American Public University announces installation of West Virginia's largest PV plant

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 17:33 (Solarserver)

On April 23rd, 2012, American Public University System (APUS, Charles Town, West Virginia, U.S.) announced that it has installed the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in West Virginia. The state-of-the-art installation includes more than 1,600 American-made solar PV panels on a canopy structure in the parking lot behind the financial center, and 15 charging stations, which will allow employees and visitors to re-charge their electric or hybrid vehicles, APUS states. Read more

JCM launches USD 10 million fund to support Ontario FiT projects

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 15:50 (Solarserver)

On April 24th, 2012 JCM Capital (Toronto, Canada) announced the launch of a USD 10 million fund to invest in early-stage solar photovoltaic (PV) projects on large commercial and industrial buildings in the Canadian province of Ontario. The program will leverage Ontario's feed-in tariff (FiT) program, and will assist with development costs including FiT application fees, structural engineering assessments, FiT security deposits and grid connection impact assessment costs. The fund will also invest in projects which have obtained a FiT contract but have not yet been commissioned. Read more

PV Manufacturing Equipment: Teamtechnik to display "worlds fastest" single-track stringer at SNEC PV 2012

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 15:40 (Solarserver)

Teamtechnik Group (Freiberg, Germany) has announced that it will offer live demonstrations of its solar photovoltaic (PV) cell stringer, the STRINGER TT1200 HS at the SNEC PV 2012 trade show from May 16th-18th, 2012 in Shanghai, China. Teamtechnik's tool solders PV cells in a 2.5 second cycle on one track, which the company says makes it the fastest single-track stringer system on the global market. The company states that advantages of a single-track design include higher throughput per soldering process, less complexity, a lower requirement for replacement parts and fewer operators. Read more

Officials inaugurate 1 MW canal-based PV plant in Gujarat, India

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 10:55 (Solarserver)

On April 23rd, 2012 officials in the Indian state of Gujarat officially inaugurated a 1 MW canal-based solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. SunEdison LLC (Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.) provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the pilot project, which is located on the Narmada Canal in the state's Mehsana District. Read more

Constellation Energy brings 450kW solar projects in Swampscott, MA to fruition

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 21:08 (PV-Tech)

Constellation Energy has completed its 450kW solar installation at Swampscott, Massachusetts at the Swampscott Middle School and Swampscott High School. The company owns and will maintain the solar systems, while the town will be able to purchase and receive all of the electricity generated by the project at a fixed rate from Constellation under a 20-year solar services agreement. Read more

Report: Massachusetts? first solar park expected to start generating power this week

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 20:56 (PV-Tech)

WCVB Boston has reported that Massachusetts? Governor, Devel Patrick, will ?turn on? the state?s first solar park today. TheMW solar facility is built across 22-acres in Westford and uses 14,000 solar panels. Built by Cathartes Private Investments, the US$23 million complex will be operated by Nexamp. Read more

New Report examines progress of India?s ambitious Solar Mission program

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 20:46 (PV-Tech)

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) recently released ?Laying the Foundation for a Bright Future: Assessing Progress Under Phase 1 of India?s National Solar Mission.?  The report concludes, among other points, that the program has used the solar market?s rapid growth for its benefit and has ultimately helped drive down prices for solar energy to remarkable lows. Read more

SPG Solar brings seven PV systems online in Tucson, Arizona

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

SPG Solar and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) advised that seven new solar systems installed throughout downtown Tucson, Arizona have come online. The projects, which combined total 2.3MW, were installed as rooftop and carport systems at locations such as the Tucson Convention Center, Rincon Golf Links, Hardesty, Randolph, Crime Lab and two locations at TOPSC. Read more

State of Rajasthan to delay awarding 200MW of solar capacity contracts until August

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 19:56 (PV-Tech)

Rajasthan, India will not be awarding contracts to build 200MW of solar capacity to competing companies until August, a two-month delay. According to Bloomberg, MM Vijayvergia, executive director of Rajasthan Renewable Energy advised that the last day for companies to submit their interest in the bidding is May 18. Read more

Phono Solar and SYBAC sign ?300 million deal

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 17:59 (PV-Tech)

Yesterday, at Hannover Messe, Germany, Phono Solar and SYBAC solar signed a five-year purchase agreement for ?300 million, which equates to an output of 500MW. Last month, Phono Solar, a monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar modules manufacturer, passed TÜV Rheinland?s ammonia corrosion test. Read more

LDK Solar finalises acquisition of Sunways shares

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 17:37 (PV-Tech)

The voluntary takeover offer for Sunways, submitted by LDK?s German subsidiary, has been accepted following the passing of the additional acceptance period on April 12. Read more

Harlow council partners with Bluesky to map district?s solar potential

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 17:35 (Solarpowerportal)

Kier Harlow, a joint venture company between Kier and Harlow Council, has joined forces with solar mapping firm, Bluesky to support an ambitious scheme to install solar panels on Council-owned properties in Essex. Read more

PV producer Canadian Solar receives OHSAS 18001 certification

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 17:27 (Solarserver)

