News of the year 2012

Date: 28.02.2012



Photovoltaics

Intertek receives IECEE certification accreditation for CPV modules according to IEC 62108

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 21:15 (Solarserver)

On February 24th, 2012, Intertek (London, England), a provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world, announced that it has been accredited by the IECEE, the Worldwide System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrotechnical Equipment and Components. The company now authorized to issue IEC Certification Body (CB) reports for concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) modules to IEC 62108. Read more

Researchers Create the Largest See-Through Solar Module Ever Produced

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 18:55 (Renewable Energy World)

Homeowners associations are notoriously resistant to solar, often banning roof-top installations that conflict with their aesthetic values. But what if you could install an invisible solar system on your home that no one knows is there? Read more

Ingeteam supplies inverters to large-scale UK Projects

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 16:50 (Solarpowerportal)

Spanish inverter manufacturer, Ingeteam, has confirmed that it has supplied inverters to some of the UK’s biggest PV plants. Read more

Siemens unveils PVM UL line of PV inverters

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 16:10 (Solarserver)

On February 28th, 2012 Siemens Industry Inc. (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.) introduced a new line of solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters for small- to medium-sized PV plants which it says are designed for peak efficiency and maximum plant yield. Siemens' Sinvert PVM UL line of inverters is available in sizes between 12 kW and 24 kW, and can deliver over 98% peak efficiency. The company states that the inverters are capable of a high degree of economic efficiency over the entire life cycle of a grid-connected PV system. Read more

Fear of bankruptcy remains, despite Q-Cell?s bondholder agreements

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 12:35 (PV-Tech)

A stay of execution on the possible but not inevitable bankruptcy of Q-Cells has been achieved with the majority of holders of a convertible bond due today (February 28, 2012). Q-Cells were able to secure a 2-month deferment of a ?200 million payment, though original attempts to prevent the convertible bond from being redeemed has currently failed. The company had previously stated that though it had funds to make the repayment it would significantly endanger its ability to continue operating due to liquidity issues. The maturity date of the bond is pushed to April 30, 2012. Read more

Fear of bankruptcy remains, despite Q-Cells? bondholder agreements

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 12:35 (PV-Tech)

A stay of execution on the possible but not inevitable bankruptcy of Q-Cells has been achieved with the majority of holders of a convertible bond due today (February 28, 2012). Q-Cells were able to secure a two-month deferment of a ?200 million payment, though original attempts to prevent the convertible bond from being redeemed have currently failed. The company had previously stated that though it had funds to make the repayment, it would significantly endanger its ability to continue operating due to liquidity issues. The maturity date of the bond has been pushed to April 30, 2012. Read more

U.K. installs 63 MW of PV to date in 2012

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 11:40 (Solarserver)

According to data released by the U.K.'s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the U.K.'s solar photovoltaic (PV) market has largely recovered in the first seven weeks of 2012, after the shock of feed-in tariff (FiT) cuts on December 12th, 2011. The DECC reports that 63.2 MW of PV have been installed in the nation between January 2nd and February 19th, 2012, including 18.3 MW in the week of February 13th - 19th, 2012, roughly the same level as late October 2011. Read more

UK rises to fifth place in global renewable investment league

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 11:37 (Solarpowerportal)

A report published by Ernst & Young shows that the UK has climbed up to fifth place in its global rankings of attractiveness for investment in renewable energy. However, the paper warns that the global outlook for the clean energy market is far less certain than 2011, which saw record investment in renewable technologies, especially solar photovoltaic. Read more

SMA opens Japanese subsidiary, initially offering inverters and communications products for small PV systems

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 11:30 (Solarserver)

On February 27th, 2012 SMA Solar Technology AG (Niestetal, Germany) officially opened a new Japanese sales and service subsidiary in Japan, including an office in Tokyo. The company states that it will initially offer inverters and communication products for small solar photovoltaic (PV) plants through the subsidiary, and later inverters for large-scale PV plants as well as energy management systems. Additionally, SMA will construct a pilot PV plant to demonstrate its Sunny Boy and Sunny Central inverters. Read more


