Monterey County, Calif. to install 630-kW PV canopy system at Office of Education

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 23:18 (Solarserver)

On March 1st, 2012, the Monterey County (California) Office of Education announced that it has broke ground on a 630 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) canopy system at the County Office of Education's headquarters. The Office of Education also launched an energy efficiency project that will include the replacement of aging infrastructure, the HVAC, boiler and energy management systems. Read more

Performing Plastics: New Marks for Promising Polymer Solar Cells

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 21:53 (Renewable Energy World)

Barely two months into the new year, we've seen a crop of new performance spanning the spectrum of solar cell technologies: thin-film (including CIGS, CdTe, and other), c-Si, some unknown combination, and even some with some nanoscale assistance. Read more

EPIA President Wilhelm argues against German feed-in tariff cuts

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 15:30 (Solarserver)

On March 2nd, 2012 European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) President Ingmar Wilhelm sent a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressing "deep" concern over planned feed-in tariff cuts for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation. The letter came a day after a Christian Social Union (CSU) spokesman Georg Nuesslein told Bloomberg that his party hopes to push back the date of the cuts from March 9th, 2012 to at least April 1st, 2012 Read more

Provisional liquidator of Scheuten?s German operations appointed

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 13:05 (PV-Tech)

The German-based operations of Scheuten Solar have been appointed a provisional administrator, dnp Depping as part of the first step in bankruptcy proceedings due to the financial problems of the holding company. Under administration will include; Scheuten Production Facilities GmbH, Scheuten Solar Cells GmbH and Scheuten Solar Technology GmbH. Read more

Suncore begins production of CPV modules in Huainan, China

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 12:45 (Solarserver)

EMCORE Corporation (Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.) has announced that its Suncore Photovoltaics (Huainan, China) joint venture with San'an Optoelectronics Company Ltd. (Xiamen, China) has completed the first phase of construction and initiated production of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) modules at its facility in Huainan, China. A ceremony was held to mark the beginning of production on February 21st, 2012. With the completion of the first phase, the facility offers an annual production capacity of 200 MW, and is currently producing modules for a 50 MW CPV plant planned in Golmud, China. Read more

France adds 10% premium to feed-in tariff for PV modules made in EU

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 12:30 (Solarserver)

The government of France has announced that a 10% premium will be added to rates paid through its feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, when 60% of the value of the PV modules used are representing European manufacturing, beginning in April 2012. The office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the changes in a statement welcoming court approval of EDF SA's (Paris, France) purchase of Photowatt International SAS (Bourgoin, France), stating that this will perpetuate French expertise in solar energy. The President's office noted that Photowatt is the sole domestic manufacturer of PV cells, and cited the company's research in heterojunction PV cell technology Read more

Microsol to purchase German PV producer SOLON

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 9:47 (Solarserver)

On March 1st, 2012 the insolvency administrator of SOLON SE announced that Microsol International LL FZE (Fujairah, UAE) has made a binding offer to acquire the company for an undisclosed sum. Microsol will also keep the company's Berlin facilities and 433 of its 471 employees. The German Cartel Authority has given approval for the takeover. Also on March 1st, Insolvency Administrator Rüdiger Wienberg initiatied insolvency proceedings against SOLON's assets, a pre-condition of sales. Read more

Salamon to acquire Australian solar project developer Eco Energy Solutions

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 23:27 (Solarserver)

On March 1st, 2012, Salamon Group Inc. (Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.) announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire Eco Energy Solutions (Australia) Pvt. Ltd. Salamon did not disclose the financial terms. Based in Australia, Eco Energy specializes in the design, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of solar photovoltaic (PV), solar hot water, wind turbine and micro/mini hydro projects. Read more

Hoku enters USD 10 million credit agreement

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 23:09 (Solarserver)

On February 29th, 2012, Hoku Corp. (Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.), a solar energy products and services company, announced that it has entered into a USD 10 million credit agreement with the New York branch of China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd. The company will use proceeds primarily to pay for operating and capital expenses for its polysilicon production plant in Pocatello, Idaho. Read more

Report: Italian building-material company to integrate ECD products into roofing materials

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 22:00 (PV-Tech)

Bloomberg is reporting the Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) has struck a deal with Baraclit, an Italian building-material company, which will integrate ECD?s solar products into its roofing materials. No details on compensation or the amount of materials to be supplied were revealed. Read more

SunDurance, Key Equipment Finance, KeyCorp developing solar project for Rutgers University

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 21:45 (PV-Tech)

Construction of a new solar project on New Jersey?s Rutgers University is underway with financing being provided by Key Equipment Finance and KeyCorp. SunDurance Energy is the solar integrator for the project, which will use over 40,000 high-efficiency panels mounted on canopy structures over two large surface parking areas on the Livingston Campus. Read more

ET Solar to debut Moly PV module series at Ecobuild 2012

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 21:28 (PV-Tech)

