Solectria Renewables purchases smart combiner company New Power Labs

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 18:52 (PV-Tech)

Solectria Renewables advised that it had recently bought New Power Labs, a Massachusetts-based smart combiner technology company that designs and develops string level monitoring products for commercial and utility-scale PV arrays. Solectria aims to improve ?the intelligence? of the entire PV system and sees its recent acquisition as part of its effort to reach its goal. Read more

German Bundestag presents proposals for feed-in tariff cuts

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 16:22 (PV-Tech)

Following a meeting of the environment committee on Wednesday this week, the government has agreed on a maximum annual reduction in FiT rates. Effective April 1 and intended to be distributed over several months, the reduction will rise to 28% from 24%. Read more

DuPont bags another major strategic partnership in China

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 12:37 (PV-Tech)

A strategic technology and purchasing partnership has been agreed between DuPont and China Sunergy as well as China Electric Equipment Group (CEEG) that encompasses PV materials for both solar cells and modules through to power transformer, insulation and aircraft composite materials that will be in place for three-years. The deal follows-on from DuPont?s recent agreements with Yingli Green and Suntech. Financial details were not disclosed. Read more

CPUC issues proposed modifications to California feed-in tariff

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 12:02 (Solarserver)

On March 20th, 2012 the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued proposed modifications to the state's feed-in tariff (FiT) program, based upon legislation passed over the last few years. The CPUC will have final say on the proposal, which implements changes initiated by SB 380 (2008), SB 32 (2009), and SB 2 (2011-2012). These modifications made by Administrative Law Judge deAngelis' proposed decision include a new pricing mechanism and an increase in the maximum size of eligible facilities to 3 MW. These changes are supported by renewable energy advocates including the CLEAN Coalition (Oakland, California, U.S.). Read more

ITC to continue antidumping tariff on silicon metal from China

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 11:47 (Solarserver)

On March 20th, 2012 the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled to continue an existing antidumping order on imports of silicon metal from China, stating that revoking the order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of "material injury". The action came under a five-year review process required under international trade law. The decision came on the same day that the U.S. Department of Commerce issued its preliminary ruling in favor of countervailing duties on solar photovoltaic (PV) imports from China. Read more

EPIA AGM: SMA?s Winfred Hoffman elected president and Suntech?s Stokes is VP

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 10:56 (PV-Tech)

The Chinese have suffered from a great deal of negative press lately; nonetheless Jerry Stokes from Suntech has been elected as one of eight directors on EPIA?s board. The elections, held at EPIA?s annual general meeting in Brussels saw SMA Solar Technology?s Dr. Winfried Hoffmann become president of the Association, having been originally elected as vice-president. However, the position had already been declined by vice-presidents Boris Klebensberger and Virgilio Navarro Sanchez-Sicilia. Read more

Ontario FiT review proposes 10-30% cut in PV FiT levels

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 9:51 (Solarserver)

On March 22nd, 2012 Ontario's Ministry of Energy released the results of its two-year review of the province's feed-in tariff (FiT) program, including a proposed reduction of FiT levels for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation by 9.6% to 31%, depending upon the scale of generation. The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) welcomed the government's continuing commitment to the program, while noting the "aggressive" levels of proposed FiT cuts. In December 2011 CanSIA submitted FiT Program Review recommendations, including proposals for price degressions. Read more

Juwi, Kaltemp to build 1.2 MW PV plant in Chile

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 9:49 (Solarserver)

On March 22nd, 2012 Juwi Holding AG (Wörrstadt, Germany) and Kaltemp (Santiago, Chile) announced plans to build a 1.2 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Chile, with completion scheduled for mid-2012. Comprising 50,000 polycrystalline PV modules, the plant is larger than any currently operational PV facility in the nation. Kaltemp plans to purchase the plant, which will supply power to an irrigation system for a clementine and avocado plantation near the city of Vicuña, in mid-2012. Read more

NLP Solar Sales Training Live Webinar April 4th & 5th

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 21:01 (Renewable Energy World)

