Roth & Rau posts 2011 revenue of ?208 million; plans faster restructuring and job losses

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 18:38 (PV-Tech)

A significant decline in sales and new orders, coupled to higher annual losses in 2011, compared to 2010 have forced Roth & Rau to implement further company-wide restructuring and reduce its global headcount. Preliminary sales for 2011 reached ?208 million, down from ?285 million in 2010. Read more

Siemens to build MW PV plant at U.S. military facility

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 14:01 (Solarserver)

On February 2nd, 2012, Siemens Industry Inc. (Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S.) announced that its building technologies division will install a MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the White Sands Missile Range center. The solar PV system will provide the Army with about 10,000 solar renewable energy credits annually as well as qualify it for a 30% federal cash grant in excess of USD 4.8 million. Read more

REC Solar modules ranking 1st in Photon?s field performance test

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 13:55 (Solarserver)

On January 27th, 2012, REC Solar Inc. (San Luis Obispo, California, U.S.) announced that its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules ranked first in the Photon Laboratory?s 2011 module field performance test, producing 6% more energy than competing modules. The tests were conducted at the Photon?s laboratory in Germany. Read more

SINGULUS to deliver PV module production line to Lithuania

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 13:02 (Solarserver)

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG (SINGULUS, Kahl am Main, Germany) signed a contract for the delivery of a PV production line with an Eastern European customer who starts to invest in the manufacturing of crystalline solar cells. The delivery of the line is scheduled to take place in early 2013 under restriction of the approval of the relevant committees, SINGULUS reports in a press release. The contractual agreement with this customer means an additional important expansion step for SINGULUS in the solar segment, the company emphasizes. Read more

Suniva powers 1 MW PV plant at Chattanooga Airport, Tennessee

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 12:35 (Solarserver)

On February 2nd, 2012, Suniva Inc. (Norcross, Georgia, U.S.), a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells and modules, announced that it has supplied solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for a 1-MW solar farm at the Chattanooga Airport in Tennessee. The solar facility, implemented by Inman Solar, is the first phase of a 3-MW project by the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority (CMAA), designed to reduce pollution, waste and energy consumption. Read more

Newly-appointed Davey prioritises green jobs and growth

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 11:39 (Solarpowerportal)

The newly-appointed Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Edward Davey, joined the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, in reiterating the Coalition’s ambition to support green business in the UK, despite the change in leadership at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, following the resignation of Chris Huhne last week. Read more

MiaSolé appoints Richard Hossfeld as VP of global business development and sales

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 21:48 (PV-Tech)

MiaSolé noted that it had welcomed a new member to its executive management team with the selection of Richard Hossfeld as VP of global business development and sales. Hossfeld previously served as VP of business development for both First Solar and Fluidic Energy and holds experience in developing and leading market entry and go-to market strategies in North America, Asia and Latin America. Before his appointment at First Solar, Hossfeld was a corporate lawyer with Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Read more

MiaSole appoints Richard Hossfeld as VP of global business development and sales

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 21:48 (PV-Tech)

MiaSole noted that it had welcomed a new member to its executive management team with the selection of Richard Hossfeld as VP of global business development and sales. Hossfeld previously served as VP of business development for both First Solar and Fluidic Energy and holds experience in developing and leading market entry and go-to market strategies in North America, Asia and Latin America. Before his appointment at First Solar, Hossfeld was a corporate lawyer with Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Read more

GCL-Poly and NRG Solar form new JV: Sunora Energy Solutions 1

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 21:39 (PV-Tech)

Through their wholly-owned subsidiary, GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and NRG Solar have formed a new joint venture, Sunora Energy Solutions 1. Each of the shareholders owns 50% interest in the JV, which will build selected projects developed by NRG Solar using GCL-Poly?s PV system equipment and NRG?s racking technologies. Read more

Lark Energy proposes a 30MW solar project on former airfield near Leicestershire, UK

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 20:57 (PV-Tech)

Lake Energy is looking to build a 25-30MW solar park on the former Wymeswold Airfield and, according to Solar Power Portal, has submitted plans to Charnwood Borough Council for the project. Slated to use nearly 125,000 solar panels and be constructed over a 150-acre site near Loughborough, Leicestershire, the solar project will be installed between the runways of the former airfield. Upon approval from the council, the project aims to be in construction later this year. Read more

Honda completes 9kW solar installation at its Adachi Odai dealer location

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 20:29 (PV-Tech)

