Report: BHEL expanding solar module manufacturing division

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 21:32 (PV-Tech)

The Hindu Business Line has reported that power equipment manufacturer Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has made almost a US$4 million (Rs 20 crore) investment into the expansion of its PV module manufacturing division, escalating its line from a 8MW capacity to a 26MW capacity. The increase is expected to be completed by September. Read more

Q-Cells? North American subsidiaries continue business as usual, negate insolvency questions

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 21:04 (PV-Tech)

Earlier this month, Q-Cells SE filed for bankruptcy, leaving some wondering about the status of their North American subsidiaries, Q-Cells North America and Q-Cells Canada. The companies mutually advised that the North American subsidies are continuing day-to-day business, operating in a ?business as usual? atmosphere, with parent company Q-Cells SE confirming that the subsidiaries have not filed for bankruptcy. Read more

Satcon sees Q1 orders increase 130% and narrows revenue guidance

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 18:21 (PV-Tech)

PV inverter manufacturer, Satcon Technology has said that new orders have increased 130% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to previous quarter, reaching a bookings value of approximately US$45 million. The company said the quarter had been the most successful bookings period in four quarters, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.9:1. Read more

SINTEF and ECN renew long-standing contract

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 16:51 (PV-Tech)

SINTEF Materials & Chemistry ECN have renewed their agreement to strengthen their long-standing collaboration in the field of crystalline silicon photovoltaics. With this agreement SINTEF and ECN will combine the operation of pilot infrastructure for silicon feedstock production, crystallization, wafering and solar cell manufacturing. It is hoped that this collaboration will increase the effectiveness of their R&D efforts. Read more

Big Conferences, Small Installers: A Growing Problem

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 16:34 (Renewable Energy World)

PV America West in March had an array of great panels and a wide range of interesting exhibitors. There were module manufacturers, racking solutions providers, inverter manufacturers, a few financiers, and a handful of miscellaneous companies that service project developers. But installers were relatively absent. I called over one hundred local ins Read more

PV manufacturing: Plansee develops MoTa back contact material for CIGS PV

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 15:46 (Solarserver)

Plansee SE (Reutte, Austria) has developed a molybdenum-tantalum (MoTa) alloy to serve as a corrosion resistant back contact for copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar photovoltaic cells. The company states that the alloy combines the advanced properties of both metals, and that its superior resistance to corrosion has been proven in multiple tests. Read more

Heliatek wins award for thin-film OPV technology

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 14:34 (Solarserver)

On April 4th, 2012 Heliatek GmbH (Dresden, Germany) announced that it has received the Materials Award for its innovative organic solar photovoltaic (OPV) film technology at the IDTechEx Printed Electronics EUROPE 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The company?s solar film technology promises to deliver a lighter, greener and more versatile alternative to traditional solar panels. Read more

Perlight Solar gain CEC approval for US series solar modules

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 13:14 (PV-Tech)

The solar module manufacturer Perlight Solar has announced that its modules have been approved for use by the California Energy Commission. To take advantage of the domestic solar supply chain, all major manufacturing steps are carried out in Texas, although the headquarters remain in China. Read more

Perlight Solar gains CEC approval for US series solar modules

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 13:14 (PV-Tech)

The solar module manufacturer Perlight Solar has announced that its modules have been approved for use by the California Energy Commission. To take advantage of the domestic solar supply chain, all major manufacturing steps are carried out in Texas, although the headquarters remain in China. Read more

Amphenol inverter UL certified to 1000V

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 12:22 (PV-Tech)

Amphenol Industrial Global Operations has announced its Helios H4 is UL certified to 1000V. The increase in voltage rating allows higher voltage systems to be created with a lower percentage of voltage drop. The company claims it also decreases the use of copper and the dollar per watt through electrical efficiency. Read more

Software company revolutionises green building design

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 11:31 (Solarpowerportal)

The world of low-carbon building design is set for an overhaul as two-year-old green software company Sefaira closes a £6.8m Series A funding round. Read more