On April 23rd, 2012, Canadian Solar Inc. (Ontario, Canada) announced that it has passed the OHSAS 18001 international standards for occupational health and safety after auditing by TUEV Rheinland. Read more

Q-Cells completes 91MW solar project in Brandenburg

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 16:58 (PV-Tech)

Q-Cells has completed the construction of the largest European PV project, located in Brandenburg-Briest. The construction of the 91MW solar park took only eight weeks and the project on the former 200 hectares military base in the east of Germany is equipped with approximately 383,000 Q-Cells crystalline PV modules, with a total capacity of 91MWp. Read more

Solar industry urges DECC to scrap planned July FiT cuts

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 16:36 (Solarpowerportal)

Members of the solar industry have accused Ministers of unnecessarily damaging the solar industry, as the UK solar market prepares for a new round of deeper cuts to the feed-in tariff, planned to take place from July 1. Read more

Intel Vietnam opens biggest Vietnamese solar power plant in Saigon

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 16:25 (PV-Tech)

Intel Vietnam has announced the opening of the biggest solar power plant in Vietnam to date, located at Saigon?s High-Tech Park. Intel?s US$1.1 million project is equipped with 1,092 solar panels and 21 adapters. It has an output of 321,000kWh per year. Read more

Brazil Laying Foundation for New Solar Market

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 14:56 (Renewable Energy World)

Rumors of massive solar plant auctions in Brazil set for 2013 raced through U.S. renewable energy headlines last week to no avail. Brazil's federal government quashed the rumor that it might auction off multiple solar plant construction concessions, saying instead, that installed solar kilowatt costs in the country are still too high ? by three to four times ? to compete with other renewable energy sources. Government officials did express hope, however, that as solar material costs continue to decline, the government could begin solar auctions in a few years' time. Read more

Hanwha to provide financing for tenKsolar, as part of Global Strategic Partnership

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 14:18 (PV-Tech)

South Korean energy solution provider and PV manufacturer, Hanwha SolarOne has announced it has led a financing round to expand US manufacturer tenKsolar. It is believed the financing initiative will be in the region of US$15.5 million and will also involve British cleantech investor ESB Novusmodus. Read more

FPL reopens applications for solar PV rebate

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 13:26 (PV-Tech)

Florida Power & Light Company has reopened applications for its solar PV rebate program, initially launched in October last year which amounted to US$4 million. It will begin on Thursday, May 3 at 8.30am local time for customers seeking incentive funding for installing a solar PV system this year, with an additional US$3.3 million for solar water heating programs. Rebates will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis for residential and commercial facilities. Read more

JSM to inject CAD$10 million into Ontarian early-stage PV projects

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 13:02 (PV-Tech)

A CAD$10 million solar development capital fund has been launched across Ontario, Canada by JSM Capital. The investment will leverage the province?s current feed-in tariff program to finance early-stage PV projects installed on large commercial and industrial buildings. Read more

Syncronys to supply 400 solar-powered well pumps to Pakistan

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 12:52 (Solarserver)

On April 23rd, 2012 Syncronys International Inc. (Mandeville, Louisiana, U.S.) announced that it has received a USD million order to install 400 solar-powered well pumps in Pakistan. Installation of the pumps will begin in summer 2012, pending financing and export insurance approval. Syncronys expects the project to serve as a model for an expected 9,000 additional solar well installations throughout the region over the next three years. Read more

Indian Solar Event: India?s solar showcase attracts over 10,000 attendees

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 12:01 (PV-Tech)

Large-scale solar in India was given a showcase last week when Honourable Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, dedicated over 600MW of commissioned solar projects to the nation. The celebration of Indian solar innovation and ambition was delivered to over 10,000 people at the Charanka Solar Park ? a 200MW facility in the North Western state of Gujarat, close to the Pakistan border. Read more

?Smork in Suntown? helps children understand the benefits of solar

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 11:28 (Solarpowerportal)

SMA has partnered with the British Photovoltaic Association (BPVA) to launch a new children?s book designed to explain the impact of fossil fuels and renewable energy. Read more

Asian Development Bank supplies USD 103 million loan for 100 MW Indian CSP plant

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 10:42 (Solarserver)

On April 24th, 2012 the Asian Development Bank (ADB, Mandaluyong City, The Philippines) announced that it will lend USD 103 million to Reliance Power Ltd. (Navi Mumbai, India) to finance a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in the Indian state of Rajasthan. This will be the ADB's first financing of a CSP project. The plant will cost a total of USD 415 million to build, with other bilateral agencies and commercial banks also providing funds. Reliance expects to complete the plant in May 2013. Read more

Local companies donate solar array to scam victims

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 9:30 (Solarpowerportal)

Last week Solar Power Portal reported the unfortunate story of Balby residents Dennis and Patricia Jennings who were conned out of £1,500 by Yorkshire Solar Panels Ltd who secured the money as a deposit but failed to install any panels before apparantly disappearing. Read more

Integrated PV producer REC ends up all solar wafer operations in Norway

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 8:49 (Solarserver)

With prospects of continued negative operating results, Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC, Sandvika, Norway) has decided to close down the remaining 650 MW multicrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) wafer plant at Herøya currently in operation. Production at the plant is expected to discontinue in the second quarter, and about 460 employees will be affected by the close down, the company announced on April 24th, 2012. REC will explore alternatives for the facility over the next few months. Read more