ET Solar advised that on March 20, at Ecobuild 2012, it will debut its new high-efficiency Moly PV module series. The PV modules use the new mono-like cell technology, quasi-mono cell, which are said to achieve conversion efficiencies up to 18.2% and contain a lower amount of oxygen than traditional monocrystalline cells. Read more

Silfab Ontario issued CORE certification by LCAB

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 21:18 (PV-Tech)

Silfab Ontario?s manufacturing site and products have received CORE certification by the Local Content Assurance Bureau (LCAB) after an independent review. The certification acknowledges that the solar PV modules produced at Silfab?s Mississauga plant conform to Ontario?s domestic content requirements. Read more

KIUC issues RFO for 10MW solar project

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 21:04 (PV-Tech)

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) issued a RFO on March 2 for the pursuit of a second solar PV project ranging in size from 8 to 10MW. The RFO was issued to landowners for sites to host the PV project and to PV project developers who have a project and site identified and can propose a turnkey construction solution to KIUC. Read more

Tenesol delivers 750th off-grid solar system to Middle East oil and gas industry

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 20:43 (PV-Tech)

Tenesol advised that it had completed its 750th delivery of an off-grid solar system to the oil and gas industry in the Middle East. Since 2004, the company has worked with the region?s oil and gas operators to deliver the systems, which are used for powering security equipment, wellhead systems for cathodic protection, monitoring equipment and control systems along pipelines. Although the company did not divulge the specific size of its most recent delivery, it did note that past deliveries have ranged in size from 2kWp to 372kWp. Read more

Wrexham Council completes Europe?s largest social housing solar scheme

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 17:53 (Solarpowerportal)

Wrexham County Council has completed an ambitious solar scheme that saw one in three council owned properties fitted with a solar photovoltaic array. The 5MW scheme is believed to be Europe’s largest social housing solar scheme. Read more

Martifer Solar funded with US$3 million by NYSERDA to lower PV installation costs

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 17:07 (PV-Tech)

The US arm of Martifer Solar has received funding totalling US$3 million from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) as part of the Authority?s Solar Electric Incentive Program. The funds are designed to offset system installation costs in New York State as part of the renewable energy portfolio standards in New York City and Westchester regions. NYSERDA was said to have allocated a total of US$30 million in grant money to eligible solar contractors through a highly competitive grant process. Read more

A Spectrum of Efficiency: Solar Skylight Illuminates the Future

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 16:31 (Renewable Energy World)

Deep in the heart of Silicon Valley, an office building home to Google is about to become a prototype for a cleantech product that's capable of harvesting the sun's power in a whole new way. Read more

Asia Report: Decision on Trade Dispute Looming

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 15:38 (Renewable Energy World)

The solar trade dispute between China and the United States is expected to come to a head this month, albeit a few weeks later than expected. Read more

GDT Tek plans dual 20MW PV and solar thermal comparison project in Desert Hot Springs, California

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 13:28 (PV-Tech)

Following the closure of escrow on the purchase of a 109-acre plot in Desert Hot Springs, California, GDT Tek has outlined its plans to construct a 20MW PV park and an accompanying pilot solar thermal installation in the region. The intention is to illustrate the efficiency of the company?s technology approach versus ?conventional? PV power, a generation/co-generation technology that is based on the Organic Rankin Cycle principle that harnesses waste heat to extract its electrical generation capabilities. Read more

Kyocera teams up with Softbank on construction of 4.2MW solar plant in Kyoto City

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 12:45 (PV-Tech)

Building further on the reversal of nuclear dependency in the country, Japan?s Kyoto City?s officials have accepted a bid by Kyocera and Softbank to develop and operate a 4.2MW solar power plant in the city. Upon completion, the plant ? which will consist of two 2.1MW facilities installed in Fushimi-ku ? will be the first of its kind and thus the largest in the Kyoto Prefecture. Read more

Panasonic breaks ground on first fully integrated PV plant in Malaysia

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 12:43 (PV-Tech)

A groundbreaking ceremony has taken place for the future manufacturing hub of Panansonic?s HIT modules in Malaysia, Sunday, March 4, 2011. In an attempt to become cost-competitive with Asia-based rivals, the 300MW plant is the company?s first fully integrated facility, which will fabricate solar wafers, cells and modules. Read more

Juhl Wind launches subsidiary to meet small wind, solar markets

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 12:28 (Solarserver)

On March 1st, 2012 Juhl Wind Inc. (Pipestone, Minnesota, U.S.) announced the creation of a new subsidiary to serve the smaller-scale wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems market. Juhl states that Juhl Renewable Energy Systems (JRES) will be focused on sales and installation of its on-site renewable energy systems, including its "Solarbank" PV plants and "Powerbank" backup power systems. Read more

The Green Electrician South Wales installs £1.25 million of solar across Milford Docks

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 12:10 (Solarpowerportal)

Over £1.25 million of solar PV has been installed across Milford Docks and Pembroke Port, as part of a new venture between Milford Haven Port and The Green Electrician Limited. The UK’s third largest port will slash its carbon emissions by over 170,000 tonnes a year, thanks to the ambitious solar installation programme. Read more