Karnataka asks developers to lower bids for PV, CSP projects in state program

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 9:13 (Solarserver)

The Indian state of Karnataka has asked solar energy developers to lower the value of bids for solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) projects participating in a state program by April 16th, 2012, following a similar move in the state of Odisha. Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. (Bangalore, India) has made the request of 19 developers who have cleared the 'technical bid' stage for the 80 MW Karnataka Solar Mission. Read more

Areva lands contract to construct 250MW CSP plant in India for Reliance Power

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 22:19 (PV-Tech)

Areva Solar will be developing what is being called the largest CSP plant in Asia to date with the construction of a 250MW concentrating solar power project for Reliance Power in Rajasthan. The project is part of the country?s program to increase clean energy production by 20,000MW of solar power by 2022. Read more

Germany?s RWE utility looks to expand investments into solar PV plants

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 22:03 (PV-Tech)

RWE is supposedly looking to invest in solar power plants, citing solar module prices as one of its key determining factors. According to Bloomberg, up until now Germany?s second-biggest utility, which owns a stake in Spain?s Andasol 3 solar thermal power plant, has distanced itself from investing in PV generation because of what it considered too high of a cost for the technology. However, now that prices for solar modules are considerably lower than in the past, the utility is taking a second look. Read more

Isofoton, Posco Plant Engineering to jointly develop international solar projects

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 21:16 (PV-Tech)

Isofoton advised that it has signed a joint development agreement with Korea?s Posco Plant Engineering for the international development of solar projects. The EPC company and solar module company noted that the projects will mainly be focused in the US, a locale in which Isofoton plans to install a 100MW solar plant later this year. Isofoton acknowledged that this partnership was a way to help broaden its international presence. Read more

SolarCity helps Wal-Mart install 100th US solar installation in Colorado

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 20:53 (PV-Tech)

Six Wal-Mart stores in Colorado are sporting new solar installations thanks in part to SolarCity. The company installed 2MWon three stores in Westminster and 1MW at stores in Lakewood, Highlands Ranch and Lafayette. The projects all contribute to Colorado?s goal to generate 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Read more

Latin America Report: A $2 Billion Solar Plan for Chile

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 17:48 (Renewable Energy World)

Ingenostrum is branching out beyond its traditional stronghold of Spain and Italy and into the emerging market of Chile as its looks to expand its portfolio in solar, wind and biomass. Read more

NYSE Euronext, BNEF launch solar energy index

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 15:57 (Solarserver)

NYSE Euronext (New York, New York, U.S.) and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF, New York, New York, U.S.) have launched a solar index and two other global clean energy stock indices, which they say will allow investors greater ability to monitor companies involved in the shift to low-carbon energy. The NYSE-BNEF Global Solar Energy Index covers the solar photovoltaic (PV) value chain from polysilicon production to PV project development. The companies have also opened an "energy smart technologies" index which includes battery makers and suppliers of demand response systems, and a wind index. Read more

CERES celebrates collection of 500 tons of solar panels

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 15:47 (PV-Tech)

The European Centre for the Recycling of Solar Energy (CERES) is celebrating its collection of over 500 tons of -of-life photovoltaic panels between January 1 and April 1, 2012. Read more

Solarcentury partnership offers solar installers Energy Assessment Training

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 15:18 (Solarpowerportal)

UK solar specialist Solarcentury is set to offer the opportunity for existing solar installers to become accredited energy assessors. As part of its partnership with PPL Training, Solarcentury will offer a discounted City & Guilds Diploma course in Domestic Energy Assessing. Read more

Mercom reports decline in solar VC funding in 1Q 2012

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 15:00 (Solarserver)

On April 9th, 2012 Mercom Capital LLC (Austin, Texas, U.S.) released its latest quarterly report on financial activity in the global solar industry, noting that venture funding has hit a six-quarter low of USD 329 million, but with a record number of 34 deals. "Solar Funding and M&A" also notes strong merger and acquisition activity in the sector, with USD 5.27 billion reported in four transactions out of 15 total, including Eastman Chemical Company's (Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S.) USD 4.7 billion acquisition of Solutia Inc. (St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.). Read more

The Big Question: Will Lower FiTs Hit UK Solar?

