Energy companies are urged to prepare for smart meters

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 11:53 (Solarpowerportal)

A recent report by UK-based smart metering supplier Sentec estimates that the number of smart meters installed in European homes is likely to accelerate swiftly over the next three years, with 70 percent deployment by 2015. Read more

Bosch begins operations at new crystalline silicon PV production facility in France

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 9:29 (Solarserver)

On March 15th, 2012 Bosch Solar Energy AG (Arstadt, Germany) announced that it has begun operations at a new manufacturing facility for crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules near Lyon, France. Bosch expects the factory to reach full operational capacity of 150 MW in July 2012. The company notes that the plant in Vénissieux, which formerly produced rail injection pumps for diesel engines, is the largest PV production facility in France. Read more

Trina Solar and actor Patrick Dempsey continue solar mission for US communities

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 21:32 (PV-Tech)

Although possibly recognized more often for his leading role on TV?s Grey?s Anatomy and his passion for race car driving, Patrick Dempsey is also a solar advocate, continuing his mission to educate and bring solar to more communities in the US with the help of Trina Solar. Dempsey and Trina Solar announced a new philanthropic initiative that aims to bring affordable clean energy to local schools, health clinics and nongovernmental organizations in the US through the donation of solar modules. Read more

Onyx axe?s plans for 22MW Honduran solar project

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 21:19 (PV-Tech)

Citing a current ?unfriendly? political, financial and regulatory atmosphere for alternative energy project in Honduras, Onyx Service & Solutions has decided to end development of its 22MW solar project on the Island of Roatan, Honduras. The company noted that it had already informed its Honduran partners and local government officials. Read more

Class action lawsuit filed in US District Court against First Solar

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 21:09 (PV-Tech)

A class action lawsuit was filed against First Solar by Pomerantz Haudek Grossman & Gross in the US District Court for the District of Arizona. The complaint states that between April 30, 2008 and February 28, 2012, First Solar violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by not disclosing the full extent of certain manufacturing flaws on its earnings, that it improperly recognized revenue for certain products in its systems business, that it lacked sufficient internal and financial controls and, finally, that as a result, First Solar?s statement were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Read more

Spire claims that 82% of US$61.6 million, 2011 revenue came from solar division

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 20:53 (PV-Tech)

Spire released its 2011 financial results, showing revenues of US$61.6 million, a 22.8% drop from 2010?s US$79.8 million revenue. Net loss was calculated at US$1.5 million, compared to a net loss in 2010 of US$0.4 million. The company noted that revenues from Q4 were US$19.5 million from continuing operations, demonstrating an 8.5% increase from the US$18.0 million in Q4 2010. Read more

SolarBridge supplies microinverters to NESL-USA?s AC module system

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 20:41 (PV-Tech)

SolarBridge Technologies and NESL-USA have partnered in order to provide an AC module system using SolarBridge?s microinverter. The module is backed by an end-to-end 25-year warranty. The NESL AC module system uses SolarBridge?s Pantheon microinverter in the pre-assembled panel, with the company offering its AC module system up to 250W per panel. Read more

ReneSola offers aggressive shipment guidance for 2012

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 17:22 (PV-Tech)

Against a backdrop of many peers reporting lower fourth quarter shipments when compared to the previous quarter, ReneSola held its ground, exceeding shipment guidance for solar wafers and modules. The company reported 2011 revenue higher than guided at US$985.3 million but 18.3% below 2010 net revenue of US$1,205.6 million. Total solar wafer and module shipments in 2011 reached a record 1,294.8 MW, exceeding prior guidance and an increase of 9.5% from 1,182.8 MW for the full year 2010. However, management guided a significant increase in solar wafer and module shipments in 2012 to be in the range of 1.8GW to 2.0GW. Emphasis was placed on module shipments increasing as well Read more

Rabobank invests US$42.5 million in SolarCity US commercial projects

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

Since securing capital from US Bancorp last week, SolarCity has gained additional investment from Rabobank of US$42.5 million in structured financing, this time to fund over 30 commercial solar projects in California. Read more

Solar Millennium?s insolvency trustee sells more investments

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 15:54 (PV-Tech)

Volker Böhm, insolvency administrator of the bankrupt Solar Millennium in Erlangen, has sold PV Power Holding shares to Bavaria-based Schoeller Renewables. Solar Millennium held 50% in PV Power Holding, a developer of PV projects in Italy. Read more

Why the 1603 Treasury Grant Program Matters to Solar and RE

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Last Tuesday, March 13, Congress failed to act to renew the 1603 Treasury Grant program, and that’s not only a loss for the entire solar industry, but other renewables too. Some may see 1603 as a program that only benefits large scale solar, but 1603 indirectly benefits the residential solar community, as well as solar thermal, and all other Read more

Concentrating solar power in India: CSP plants and equipment to be fully exempt from import duty

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 14:33 (Solarserver)

India?s finance minister, Dr. Pranab Mukherjee, declared that solar thermal plants and equipment in India will now be exempt from import duty. "In order to fully realize our potential in the realm of solar energy, solar thermal projects need encouragement. I propose to fully exempt plant and equipment etc. for the initial setting up of such projects from special countervailing duties (anti-subsidy import duty)"; said the minister while announcing plans for the country budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Read more

Harris Poll survey: Solar is the most popular energy source in the U.S.