Hondo Motor reported that it has completed the 9kW-capacity solar installation project at its Adachi Odai location of the Honda Cars Tokyo Chuo dealer network. The installation is the first in a series of projects, which will use the Honda Soltec solar power generation system for a combined 1MW capacity at Honda auto dealer location in Japan. The 1MW capacity, and its related projects, is anticipated to be completed by March 31, 2014. Read more

Solar Junction enters multi-megawatt supply agreement with Semprius

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

Solar Junction advised that it had entered into a multi-megawatt supply agreement with Semprius, but did not give specifics into how many MW were to be ordered or a timeline for the deal. The companies have been working together for the past two years to deliver cell technology for Semprius? HCPV module efficiencies. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: North American market installs 0.93GW in Q4?11 and set for 60% growth in 2012

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 19:13 (PV-Tech)

According to the latest North American PV Markets Quarterly report issued by NPD Solarbuzz, sharp reductions in market prices, combined with the impact of regional and national policies, has pushed the North American PV market to a new quarterly peak with 0.93GW installed in Q4?11. Read more

Solar Fred's 7 Keys to Why People Share Marketing Materials on the Web

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

What triggers you to press one of those share buttons above, or email this post — or any website link — to a colleague or friend? Think about it. Because the keys to knowing why people share things are the keys to so-called "viral" solar marketing. Before we get to why we share, let's talk about how we used to share and how we share Read more

Solar gigawatts in the U.S.: North American utility-scale PV installations surge in Q4?11; 0.93 GW installed during the last three months

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 14:50 (Solarserver)

Sharp reductions in market prices combined with the impact of regional and national policies pushed the North American photovoltaic (PV) market to a new quarterly peak with 0.93 GW installed in Q4?11, according to the latest "North American PV Markets Quarterly" report issued by NPD Solarbuzz (San Francisco, California, U.S.). The solar incentive policy mix in both the United States and Canadian markets due to Solarbuzz drove up demand in large-scale ground-mount systems, which was 59% of this total. Regionally, the New Jersey, California, Arizona, and Ontario accounted for two-thirds of Q4?11 demand. Read more

TUEV certifies Centrosolar PV modules to obtain best possible PID results

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 14:12 (Solarserver)

On February 2nd, 2012, Centrosolar AG (Hamburg, Germany) announced that TUEV Rheinland has certified that its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules are resistant to voltage-related performance degradation. This effect, which is referred to as potential induced degradation (PID), is one of the main causes of reduced performance of PV modules over the course of their life cycle. Read more

SolarWorld acquisition of PV project developer Solarparc completed

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 13:56 (PV-Tech)

Following the trend of many other PV module manufacturers to move downstream into the project development arena, SolarWorld has acquired in excess of 95% of the shares of Solarparc as part of its voluntary public take-over. Read more

SolarWorld acquisition of PV project developer, Solarparc completed

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 13:56 (PV-Tech)

Following the trend of many other PV module manufacturers to move downstream into the project development arena, SolarWorld has acquired in excess of 95% of the shares of Solarparc as part of its voluntary public take-over. Read more

International Finance Corp. to provide USD 5 million to Mahindra Solar for 5-MW PV plant in Rajasthan, India

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 13:50 (Solarserver)

On January 30th, 2012, the International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced that it will provide USD 5 million in debt financing to Mahindra Solar One (Mumbai, India) for a 5-MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Rajasthan, India. Read more

SBI Energy report: Concentrating Solar Power Technologies will compete with PV in coming years

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 13:11 (Solarserver)

The Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) market will rise again in 2012 and in the next five years, according to new research from SBI Energy (New York, New York, U.S.). Emerging from an enforced hiatus by photovoltaic (PV) technologies, the global capacity of utility-scale CSP was 2 GW at the close of 2011 with approximately another 2.500 to 3.500 MW becoming operational in 2012. SBI Energy estimates the cost of the installed base of CSP at the end of 2011 at USD 9.5 billion with power tower technology increasing its market share. Read more

China increases solar thermal business 12-fold since 2005, 18 percent domestic growth in 2011

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 12:56 (Solarserver)

Within 6 years, the Chinese solar thermal industry increased its export business 12-fold, from USD 20 million in 2005 to USD 250 million in 2010, Solrico (Bielefeld, Germany) reports. In 2011, the newly installed collector area in China has jumped up another 18% to 57.6 million m² (40.3 GWth). Putting the focus on solar technology has proven to be the right step: Nowadays, significantly more new solar water heaters are being installed per year than gas or electric water heaters. Read more

