltaic Program (SPVP). These changes decrease the amount of utility and independent power producer (IPP) ownership and set 225 MW to be procured through the state's Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM). The original program set 250 MW to be owned by the utility and 250 MW to be owned by IPPs, which has now been reduced to 125 MW for each category. However, while agreeing that program modifications offer the best opportunity to secure savings for utility customers, the CPUC did not grant all Read more

U.S. tax compromise misses TGP extension; Solar Energy Industries Association to continue working to pass TGP extension

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 12:33 (Solarserver)

On February 16th, 2012, leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled compromise legislation to extend a payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits, which does not include an extension of the Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program (TGP). The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.) released a statement expressing disappointment in this result, stating that there remains a "compelling need" for a TGP extension. The organization had lobbied heavily for another one-year extension of the program, following an extension secured in December 2010. Read more

Solar PV will count towards meeting EPC requirement

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 12:27 (Solarpowerportal)

As of April 1, 2012 all new solar PV systems wishing to receive the full feed-in tariff rate available will have to be accompanied with a valid EPC level D. Following mounting confusion, DECC has confirmed that a solar installation will contribute to bringing the property up to EPC level D. Read more

JA Solar supplies modules for Ningxia Province PV plant, joins Intertek's "Satellite Program"

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 12:26 (Solarserver)

On February 16th, 2012 JA Solar Holdings Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) announced that it has supplied 23 MW of modules for a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Ningxia Province, China. A day later the company announced that it has signed an agreement with Intertek Group plc (London, U.K.) to join the organization's "Satellite Program", a data acceptance program that issues test reports to customers on the basis of accepting internal laboratory test data of qualified instructors. Read more

Matinee Energy breaks ground on solar energy research, manufacturing campus

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 12:19 (Solarserver)

On February 17th, 2012 Matinee Energy Inc. (Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.) broke ground on a new 20 hectare campus in the U.S. state of Arizona which will include solar energy research and manufacturing facilities for solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting systems. The campus in Benson, Arizona will focus on engineering and manufacturing cost cutting, as well as enhancing the performance of solar mounting systems. The company notes that key market factors have shifted to lower costs for PV balance of systems components. Read more

Nanosolar secures US$20 million in funding to realize expansion plans

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 11:44 (PV-Tech)

Investors Mohr Davidow Ventures and OnPoint Technologies alongside aeris CAPITAL have pumped US$20 million into thin-film company, Nanosolar, to aid expansion. At the beginning of this year, there was a great deal of media speculation surrounding the company?s ability to produce a competitive product amid management changes. Read more

Washington State Legislature Considers Changes to Geothermal Law

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The Washington State legislature is considering potential changes to the state's geothermal law (Chapter 78.60 Revised Code of Washington), following up on last year's effort. The bill seeks to bring Washington's law in line with federal laws and other states' laws, as part of an effort to promote geothermal development in the state. Read more

Maryland?s PSC approves Exelon, Constellation Energy merger

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 22:39 (PV-Tech)

Exelon and Constellation Energy advised that the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved their merger, with the addition of new conditions. The companies noted that the settlement it reached in December in conjunction with the State of Maryland, the Maryland Energy Administration, the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore Building and Construction Trades Council retains the terms set forth, even with the PSC supplements Read more

Emmvee modules receive TÜV Rheinland confirmation for Italian GSE

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 22:07 (PV-Tech)

TÜV Rheinland has certified Emmvee modules as compliant with the Italian Energy Agency?s GSE guidelines. The TÜV Rheinland confirmation certifies that Emmvee modules are equipped with cells manufactured in Europe, primarily in Germany. The company notes that TÜV Rheinland will soon begin testing the origin of the cells in order to certify their manufacture and production sites. Read more

Tribal Renewable Energy Projects: Balance Opportunity with Caution

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 20:25 (Renewable Energy World)

In my 20-plus years of dealing with economic development on tribal lands, I have found that few people are familiar with federal Indian law or tribal law, governments and dispute resolution systems, which reflect each tribe's sovereign status and unique culture, language, laws, mores and traditions. And it is from this lack of familiarity that problems arise. Read more

DECC publishes FAQs to accompany new FiT proposals

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 18:54 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has published a series of questions and answers to help installers and customers understand the implications of new proposals to the feed-in tariff published last month. Read more

DECC publishes FAQ?s to accompany new FiT proposals

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 18:54 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has published a series of questions and answers to help installers and customers understand the implications of new proposals to the feed-in tariff published last month. Read more

Obama's Budget Good for Energy Efficiency

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

President Obama’s 2013 budget caused a lot of smiles this week among energy efficiency advocates — even if it is more of a wish list than anything else. Obama calls for about $1.2 billion in spending for energy efficiency. What does this mean for the energy efficiency industry? Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save E Read more

General Electric partners with the Carbon Trust to offer £3 million green investment fund

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 14:34 (Solarpowerportal)

General Electric and the Carbon Trust have announced a new pan-European partnership to help accelerate clean tech growth in Europe, after evidence emerged that it is struggling to keep up with other parts of the globe. Read more

Energy Saving Group folds leaving customers out of pocket

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 13:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Customers in Lincolnshire have been left concerned over whether they will ever receive a solar array or manage to get their money back after the Energy Saving Group (ESG) ceased trading in December amidst 40 complaints from disgruntled customers to Trading Standards. Read more

NREL appoints new deputy laboratory director & chief operating officer

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 12:21 (PV-Tech)

The US Department of Energy?s (DoE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has appointed Ken Powers as its new deputy laboratory director and chief operating officer, effective March 5. Read more

Innovation and Diversification Are Key for Kenya's Renewable Energy Industry

Monday, 2.20.2012 - 12:11 (Renewable Energy World)

Decentralizing and diversifying renewable energy power generation technologies could be the panacea to save Kenyans from unreliable and expensive power supplied by hydro and thermal power generation, a recent study has found. Read more