Thermal Power/Heating

Surprise: Chinese Suppliers Dominate Solar PV Module Rankings

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 23:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Try not to act surprised that the familiar Chinese suppliers still sit atop the list of solar photovoltaic (PV) module shipments in 2011, though one is making a stronger push to keep up with the others. Read more

First Solar Q4 sales fall to US$660 and reduce 2012 guidance: idling 4 lines in Germany

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 22:48 (PV-Tech)

Bad timing of revenue recognition for PV power plant projects and lower module sales impacted First Solar?s fourth quarter results, while industry dynamics have forced the company to lower its 2012 revenue guidance, issued in December, 2011. Net sales in Q4 were US$660 million a decrease of $345 million from the third quarter of 2011. Full-year revenue reached US$2.8 billion. Net sales guidance was reduced from US$3.7-US$4.0 billion to US$3.5-US$3.8 billion. Weak market demand will result in 4 manufacturing lines in Germany being idled fro 6-months in 2012, or until demand improves or further action may be required, according to management. Read more

First Solar Q4 sales fall to US$660 million: four lines in Germany to be idled

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 22:48 (PV-Tech)

Bad timing of revenue recognition for PV power plant projects and lower module sales impacted First Solar?s fourth-quarter results, while industry dynamics have forced the company to lower its 2012 revenue guidance, issued in December 2011. Net sales in Q4 were US$660 million - a decrease of US$345 million from the third quarter of 2011. Full-year revenue reached US$2.8 billion. Net sales guidance was reduced from US$3.7-US$4.0 billion to US$3.5-US$3.8 billion. Weak market demand will result in four manufacturing lines in Germany being idled for six months in 2012, or until demand improves when further action may be required, according to management. Read more

First Solar Q4 sales fall to US$660 million; four lines in Germany to be idled

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 22:48 (PV-Tech)

Bad timing of revenue recognition for PV power plant projects and lower module sales impacted First Solar?s fourth-quarter results, while industry dynamics have forced the company to lower its 2012 revenue guidance, issued in December 2011. Net sales in Q4 were US$660 million - a decrease of US$345 million from the third quarter of 2011. Full-year revenue reached US$2.8 billion. Read more

NYSERDA recognizes top performing New York PV, solar thermal installers

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 21:42 (Solarserver)

On February 23rd, 2012, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA, Albany, New York, U.S.) announced that it has presented awards to solar installers in the New York State for outstanding achievements in the customer-sited photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal incentive programs. Solar Liberty Energy Systems located in Buffalo received the ?Outstanding Achievement? award in the PV program. The award recognized the company that has completed the most PV installations and installed the most kilowatts (kW) of PV capacity during 2011. Read more

Fitch updates rating criteria for solar power projects

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 21:30 (Solarserver)

On February 23rd, 2012, Fitch Ratings (New York, U.S.) announced that it has updated its 'Rating Criteria for Solar Power Projects'. The rating criteria describes the analytical framework Fitch applies to evaluate debt issued for a broad range of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV), concentrating PV, and concentrating solar power projects worldwide. Read more

China's latest solar financials reveal ups and downs in 4Q11-1Q12

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 19:37 (Renewable Energy World)

The latest quarterly financial updates now coming in provide a clearer view of the solar PV supplier landscape, who's doing better and why (or why not). Here's what the top Chinese PV module suppliers are saying, and what the analysts are taking away. Read more

China's Latest Solar Financials Reveal Ups and Downs in 4Q11-1Q12

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 19:37 (Renewable Energy World)

The latest quarterly financial updates now coming in provide a clearer view of the solar PV supplier landscape, who's doing better and why (or why not). Here's what the top Chinese PV module suppliers are saying, and what the analysts are taking away. Read more

Bristol City Council charts its solar potential

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 19:11 (Solarpowerportal)

Bristol City Council has become the first local authority in the country to release a detailed solar radiation map. Bristol residents can now estimate whether their house is suitable for solar panels at the click of a button. Read more

Solar Frontier pushes CIS thin-film aperture area efficiency to record 17.8%

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 18:21 (PV-Tech)