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 14:32 (Solarserver)

A survey conducted by Harris Poll (New York, U.S.) shows that solar energy is the most popular source of energy in the United States. The online survey was conducted by Harris Interactive to gauge American attitudes about nuclear energy after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan last year. Read more

Solar America Board for Codes and Standards proposes new standard for nameplate datasheet and sampling requirements for PV modules

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 14:16 (Solarserver)

The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCS, Cocoa, Florida, U.S.) has proposed a standard for nameplate datasheet and sampling requirements for photovoltaic (PV) modules. Solar ABCS? proposal represents the implementation of its March 2011 policy statement, Photovoltaic Module Power Rating, into a PV module standard with a text format acceptable to standard developing organizations such as ASTM International, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Read more

IEER releases report on 100% renewable Minnesota

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 14:10 (Solarserver)

On March 13th, 2012, the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER Takoma Park, Maryland) has released a new report stating that all of Minnesota's electricity generation needs can be met by wind and solar sources combined with improvements to the state's electric grid system and energy efficiency policies. Read more

US DOE sets date for solar decathlon 2013 at Orange County Great Park, Irvine, California

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 14:03 (Solarserver)

On March 14th, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that the Solar Decathlon 2013 will be held from October 3rd, 2012, through October 13th, 2013, at the Orange County Great Park, Irvine, California. The DOE has selected 20 university teams to participate in the Solar Decathlon 2013, which challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. Read more

Effects of Wind on Solar Arrays: Not Just Hot Air

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Rapid growth in the solar industry has triggered a pressing need for consistent solar engineering and construction standards, particularly in connection with the structural design of rooftop PV systems. Over the last decade, we've seen an incredible variation in requirements and requests from project engineers and permitting officials across North America for more than 1,000 projects. Read more

InSolar monitoring platform deployed on 200 MW of PV plants in Southeastern Europe

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 13:57 (Solarserver)

On March 14th, 2012, inAccess Networks (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that its inSolar platform is currently monitoring more than 180 solar photovoltaic (PV) plants with a total capacity of more than 200 MW in Southeastern Europe. InAccess describes inSolar as an integrated, vendor-independent solution for the centralized management of geographically distributed PV plants. The company further estimates a pipeline of "hundreds of MW" for deployment of its products in Europe, Asia and the Americas in 2012. Read more

Affiliated Distributors, Syndicated Solar team up to expand solar energy installations

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 13:54 (Solarserver)

On March 13th, 2012, Affiliated Distributors (Wayne, Pennsylvania, U.S.) announced that it has formed a partnership with photovoltaic (PV) project developer Syndicated Solar Inc. (Greenwood Village, Colorado, U.S.) to expand the sales of solar systems and components. Syndicated Solar will become a preferred Affiliated Distributors clean energy supplier providing design, consulting, construction, and financing services for affiliates of the AD network and their customers for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Read more

US Patent and Trademark Office backs Zep Solar in infringement case by Westinghouse Solar

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 12:17 (PV-Tech)

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) supports Zep Solar in an infringement case made against the company by Westinghouse Solar, Zep Solar has announced. Westinghouse Solar argued in a complaint to the International Trade Commission (ITC), that Zep Solar had infringed its ?614 patent. After rejecting previous claims by Westinghouse Solar, USPTO had issued an action closing prosecution (ACP), attesting that the claims made by Westinghouse Solar were invalid. Read more

First Solar hires James Hughes as Chief Commercial Officer

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 12:16 (Solarserver)

On March 14th, 2012 First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) announced that James Hughes will join the company in the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Hughes will lead global business development and sales, project development, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), product management and international public affairs and communications. Read more

California Public Utilities Commission C approves PPA for 110 MW Catalina Solar PV plant

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 12:09 (Solarserver)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between San Diego Gas & Electric Company (San Diego, California, U.S.) and a subsidiary of enXco (San Diego, California, U.S.) for the output of the 110 MW-AC Catalina Solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. Project developer and owner enXco plans to commission an initial 50 MW phase of the plant by the end of 2012, and the full capacity by July 2013. The plant will be built on square kilometers in Kern County, California, and will use First Solar cadmium telluride thin film PV modules. Read more

Canadian Solar, Lightsource build 6.4 MW of PV plants in the U.K.