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Federal Network Agency confirms 7.5GW of solar installed in Germany over 2011

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 20:33 (PV-Tech)

The Federal Network Agency recently confirmed earlier reports that in 2011, a 7.5GW capacity of solar was installed in Germany, amounting to nearly 238,000 units installed in total. Bavaria led the way with 1.75GW installed followed by Brandenburg with 1GW. The agency acknowledged that the regional shift was due to the expansion of open space systems. Read more

Titan delivers solar trackers for commercial project in South Africa

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 20:09 (PV-Tech)

Titan Tracker advised that it had delivered four of its double axis solar trackers with parabolic dish concentrators for Stirling engines in South Africa. The tracker delivered is the 125-228 Stirling model, which can fit 2 units of Stirling engines with a total power of 60kW. The company noted that this is one of the first commercial solar projects to be commissioned in South Africa this year. Read more

juwi expands international presence with subsidiary in Singapore, new office in South Africa

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 19:58 (PV-Tech)

Looking to continue expanding internationally, juwi has taken further steps to ensure that its presence is found in more locales. The company recently entered the Southeast Asian solar market with its new subsidiary, juwi Renewable Energies. The subsidiary will set up headquarters in Singapore and support customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Read more

Report: Eurus Energy ponders building 40MW solar plant in western Japan

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 19:26 (PV-Tech)

According to a report from Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Eurus Energy Holdings is considering the possibility of building a 40MW capacity solar power plant in western Japan. Land owners in Awaji city, Hyogo prefecture, have agreed with company officials to study the prospect of a solar project in the region. Read more

United Solar to supply 4.33MW of its PV laminates for Italian rooftop installation

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 19:11 (PV-Tech)

United Solar, a subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, advised that it will be supplying 4.33MW of its Uni-Solar PV laminates for the Fiera di Rimini Trade Fair facility in Italy. The site?s current aluminum rooftop, which covers nearly 100,000sqm of exhibition area, will be replaced and have the Uni-Solar laminates bonded to the aluminum standing seam metal pans provided by United Solar?s business alliance partner, Iscom. Read more

Ecobuild 2012: a roundup of this year?s show

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 17:49 (Solarpowerportal)

This week the Solar Power Portal team headed out across London to take part in the 2012 Ecobuild exhibition, which ran from Tuesday to Thursday at the ExCel Centre. And, after trekking back and forth for three days in a row, we managed to find out how those working in the UK solar industry are getting on in the wake of recent policy alterations and to gauge a feeling for where we are heading in 2012. Read more

Romag and LDK solar team will provide R & D solutions

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

UK-based Romag and Chinese LDK Solar have formed a research and development alliance to share their knowledge and expertise in the progress of solar technologies. This collaboration is the first of its kind for a UK PV module manufacturer. Read more

Wattner buys 5.6MW Rätzlingen I solar plant

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 16:56 (PV-Tech)

German company Wattner has acquired the 5.6MW solar power plant Rätzlingen I in Lower Saxony and invested approximately ?10.5 million to incorporate it into its Wattner SunAsset 3 fund. Read more

Brazilian development agency outlines plans to promote uptake of solar power

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 16:53 (PV-Tech)

The Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI) II Workshop on Innovation for the Establishment of Photovoltaic Solar Energy Industry was held in Brazil on March 13 and 14 at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Campinas, near São Paulo. The agency revealed that the government plans to actively promote the uptake of solar power in the country by developing solar incentives, guidelines and goals for local authorities, with a report due to be published in April. Read more

5MW West Tennessee solar farm begins operation

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 16:21 (PV-Tech)

The West Tennessee solar farm is one of the largest solar power plants in the Southeast of the US and it does not only generate 5MW of energy on a site more than 25 acres in size, it also has an educational function. Read more

EMC?s 5MW solar plant commences operation

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 16:01 (PV-Tech)

The first PV power plant constructed by Kolkata-based EMC has begun commercial operation on March 4. EMC developed the 5MW project as part of the union ministry of new and renewable energy?s Jawharlal Nehru national solar mission. Around 21,300 solar modules have been installed on a site of 25 acres in Naini, near Allahabad. EMC has signed a 25-year PPA with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam. Read more

