Silicon Genesis unveils thin wafer system

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 15:28 (Solarserver)

On March 19th, 2012 Silicon Genesis announced that it has finalized specifications of its GenII PolyMax system for fabricating thin silicon wafers for solar photovoltaic (PV) applications. Silicon Genesis states that the system can create wafers thinner than is achievable with wire saw technology, which can allow lower cost PV cell production. The system design is the result of over six years of development, prototype testing and PV cell material evaluation. Read more

CASE accuses CASM members of hypocrisy

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 12:09 (PV-Tech)

The Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) has broken the calm before the storm as the solar industry awaits the decision of a preliminary hearing by the US Department of Commerce to dictate anti-subsidy tariffs against Chinese imports of solar cells. CASE has alleged that members of the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) are hypocritical in their denouncement against Chinese manufacturers, having themselves received subsidies from foreign governments. Read more

Taiwanese PV producer TSMC receives UL and EIC listings for CIGS modules

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 11:32 (Solarserver)

On March 15th, 2012, TSMC Solar Ltd. (Taichung, Taiwan) announced that it has received certifications from both Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for a wide range of its TS CIGS series photovoltaic (PV) modules. The PV modules with nominal power of up to 130 watt (W) are now listed on the California Energy Commission's (CEC) list of compliant PV modules. Read more

U.K. installs 203 MW of PV in month before FIT cut

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 8:50 (Solarserver)

Data released by the U.K Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) for recent weeks reveals that once again solar photovoltaic (PV) installations have peaked in advance of feed-in tariff (FiT) cuts, to collapse following these cuts. In the week leading up to the March 3rd, 2012 FiT cuts, the U.K. installed 99.6 MW of PV in 20,800 plants, followed by only 3.1 MW in 1,100 installations in the following week. This follows a ramp-up of installations, with a total of 203 MW installed February 6th, 2012 through March 4th, 2012. Read more

It's Official: US Commerce Imposes Tariffs on Chinese Solar Firms

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 18:48 (Renewable Energy World)

In a highly anticipated announcement that came Tuesday, the Department of Commerce has imposed tariffs in a case that has underscored deep divisions within the American solar industry. Read more

Update: U.S. Commerce Imposes Tariffs on Chinese Solar Firms

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 18:48 (Renewable Energy World)

In a highly anticipated announcement that came Tuesday, the Department of Commerce has imposed tariffs in a case that has underscored deep divisions within the American solar industry.American solar manufacturers got the validation they were seeking, but much of the solar industry walked away from Tuesday's announcement with a general sense of relief and a continued sense of caution for what could come next. Read more

EON executive predicts the downfall of German solar industry

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 18:08 (PV-Tech)

China?s success will cause Germany?s solar manufacturing industry to vanish, predicts a member of EON?s managing board. Klaus-Dieter Maubach stated the industry will become non-existent in five years time. Read more

Mage Solar opens new Australian logistics centre

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 17:44 (PV-Tech)

Photovoltaic system component and module provider Mage Solar has announced the addition of an Australian warehouse and distribution centre in Melbourne, Australia.  The move will facilitate easier logistical management and mean trade partners in Australia will receive solar system components much faster. Read more

First Solar dragged into Solyndra argument by Republicans

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 17:38 (PV-Tech)

Unsatisfied with criticising US President Barack Obama?s handling of the Solyndra saga, the Republicans have moved on to Obama?s energy loan program ahead of the elections this year, reports Bloomberg. The US Oversight and Investigations Committee released emails bringing to light the Republicans? rebuttal of the US$1.6 billion offered to Arizona-based First Solar as unjustified on the grounds of its two projects being unimaginative and indistinguishable from each other. Read more

German Policy Could Make Solar in America "Wunderbar"

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 17:32 (Renewable Energy World)

The Germans are debating significant revisions to their landmark renewable energy policy, and instead of declaring the death of the German solar market, Americans should focus on why solar still costs so much on this side of the Atlantic.   After a significant step-down this month, revisions to the German feed-in tariff will require util Read more

Elkem Solar resumes operation in Norway

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 15:58 (PV-Tech)

The difficult solar market in the last quarter of 2011, led Elkem Solar to suspend operations at its plant in Kristiansand, Norway. However, the company has advised that full production has been restored due to an increase in orders for Elkem Solar Silicon. Read more

JA Solar shipments, revenues fall in 4Q 2011

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 15:34 (Solarserver)

On march 20th, 2012, JA Solar Holdings Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) released financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2011, reporting an 11% quarter-to-quarter decrease in shipments to 398MW and a 21% decrease in revenues to 309 million during the fourth quarter. The company also reported a -25% operating margin, and a net loss of USD 68.3 million during the quarter. For the first time JA Solar reported that revenues from its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules exceeded revenues from its cell production, at 56% of total fourth quarter revenues. Read more

Finding Our Place in the Sun

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The solar industry has an inferiority complex. Brought on, in part, by the slow economy and the election season, the solar industry has found itself on the defensive, despite an influx of new investment and positive growth for the long term and setting new installation records in the U.S. Read more