Samil Power enters the UK market

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 11:27 (Solarpowerportal)

Adding to the inverter manufacturers already present in the UK solar industry, Samil Power has moved into its new UK-based office and warehouse at the RCS Warehouse in Corby, Northamptonshire. Read more

SMA Solar releases 2012 guidance: 50% below expectations

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 10:36 (PV-Tech)

PV inverter market leader, SMA Solar Technology, has provided 2012 guidance that has sent shockwaves through the investment community as revenue and margins are expected to take a significant nosedive. Management said in a statement that 2012 sales would be between ?1.2 billion and ?1.5 billion, while EBIT margin would be between 5-10%. SMA Solar reported preliminary 2011, full-year financial results in January of ?1.7 billion in sales and EBIT of more than ?240 million. The mid-point of the guidance, which the company had previously declined to provide due to uncertainty in the market, will represent over a 20% decline in revenues and a 60% fall in EBIT. Read more

SMA Solar released 2012 guidance 50% below expectations

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 10:36 (PV-Tech)

PV inverter market leader, SMA Solar Technology has provided 2012 guidance that has sent shockwaves through the investment community as revenue and margins are expected to take a significant nosedive. Management said in a statement that 2012 sales would be between ?1.2 billion and ?1.5 billion, while EBIT margin would be between 5-10%. SMA Solar reported preliminary 2011, full-year financial results in January of ?1.7 billion in sales and EBIT of more than ?240 million. At the mid-point of the guidance, which the company had previously declined to provide due to uncertainty in the market would represent over a 20% decline in revenues and a 60% fall in EBIT. Read more

PV manufacturing equipment: Oerlikon to sell solar division to Tokyo Electron

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 9:53 (Solarserver)

On March 2nd, 2012 OC Oerlikon Corporation AG (Pfäffikon, Switzerland) announced that it has agreed to terms under which it will sell Oerlikon Solar (Trübbach, Switzerland) to Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TEL, Tokyo, Japan). Oerlikon states that the sale is a strategic move to allow it to focus on its portfolio and enable management to develop other group businesses. Solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment manufacturers including Oerlikon have suffered from a collapse in orders in recent quarters as a result of industry-wide overcapacity. Read more

What Will This Year's Geothermal Industry Report Reveal?

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 22:43 (Renewable Energy World)

For those who are counting, it’s March already, and Americans are struggling to make sense of the mood swings surrounding both the weather and the Republican primaries.  The GEA’s U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development survey and report is another cultural staple in a new season of submissions and updates.  In geoth Read more

Clinton, Gates call for greater support for innovation at ARPA-E summit; agency announces USD 150 million funding opportunity

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 23:38 (Solarserver)

On February 27th through February 29th, 2012 the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) held its third annual Innovation Summit near Washington D.C., United States, which included keynote speeches by Microsoft Founder Bill Gates and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Both Clinton and Gates stressed the need for greater government funding of innovative energy technologies, a call that Gates repeated in an editorial for Science magazine. Following the summit on March 2nd, 2012 ARPA-E issued a USD 150 million funding opportunity for "transformational energy technologies". Read more

11 Clean Energy Stocks for 2012: Quick Update

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 21:13 (Renewable Energy World)

In the past, I generally only wrote about my annual list of ten clean energy stocks on a quarterly basis, but when I wrote last month to apolgize for inadvertently slipping in an extra stock, and in the process wrote a few notes on a couple of the stocks with news, a couple readers wrote to say they liked the more frequent updates. So let it be written, so let it be done. Read more

Government and green bodies slam ?pointless? energy report

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 16:59 (Solarpowerportal)

A report which claims that Government can meet its 2020 carbon emission targets more cost effectively by ignoring renewable technologies and instead installing just nuclear and gas-fired power stations has come under heavy criticism from the renewable industry and Government. Read more

Sporting Venues Embrace Renewable Energy

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 16:16 (Renewable Energy World)

"If you want to reach Americans, go to a baseball game." Read more

State Department Energy Bureau Chief Outlines Renewable Agenda

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Ambassador Carlos Pascual, who was appointed Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the State Department last year and tasked with establishing the new Bureau of Energy Resources, briefed the Department of Commerce's Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (RE&EEAC) on the developing Energy Bureau at a Committee meeting in Washington, DC. The establishment of an Energy Bureau at the Department of State is viewed by many as a signal of the increased priority the Administration is giving to energy issues and to renewable energy in particular. Read more

U.S. Senator Bingaman introduces bill to create Clean Energy Standard

Monday, 3.5.2012 - 12:18 (Solarserver)

On March 1st, 2012 U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico) introduced a bill to require U.S. utilities to purchase or generate an increasing amount of their electricity from "clean" energy sources including solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) generation. The Clean Energy Standard Act of 2012 (CES) would create a federal policy similar to the renewable portfolio standards (RPS) which have been passed by 29 U.S. states, except that it would include carbon capture and storage, nuclear generation and other non-renewable technologies. The bill sets an initial target of 24% "clean" energy by 2015, increasing to 84% by 2035. Read more