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 11:51 (Solarserver)

On March 14th, 2012 Canadian Solar Inc. (Kitchener, Canada) announced that it has built four solar photovoltaic (PV) plants across England with a total capacity of 6.4 MW, in collaboration with Lightsource Renewable Energy Ltd. (London, U.K.). Canadian Solar estimates that it built each project in roughly 9-12 weeks. The PV plants are located in Cornwall, Lincolnshire and Somerset. Read more

Anti-dumping hearing postponed yet again by US DoC

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 11:42 (PV-Tech)

The US Department of Commerce has once again postponed the deadline for issuing a preliminary ruling on SolarWorld?s anti-dumping arraignments against Chinese solar manufacturers. May 16 has been earmarked for the hearing, with March 19 set for a preliminary ruling. Read more

Ecobuild: Sputnik Engineering introduces new SolarMax MT2 string inverters

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 11:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Swiss solar inverter specialist Sputnik Engineering is set to exhibit its new range of SolarMax MT2 string inverters at next week’s Ecobuild show. Read more

TSMC modules are now UL and IEC certified

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 11:05 (PV-Tech)

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and International Electrotechnical Commission?s (IEC) have certified TSMC Solar?s TS CIGS series PV modules. With a nominal power of up to 130W are now listed on the California Energy Commission?s (CEC) list of compliant PV modules. TSMC Solar has also received ISO 9001 quality management system certification. Read more

More than 83,000 Bristol buildings are suitable for solar

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 10:47 (Solarpowerportal)

In a bid to highlight the full potential for solar power in Bristol the City Council has commissioned a specialist aerial survey in partnership with Blom. Read more

Japanese PV producer Solar Frontier and German EPC company Belectric form joint venture for PV power plants

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 9:24 (Solarserver)

Germany-based Belectric and Japan-based Solar Frontier, the world?s largest solar EPC and the world?s largest manufacturer of CIS thin-film solar modules, have announced they have formed the joint venture company, PV CIStems GmbH & Co. KG. The new company will develop, build and sell both ground- and roof-mounted photovoltaic power plants. By combining Belectric?s profound EPC and project development experience with Solar Frontier?s deep panel know-how, PV CIStems offers customers worldwide turnkey solutions using high quality components for cost-efficient solar power generation. Read more

Polish Biogas Industry Poised for Growth if Regulatory Hurdles Eased

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 17:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Poland’s biogas sector is very much in its infancy, but the sector is poised for explosive growth in the coming years. At least 300 agricultural plants are thought to be in advanced planning stages, and the Polish Government is targeting an ambitious uptake of 2500 projects by 2020. With a vast resource potential and an attractive certificati Read more

Obama releases progress report on American energy plan; production of electricity from wind, solar and geothermal sources has nearly doubled since 2008

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 12:04 (Solarserver)

On March 12th, 2012 the Administration of U.S. President Barack Obama released a progress report on its strategy for American energy production and use, which notes that production of electricity from wind, solar and geothermal sources has nearly doubled in the nation since 2008. "The blueprint for a secure energy future progress report" places its primary emphasis on American energy independence, including expanded domestic oil and gas production and reducing petroleum use in part through new fuel economy standards. However it also outlines the administration's work in supporting clean energy development. Read more

PA Consulting Group: Players across the U.S. supply chain need to adapt to survive without subsidies

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 14:26 (Solarserver)

On March 14th, 2012, PA Consulting Group (New York, U.S.) announced that players across the U.S. supply chain will need to adapt to address the challenge of expiring federal incentives for renewables. Barbara Sands, renewable energy expert at PA Consulting Group, has pointed out the ways in which equipment manufacturers, renewable developers and utilities each is likely to adapt to remain competitive. "The U.S. renewable market is becoming increasingly challenging, and players across the supply chain will need to adapt to survive," Sands said. Read more

Electrovaya announces new product line of high voltage lithium ion energy storage systems

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 14:21 (Solarserver)

On March 14th, 2012, Electrovaya Inc. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) announced a new product line of high voltage lithium ion energy storage systems. The products line is designed to cater to a rapidly growing mid-size residential and industrial energy storage market. The products line, PowerBlock, integrates a complete energy storage system with cells, battery management system and power electronics. Read more

From Garbage to Gas to Energy

Friday, 3.16.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Landfill Gas to Energy (LFGTE) isn't likely to win any beauty prizes in the renewable energy sweepstakes -- wind and solar continue to garner all the glamour. But this unsung method of harvesting landfill methane for conversion to electricity (or for direct use as a fuel for industry or vehicles) continues to prove that LFGTE is a scrappy long-term contender in the war on man-made greenhouse gases. Read more