Spire revenues fall 23% in 2011 with 82% of sales from solar business

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 12:05 (Solarserver)

On March 15th, 2012 Spire Corporation (Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.) released financial results for its fourth quarter and full year 2011, reporting an 8.3% sequential increase in revenues to USD 19.5 million and USD 1.6 million in net income for the quarter. Over the full year 2011 the company reported a 23% decrease in revenues to USD 61.6 million, and a net loss of USD 1.5 million. The company also states that it has hired new staff in its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) business. Read more

S.A.G. Solarstrom, Hanwha SolarOne to build 20 MW of rooftop PV plants in Italy

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 11:59 (Solarserver)

On March 16th, 2012 S.A.G. Solarstrom AG (Freiburg, Germany) announced that it will work through a joint venture with Hanwha SolarOne Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) to build 20 MW of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, mostly on industrial buildings in Northern Italy. The project will represent a total investment of over EUR 40 million (USD 53 million). The PV plants will use Hanwha SolarOne PV modules, and the companies plan to complete the plants by the end of June 2012. Read more

CSP producer Novatec Solar appoints Dr. Christoph Wolff as Chief Executive Officer

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 11:54 (Solarserver)

The Chairman of Novatec Solar?s Shareholder Committee, Guido Belgiorno-Nettis has announced the appointment of Dr. Christoph Wolff as Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer effective 5th March 2012. Novatec Solar (Karlsruhe, Germany) is a leading technology provider and original equipment manufacturer of efficient, low cost direct solar steam generators (solar boilers) for concentrating solar power (CSP) plants based on Fresnel collector technology. Read more

California Energy Commission awards USD 3 million loan for Madera County school district's 1.12 MW solar PV installations, USD 1.5 million for smart grid research

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 11:48 (Solarserver)

On March 14th, 2012, the California Energy Commission (CEC, San Francisco, Calif.) announced that it has approved a low-interest Energy Conservation Assistance Account (ECAA) loan of USD 3 million for the Madera County school district for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays at facilities located east of the City of Madera. The PV systems will have a combined capacity of 1.12 megawatts (MW) respectively 1,725,111 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar electricity, which will fulfill all the school district's power needs. Read more

Real Goods Solar revenues double in 4Q 2011, hires John Coletta as CFO

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 11:43 (Solarserver)

On March 15th, 2012, Real Goods Solar Inc. (Louisville, Colorado, U.S.) released financial results for the fourth quarter of 2011, reporting a doubling of revenues year-over-year to USD 40.3 million, an operating margin of 0.5% and a net income of USD 100,000 during the quarter. Real Goods attributes this increase in revenues to the acquisition of Alteris Renewables Inc. (Wilton, Connecticut, U.S.) during 2011. A day later on March 16th, 2012 Real Goods announced that it has hired John Coletta as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to replace Erik Zech in late March 2012. Read more

SolarSource installs 300kW PV system at Naval base in Cuba

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 11:37 (Solarserver)

Solar contractor Solar Source (Largo, Florida) has completed construction on a 300 kilowatt (kW) ground-mount solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the Naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The solar array, which uses 1,200 solar panels, will produce clean electricity to power a new fitness center for military personnel. Read more

Solar EnerTech deregisters SEC common stock

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 11:28 (PV-Tech)

China-based developer Solar EnerTech Corp has advised that despite its financial struggles requiring it to deregister its common stock; it has retained FTI Consulting to lead its restructuring plans. A chief restructuring officer from FTI has been appointed to explore alternatives to maximize the return to investors. Read more

On Eve of Decision, One Final Volley in CASE-CASM Fight

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 5:21 (Renewable Energy World)

In a last gasp before a key US federal government preliminary ruling on the solar trade dispute, the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) is once again beckoning across the front lines at the the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), chastising its members to come clean with every subsidy they've received from state, federal, and international sources over the past 10 years. Read more

Richard Branson and Others Call on UK Gov't for Renewable Energy Support

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 16:56 (Renewable Energy World)

A letter signed by 101 public figures in the UK – including Sir Richard Branson – has been sent to Prime Minister David Cameron urging him to promote the benefits of renewable energy in the budget due to be announced this Wednesday, the Guardian reported. The letter is widely seen as a rebuff to another letter signed by 101 Members o Read more

A Wealth of Opportunity on Desert Land

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is a major energy consumer, with an annual energy bill running to $4 billion. To reduce its reliance on the commercial electricity grid, it also has become a major proponent of on-site energy generation via renewable energy sources. Read more

Impact of Curtailment on Wind Economics

Tuesday, 3.20.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The increase in utility scale wind development across North America has and continues to change the energy supply mix in many jurisdictions. Driven primarily by state-level renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements and clean air regulation, state and provincial supply mixes once dominated by coal, hydro nuclear and natural gas are now becoming more diverse. Intermittent generation sources ? once a small component of total capacity ? are becoming substantial. And, as a result, system operators have had to periodically curtail these intermittent generators in order to maintain system balance and reliability. Read more