Hoku Solar builds 7.2MW Port Allen Solar farm in Kaua?i, Hawaii

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 12:29 (PV-Tech)

Hoku Solar has announced signing an agreement with a subsidiary of Alexander &Baldwin (A&B) to design and build 7.2MW Port Allen Solar Farm on the island of Kaua?i, Hawaii. Read more

2011: Where the Money Went

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 12:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Three months into the new year, the solar industry is still working to make sense of the roller coaster ride that was 2011. Installations surged, often beating the projections. Prices plummeted, and with that came shuttered doors, new opportunities and a great deal of consternation. Read more

Enbridge buys Silver State North PV project from First Solar

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 11:41 (Solarserver)

On March 22nd, 2012 Enbridge Inc. (Calgary, Canada) announced that it has acquired a 100% interest in the 50 MW Silver State North solar photovoltaic (PV) project from First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.). The companies did not disclose terms of the transaction. First Solar developed and is constructing the plant, which uses its cadmium telluride thin film PV modules, and expects to commission the plant in the second quarter of 2012. Read more

First Solar sells 50MW PV project in Nevada to Enbridge

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 11:16 (PV-Tech)

First Solar has sold the 50MW Silver State North solar power plant to Enbridge, the two companies announced today. First Solar has installed more than 800.000 PV modules on a site of 600 acres in Clark County, Nevada under a fixed-price EPC agreement and will be providing operations and maintenance services to Enbridge. Read more

From Fukushima Disaster Comes Biomass Energy

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 13:36 (Renewable Energy World)

In the wake of the March 11 earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster, nearly all of Japan's 50-plus nuclear plants are now offline, and soon they all will be dark. That's left a gaping hole in Japan's power generation, just ahead of the traditionally grid-stressing summertime season. Read more

Is Education the Fuel We Need for a Renewable Future?

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

We all dream of a renewable-dominant future and are working hard to get there. We also know there is a long road ahead of us, but at a recent American Associate for the Advancement of Science meeting, Sandy MacDonald, director of the NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), gave some hopeful words of encouragement. According to a three-year ESRL study, solar and wind power could provide 70 percent of the continental U.S. electricity needs by 2030. Read more

Ontario publishes first round of FiT review

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 12:58 (PV-Tech)

Canadian deputy minister Fareed Amin sent an update on Ontario?s two-year review of its FiT program, announced in October 2011, to the ministry of energy. The changes to Ontario?s renewable energy scheme include a 20% cut to the FiT for solar and a 15% cut to wind power. All other renewables will remain at the current level. Tariffs will be adjusted annually each November and will take effect on January 1 the following year, inline with market conditions. Prices ill be set once a contract is offered rather than when a project application has been sent to the relevant department. Read more

Hydropower's Devices Beyond Dams

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Compared to other renewable energy technologies, the sheer multiplicity of wave, tidal and hydrokinetic power devices indicates that the potential for generating power from the world's oceans and rivers is considerable. There are more than 100 different marine and hydrokinetic devices currently being developed, tested and deployed by various companies, according to a recent Pike Research report, and the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition estimates that as much as 10 percent of U.S. power needs could be met from these unconventional hydropower resources. Read more

Supreme Court rejects DECC?s appeal

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 15:28 (Solarpowerportal)

The Supreme Court has announced that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been refused leave to appeal over its handling of the FiT rate for solar PV technology. Read more

Emgasud invests US$1,800 million to add 1000MW to national energy park

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 12:03 (PV-Tech)

Argentinian company Emgasud, who has been operating power plants since 1997, has announced that it has been allocated US$1,800 million to add a total of 1000MW to the national energy park. Read more

Emgasud invests US$1.800 million to add 1000MW to national energy park

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 12:03 (PV-Tech)

Argentinian company Emgasud, who has been operating power plants since 1997, has announced that it has been allocated US$1,800 million to add a total of 1000MW to the national energy park. Read more