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Leading figures in the UK's renewables sector share their views on the impact of feed-in tariff cuts for the UK's solar industry. Read more

Philadelphia labor, businesses, city officials back solar jobs bill

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 14:49 (Solarserver)

On April 4th, 2012, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98, solar business leaders and Philadelphia city officials have urged Pennsylvania lawmakers to save solar power investment and job opportunities in the state. All groups are supporting the HB 1580, which would increase the state?s solar goals for the next three years. Read more

Emirates Solar Industry Association names Michael Krämer as legal counsel

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 14:23 (Solarserver)

Emirates Solar Industry Association (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) announced that Michael Krämer has been appointed legal counsel to its board of directors. Krämer is senior associate and energy specialist at Taylor Wessing (Middle East) LLP. He was elected to the position by ESIA members at the association's first annual general meeting in Dubai on March 26th, 2012. Read more

AMP chooses Nextronex to provide inverters for a 4.2MW solar power plant

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 13:27 (PV-Tech)

Nextronex has been selected by the American Municipal Power (AMP) to supply a 4.2MW solar plant in Napoleon, Ohio with its 1,000V DC converters. The project is expected to be completed in July 2012. Read more

Westfield and Martifer Solar develop novel financing structure for new solar project

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 13:03 (PV-Tech)

Martifer Solar USA has finished the installation of two PV systems for the real estate investment trust (REIT), the Westfield Group. The rooftop systems, located at Westfield Fashion Square and Westfield Topanga in Southern California, will have a total generating capacity of 1.7MW. The projects will make the Westfield group one of the world?s largest REITs to own and operate their own PV installation. Read more

Cogenra commissions 241-kW hybrid PV thermal array in California

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 12:37 (Solarserver)

On April 5th, 2012, Cogenra Solar (Mountain View, California, U.S.), a provider of distributed solar cogeneration systems, announced that it has commissioned a 241 kilowatt (kW) hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) and thermal array at Kendall-Jackson?s Kittyhawk winery in Windsor, California. The 96-module PV system, which is the nation?s largest rooftop solar cogeneration system to date, is expected to save about USD 30,000 in annual energy costs. Read more

Verengo Solar CEO, President win Orange County Business Journal award

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 11:20 (Solarserver)

On April 4th, 2012, Verengo Solar (Torrance, California, U.S.) announced that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Randy Bishop and President Ken Button have been selected by the Orange County Business Journal (OCBJ) for the prestigious 2012 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award. Verengo Solar has grown from its initial solar installation in 2008 to its current position as the largest residential solar installer in California, and the second largest nationwide, according to Button. Read more

IMS Research: PV module suppliers switch tactics as solar wafer prices fall 70%; reduced in-house manufacturing, increased purchases from third-party suppliers

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 11:10 (Solarserver)

The average price of solar photovoltaic (PV) wafers in the first quarter of 2012 fell by more than 70 percent in a year according to the latest research released by IMS Research (Wellingborough, UK), which was recently acquired by IHS Inc. (NYSE:IHS). This dramatic price collapse, caused by a global oversupply, has significantly changed the cost structures and strategies of leading PV module producers and making many switch from in-house production to buying in their wafer supply, IMS Research reports. Throughout 2010 and 2011, many suppliers had quickly expanded their in-house wafer capacities. However, as wafer prices have fallen by over USD 0.70/W to record lows, suppliers Read more

Zentric announces acquisition of 1.6MW of US solar projects

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 10:39 (PV-Tech)

Zentric has announced that it is planning to acquire Innovative Solar I and Innovative Solar II. Both companies are developers and owners of two separate PV plants to be constructed in Leicester, North Carolina with each of the plants having an estimated value of US$4 million. Read more

NREL report estimates that TGP results in up to USD 44 billion economic impact; DOE to begin approving loan guarantees