Solar Frontier has claimed a world record aperture area cell efficiency of 17.8% for its CIS-based thin-film technology. The new figure surpasses its previous record of 17.2% set in March 2011 and was also produced at its dedicated R&D facility, Atsugi Research Center. The company did not say whether the figures had been independently verified. Read more

JA Solar raises shipment guidance for Q4 and full year

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 18:07 (PV-Tech)

Adding to the number of China-based PV manufacturers pre-announcing, JA Solar said that it would exceed module shipment guidance for the fourth quarter and full-year 2011. Shipments for the fourth quarter are expected to be in the range of 390MW to 410MW, compared to previous guidance of between 310MW to 330MW. Read more

German trade group calls for global industry support as fears collapse from proposed FiT changes

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 17:36 (PV-Tech)

Described as ?solar phase-out legislation? by the German PV trade association, BSW-Solar, the proposed feed-in tariff changes are claimed to lead to a short-term decline of the German PV market of 75%, should the changes be passed into law. BSW-Solar fears that the new legislation, despite considerable opposition from the solar industry is likely to be passed in a meeting of the Federal Cabinet, tomorrow. Read more

German trade group calls for global industry support as fears arise from proposed FiT changes

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 17:36 (PV-Tech)

Described as ?solar phase-out legislation? by the German PV trade association, BSW-Solar, the proposed feed-in tariff changes are claimed to lead to a short-term decline of the German PV market of 75%, should the changes be passed into law. BSW-Solar fears that, despite considerable opposition from the solar industry, the new legislation is likely to be passed in a meeting of the Federal Cabinet tomorrow. Read more

Yingli Americas renews contract with non-profit GRID Alternatives

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 16:28 (PV-Tech)

Yingli Americas has renewed its strategic partnership with Oakland-based non-profit solar installer, GRID Alternatives. Yingli will be supplying another 1MW of solar energy this year through a combination of donated and fair-market priced modules, claiming a donation larger than it did last year. This will provide electricity to 800 low-income families, expanding into Colorado. Read more

Investor interest claimed in taking over Solar Millennium

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 14:34 (PV-Tech)

The court appointed insolvency administrator for collapsed firm, Solar Millennium has said that prospects of selling existing CSP power plants in Spain and takeover opportunities for subsidiary, Flagsol were encouraging. The administrator also said that there was also interested in taking over Solar Millennium by unidentified investors, but qualified the possibility by saying such a move was ?highly uncertain.? Read more

Abengoa revenues grow across divisions in 2011, partly driven by its concentrating solar power business in Spain and Algeria

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 14:30 (Solarserver)

On February 27th, 2012 Abengoa SA (Seville, Spain) released financial results for 2011, reporting a 46% increase in annual revenues to EUR 7.09 billion (USD 9.50 billion), a 16% EBITDA margin and a net income of EUR 257 million (USD 344 million). Abengoa reported strong results across its three divisions, with its Concession-type Infrastructures division growing 39% in 2011 to EUR 427 million (USD 572 million) and realizing a 70% EBITDA margin. The company attributes this largely to its concentrating solar power (CSP) business in Spain and Algeria. Read more

Demise of Hyundai?s solar operations greatly exaggerated

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 9:42 (PV-Tech)

News reports originating in South Korea and covered by both European and US trade press point to claims that Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is preparing to restructure its PV operations. HHI was reported to be halting PV power plant projects in the US and offering for sale a crystalline silicon production facility as it struggles to combat weak demand, reports claim. However, a letter sent to concerned customers, of which a copy is in PV-Tech?s possession, was written by senior executive vice president & COO, Dr. Choong-Dong Lee of Hyundai?s Green Energy Division, refuting media claims. Read more

Abengoa revenues grow across divisions in 2011, largely driven by its concentrating solar power business in Spain and Algeria

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 9:37 (Solarserver)

On February 27th, 2012 Abengoa SA (Seville, Spain) released financial results for 2011, reporting a 46% increase in annual revenues to EUR 7.09 billion (USD 9.50 billion), a 16% EBITDA margin and a net income of EUR 257 million (USD 344 million). Abengoa reported strong results across its three divisions, with its Concession-type Infrastructures division growing 39% in 2011 to EUR 427 million (USD 572 million) and realizing a 70% EBITDA margin. The company attributes this largely to its concentrating solar power (CSP) business in Spain and Algeria. Read more