Bosch Solar Energy signs Master Lease Agreement with De Lage Landen

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 12:40 (PV-Tech)

De Lage Landen has announced that its Clean Technology group has signed a US Master Lease Agreement with Bosch Solar Energy to fund solar projects developed by Bosch. Read more

Plans submitted for 30MW solar project in Leicestershire

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 12:20 (Solarpowerportal)

Lark Energy has recently submitted plans to Charnwood Borough Council for what will be the UK’s largest solar project. If planning permission is approved, construction on a 150-acre site near Loughborough, Leicestershire, will begin later this year. Read more

solarhybrid seals deal on Solar Millenium?s US project pipeline

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 11:59 (PV-Tech)

The on/off purchase of bankrupt, Solar Millenium?s US solar project pipeline by solarhybrid is back on. An agreement has finally been struck that includes a total pipeline capacity of 2.25GW, 70% ownership stake in Solar Trust of America LLC as well as intercompany loans and other receivables from Solar Millennium to its US subsidiaries. Financial details were not disclosed. The supervisory board of solarhybrid and the interim insolvency administrator of Solar Millenium have approved the agreement, according to the companies. Read more

Alta Devices? solar panel receives NREL verification of 23.5% efficiency

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 11:49 (PV-Tech)

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has verified Alta Devices? most recent and highest efficiency solar panel at 23.5%. The technology used for these panels was unveiled at PVSC37, Seattle, US, in June last year. The company announced its solar cell conversion efficiencies resulted from harnessing the high efficiency of gallium arsenide (GaAs) in cost effective ways. Read more

Alta solar panel receives NREL verification of 23.5% efficiency

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 11:49 (PV-Tech)

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has verified Alta Devices? most recent and highest efficiency solar panel at 23.5%. The technology used for these panels was unveiled at PVSC37, Seattle, US, in June last year. The company announced its solar cell conversion efficiencies resulted from harnessing the high efficiency of gallium arsenide (GaAs) in cost effective ways. Read more

MPs urge Prime Minister to share wind subsidy with other renewables

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 13:21 (Solarpowerportal)

More than 100 Conservative MPs have written to the Prime Minister demanding cuts to the subsidies for on-shore wind farms. Read more

Germany Invests in Hydrogen Technology for Renewable Storage, Vehicles

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 21:20 (Renewable Energy World)

The tanks look like they could hold propane, gasoline or any other form of conventional energy. Read more

New Energy Technologies adds Patrick Thompson to board of advisors

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 21:22 (PV-Tech)

Glass industry veteran J. Patrick Thompson has joined New Energy Technologies? board of advisors. Thompson is known for several business ventures, including Asahi Glass Company?s solar glass division, where he served as VP of the solar business unit. Thompson also worked in the plastics industry with GE Plastics, where he was awarded the organization?s MVP award for sales and marketing. Read more

Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2012: 10 Percent More than Other Top-10 lists

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 16:08 (Renewable Energy World)

Maybe it was because Seeking Alpha did not carry my annual list of 10 Clean Energy Stocks for 2012 this year, but no one seems to have noticed that there were actually 11 stocks in the list. Call it the Spinal Tap of top-ten lists. Read more

Asia Report: India Sees 52 Percent Rise in Investments

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 14:55 (Renewable Energy World)

The year 2011 may be remembered in clean energy circles as the moment when India became a major player across several industries. Read more

£29m fund will help tackle ?complex mix of energy generation?

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 13:48 (Solarpowerportal)

Funding in excess of £29 million has been awarded by the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) for companies looking to bring new and innovative ideas to the UK’s energy market. The funding originates from Ofgem’s Innovation Funding Incentive scheme and the £500m Low Carbon Networks (LCN) Fund. Read more

KfW bank takes steps to incentivize Germany?s renewables uptake

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 12:25 (PV-Tech)

Considering the country?s decision in 2011 to phase out nuclear power by 2022, Germany has made a smart decision to take definite steps towards incentivizing the uptake of renewable energy technologies from a fiscal point of view. The country recently reached the point where 20% of its electricity is generated from renewable sources, and in order to maintain this rise in uptake, the federal KfW bank group has increased its lending in the multimillion euro business loan sector. Read more