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 9:04 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL, Golden, Colorado, U.S.) has released a report which estimates that the nation's Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program (TGP) resulted in the creation of 52,000-75,000 jobs over two years with a total economic impact of USD 26 to 44 billion. "Preliminary Analysis of the Jobs and Economic Impacts of Renewable Energy Projects Supported by the §1603 Treasury Grant Program" estimates that the the TGP enabled 13.5 GW of new wind and solar capacity in the nation between 2009 and the end of 2011. The report was issued a day after the U.S. DOE announced that it will start a new round of loan guarantee Read more

Dong to Invest $795 Million in Fossil-to-Biomass Conversions, Further Denmark's Renewable Goals

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 20:36 (Renewable Energy World)

Denmark has long been a renewables pioneer, and it furthered its reputation with the announcement of a bold plan: It will produce one third of its power from renewable sources by the end of the decade and 100 percent by 2050. With full government support, Denmark hopes to avoid future energy price fluctuations. Read more

Geothermal Industry Report Shows Growth, Potential and Frustration

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 23:05 (Renewable Energy World)

Though the geothermal industry faces many hurdles including uncertain federal policies and lengthy project timelines, the Geothermal Energy Association announced last week that it added 91 MW of newly installed U.S. capacity in the past year. With this addition, the U.S. now has a total of 3,177 MW of capacity, which far outpaces the rest of the world. Read more

Former SunPower EVP Julie Blunden joins ClimateWorks as new CEO

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 17:01 (PV-Tech)

The former executive vice president of SunPower Corp., Julie Blunden, will begin her new role as ClimateWorks CEO on May 21, 2012, after being appointed by the foundation?s board of directors. The resignation of Hal Harvey as the foundation?s CEO last December initiated a worldwide search for a new chief executive officer, led by a ClimateWorks subcommittee and headed by Bank of America chairman Chad Holliday. Read more

Nick Clegg reveals £1.4 billion energy efficiency boost

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 16:10 (Solarpowerportal)

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has announced a £1.3 billion boost for Government?s home energy efficiency programme, with at least £540 million of support being made available to help the poorest homes. Read more

PV manufacturing: Praxair to supply gases for new Trina PV factory in Jiangsu Province, China

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 12:43 (Solarserver)

On April 9th, 2012 Praxair China (Shanghai, China) announced that it has won a new contract to supply silane, ammonia, argon, nitrogen and oxygen to Trina Solar's Ltd.'s (Changzhou, China) new solar photovoltaic (PV) production facility in China's Jiangsu Province. Praxair currently supplies Trina's other production facilities at the site in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. The company will deliver silane in tube trailers, which it says will contribute reliability, safety and flexibility to supply of the product. Read more

Association for Renewable Energy confident that new Chilean Minister of Energy Bunster will support renewable energy

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 12:29 (Solarserver)

Association for Renewable Energy (ACERA, Santiago, Chile) President Alfredo Solar has expressed to Chilean media his hope that the nation's new Minister for Energy Jorge Bunster will prioritize renewable energy development. On April 3rd, 2012 Bunster was sworn in as Minster of Energy by Chilean President Sebastian Piñera. Bunster replaces former Minister Rodrigo Álvarez, who resigned on March 27th, 2012 amid violent clashes over fuel prices in the nation's Aysen region. Read more

Updated: Government will force ?Big Six? to tell customers lowest tariff

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 10:59 (Solarpowerportal)

Government has secured a landmark deal with Britain?s six largest energy suppliers that will see them annually inform customers of what tariff is the cheapest for them and provide them with details of how they can switch. Read more

Government will force ?Big Six? to tell customers lowest tariff

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 10:59 (Solarpowerportal)

Government has secured a landmark deal with Britain?s six largest energy suppliers that will see them annually inform customers of what tariff is the cheapest for them and provide them with details of how they can switch. Read more

Xtreme Power Guns For Electric Car, Neighborhood Energy Storage Markets

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 21:10 (Renewable Energy World)

Xtreme Power, which has shown considerable success in selling its energy storage systems and services to utilities, is now eyeing the electric car market and developing not just a battery system for it but the entire drivetrain. Read more