Greek Minister Papaconstantinou: Helios Project can help EU meet renewable energy targets, Greece to facilitate solar investments

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 9:28 (Solarserver)

On February 24th, 2012 Greek Minister of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change George Papaconstantinou gave a presentation on the HELIOS Project at a renewable energy strategy meeting in Brussels. At the "Stability and Growth: Towards a European renewable energy market" conference, the Minister stated that the HELIOS Project can help the EU reach its 2020 energy targets while serving as a paradigm for regional cooperation. The project aims to install up to 10 GW of solar generation capacity and to export the electricity from solar projects in Greece to EU member states. Read more

Ideal Power Converters installs seven of its 30kW PV inverters at UT Austin?s new 200kW solar system

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 1:09 (PV-Tech)

The University of Texas at Austin?s (UT) new 200kW solar system is sporting seven of Ideal Power Converters (IPC) 30kW PV inverters. Each inverter weighs only 94 pounds, compared to traditional inverters, which can weigh nearly 1,200 pounds. IPC?s inverter delivers 480V AC 3-phase power and supports grounded solar arrays without an internal or external transformer. Read more

Ideal Power Converters installs 7 of its 30kW PV inverters at UT Austin?s new 200kW solar system

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 1:09 (PV-Tech)

The University of Texas at Austin?s (UT) new 200kW solar system is sporting seven of Ideal Power Converters (IPC) 30kW PV inverters. Each inverter weighs only 94 pounds, compared to traditional inverters, which can weigh nearly 1,200 pounds. IPC?s inverter delivers 480V AC 3-phase power and supports grounded solar arrays without an internal or external transformer. Read more

MPX seeking to upgrade license issued for Taúa power plant to 50MW

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 0:55 (PV-Tech)

MPX advised that it is petitioning SEMACE to upgrade the license issued for the Taúa solar power plant to 50MW. Last year, the company began the first 1MW phase and subsequently announced an increase to 2MW after a partnership with GE. In six months of commercial operation, the plant has produced 808,369MWh of electricity. Read more

Alex Green Energy wins bid to develop 5MW solar project in India

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 0:43 (PV-Tech)

According to Bloomberg, Alex Green Energy has won the bid to develop a 5MW solar project in India?s eastern Odisha state. The company vouched to supply power at a record-low rate and, according to a statement from PK Mohan, CEO of Odisha Renewable Energy, has the option to develop the remaining 20MW of PV capacity from the solar auction before it is offered to other bidders. Read more

Helios Strategia plans to develop 7MW of rooftop PV projects in Ukraine during 2012

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 0:32 (PV-Tech)

SolarServer has reported that Helios Strategia announced plans to pursue the development of 7MW of rooftop PV plants in the Ukraine during 2012. Elena Skrypnyk, Helios Strategia director of Sales, commented that the country?s ground-mounted PV sector is on the brink of large increase in installations in the next two years. Read more

Martifer Solar completes 2.07MW ground-mounted PV system in France

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 0:22 (PV-Tech)

Martifer Solar announced the completion of its 2.07MW ground-mounted Les Mées, solar plant. The PV installation was built across 4 hectares with Martifer Solar overseeing the EPC and supplying all PV equipment. The company will also be providing the operation and maintenance of the plant, which is to be operated by Leonidas Associates IV. Read more

EDF Energies receives okay to buy Photowatt International assets out of bankruptcy

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 0:13 (PV-Tech)

EDF Energies Nouvelles, a subsidiary of the EDF group, received permission from the Commercial Court of Vienne to buy Photowatt International?s assets out of bankruptcy and continue its operations. EDF ENR?s offer stipulates that the entire Photowatt workforce will be transferred to a newly established subsidiary of EDF ENR or redeployed within the EDF group. As of March 1, EDF ENR?s subsidiary will be the operator of Photowatt?s assets, relieving Automation Tooling Systems? from its solar business operations in France. Read more


Biomass/Pellets

Shell Busts a Move: Builds Drop-in Biofuels Pilot Plant in Texas

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

For some time, Shell watchers in the biofuels sphere have been hard pressed to determine exactly how the company will proceed in developing out its advanced biofuels strategy. Read more


Wind Energy

Go Big with Homegrown: South Korea To Build Massive Wind Project

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 19:24 (Renewable Energy World)

How much wind power can you get for $9 billion? According to South Korea, about 2.5 gigawatts, or 71 percent of the total offshore capacity available today. Read more

Big Prospects for Small Wind Turbines

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

While 2011 figures have yet to come in, we know that the global small wind turbine market grew from 105.9 MW in 2006 to 275.8 MW in 2010. GlobalData's recent report ? Small Wind Turbines (less than 100kW) ? Global Market Size, Analysis by Power Range, Regulations and Competitive Landscape to 2020 ? predicts even higher growth in the coming years, spurred by increasing incentives announced by various governments and by growing end user awareness. End user price is the most crucial factor affecting the growth of the market in both developed and developing countries. Also important are rebate programmes, property tax exemptions, financial incentives, annualised net metering Read more

Investing In Offshore Wind Power

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Last week, the long-embattled Cape Wind project got a break: Utility NStar(NST) agreed to buy 27.5 percent of the proposed offshore wind project's output. Together with a previous power purchase agreement with National Grid (NGG), this gives Cape Wind a buyer for 77.5 percent of the project's total projected output. Jim Gordon, Cape Wind's President speaking at Offshore Wind Power USA in Boston, called the NStar deal the "starting gun" for Cape Wind's financing round. Read more


Hydropower

There are no news available

 



Hydrogen/Fuel Cell

There are no news available

 



Geo Thermal/Heat Pump

There are no news available

 



Energy Policy/Climate/CO2

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks comments on draft RFP for USD 7 billion renewable energy procurement

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 21:37 (Solarserver)

On February 24th, 2012, the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center (Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.) announced that it has issued a draft request for proposal (RFP) for USD 7 billion in shared capacity contracts to procure reliable, locally generated, renewable and alternative energy through power purchase agreements (PPAs) or other contractual equivalents. Read more

Blue Sky Energy awarded US DoD certification Military Standard 810

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 17:13 (PV-Tech)

Blue Sky Energy clean tech products have received Military Standard 810 certification awarded by the US Department of Defence. Blue Sky Energy?s charge controller, a key component of Solar Stik?s newly certified Hybrid System Package, meets the DoD?s environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests. Read more

UK and Bangladesh partner to further energy research

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 16:28 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Government of Bangladesh have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Energy Research. Read more

Australia increases renewable energy requirements

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 16:14 (Solarserver)

The Australian Government has increased its renewable energy mandates through its Renewable Power Percentage (RPP) and Small-scale Technology Percentage (STC) for the year 2012 to 9.15% and 23.96%, respectively, which represent percentages of total electricity usage. These requirements form the basis of a system of credits awarded to renewable energy producers and purchased by entities that purchase wholesale power. The new requirements are equivalent to 16.7 million Large-scale Generation Certificates, representing 16.7 GWh of electricity generation, and 44.8 million Small-scale Technology Certificates. Read more

China inaugurates first national renewable energy think tank

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 14:22 (PV-Tech)

Through financial and technological support from Denmark, China has established its first national think tank. The China National Renewable Energy Centre (CNREC) will be responsible for researching and promoting programs and policies in renewable energy development. It will also look to drafting industrial standards and carrying out international cooperative programs. Read more

IEA to publish medium-term report on renewable energy markets

Tuesday, 2.28.2012 - 11:36 (Solarserver)

On February 23rd, the International Energy Agency (IEA, Paris, France) announced that it will begin publishing medium-term reports that analyze global renewable energy markets starting in July 2012. This will be the first medium-term report on renewable energy from the agency. The IEA's "Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report" will join its annual medium-term reports on oil, gas and coal, and will include five-year projections for global renewable energy electricity capacity and generation. The agency notes that renewable energy is the fastest growing energy sector, currently accounting for almost a fifth of all electricity produced worldwide. Read more


Solar-/Electromobil

There are no news available

 



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