AREVA to supply CSP technology for enhanced oil recovery

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 12:55 (Solarserver)

On April 24th, 2012 AREVA SA (Courbevoie, France) announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Technip SA (Courbevoie, France) covering work on concentrating solar power (CSP) solutions for oil and gas extraction. Through the MOU, AREVA will supply its compact linear Fresnel reflector (CLFR) CSP technology for enhanced oil recovery through steam injection. Technip will bring its project management experience in oil and gas-rich nations and markets to bring value to AREVA's operations and commercial initiatives. Read more

CEM3: DECC announces £35 million Energy Entrepreneurs Fund

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 18:38 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has revealed details of a £35 million Energy Entrepreneur Fund designed to support innovative SMEs that come up with new low carbon solutions. Read more

World Energy Council, Bloomberg New Energy Finance to work together on new energy survey

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 17:43 (Solarpowerportal)

The World Energy Council (WEC) and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) have recently signed a partnership agreement to develop of a survey on the costs of new, renewable and conventional energy technologies. The study builds on the WEC?s existing Survey of Energy Resources. Read more

1st Light Energy creates benevolent fund for New Jersey groups looking to convert to PV

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 17:32 (Solarserver)

On April 23rd, 2012, 1st Light Energy (South Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S.) announced that it has created its Benevolent Solar Fund. The new program enables municipalities and other nonprofit organizations (NGO) to create substantial fundraising opportunities and save money on their electric bills while reducing their carbon footprint, without any upfront investment, the company reports. Read more

CEM3: UK pledges £60m in CCS investment

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 16:40 (Solarpowerportal)

In a bid to kick-start the UK?s carbon capture and storage (CCS) market, Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker has today announced the allocation of up to £60 million in funding support. The move, announced during this year?s Clean Energy Ministerial, is part of a wider imitative to promote this technology worldwide. Read more

CEM3: REA urges UK Chancellor to visit Clean Energy Ministerial

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 16:16 (Solarpowerportal)

As the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) gets underway in London today, the Renewable Energy Association (REA) warns that now is the time to invest in the green energy revolution, urging the Chancellor to visit the event. Read more

Why "Passive Activities" May Be Clean Energy's Biggest Hurdle

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

If you care about the future of the American renewable energy industry, you need to learn what the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) calls “passive activities.”  Because these important rules mean that as long as the U.S. relies on the tax code to provide renewable energy incentives, renewable energy can only grow as fast as Wall Read more

Senior National Security Leaders Urge Energy Diversity to Strengthen U.S.

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

On March 27 a panel of senior retired national security officials presented their case at the Methanol Policy Forum for an open fuel standard designed to break the international oil industry's effective monopoly over the U.S. transportation fuels market. Read more

Tribal Lands: An Emerging Market for Renewable Energy Development

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy projects on tribal lands are fast becoming a reality. Tribal communities in the Southwestern United States reside on lands that are known to be rich with potential for the development of solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal facilities on a large commercial scale. Studies have found that tribal lands nationwide have the potential for producing up to 10 percent of the United States' renewable energy. This development could mean lower rates for electricity, new directions for the nation's energy industry and a new economic reality for some Native American tribes and their neighboring communities. To that end, tribal communities such as the Navajo Nation have Read more

China's Guangdong Province Pushes EV Development

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

China's Guangdong province has officially released the Development Plan for Strategic Emerging Industries during the 12th five-year period (2011-2015). China has become the world's largest producer and consumer of vehicles. At the end of 2011, there were more than 100 million cars on the country's roads, and the figure is expected to reach 150 million units by 2020. The requirements for energy efficiency and emission reduction have made it essential to achieve progress for electric vehicles. Read more

Climate Change Coalition launches first guidance for new planning framework

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 13:35 (Solarpowerportal)

The Planning and Climate Change Coalition has published the first sector-led environmental planning guidance since the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) took effect last month. Read more

REC to close final 650MW Norwegian wafer plant in face of negative operating results

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 13:26 (PV-Tech)

Following a continued downturn in operating results, Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) will close its 650MW multicrystalline wafer plant at Herøya, Norway by the second quarter of 2012.  The closure of the Herøya plant, in the south of the country, will signal the end of all REC?s wafer operations in Norway after the closure of the Glomfjord monocrystalline plant on March 20, 2012. Read more

Clean Energy Ministerial: the story so far

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 13:18 (Solarpowerportal)

This morning ministers from around the globe gathered in London for the third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3). Meeting to discuss international co-operation on low-carbon energy, and ways of encouraging businesses to invest in greener technologies, CEM3 is designed as a stepping stone to reaching binding carbon targets. Read more

Hanwha panels selected for Disney?s green exhibition

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 12:39 (PV-Tech)

INNOVENTIONS at Epcot has announced it has selected solar panels from Hanwha for its educational facility at the Walt Disney World Resort, Florida. The experiential exhibit has been erected to provide visitors with a practical look at green building technologies. Read more

Friends of the Earth calls for carbon free electricity by 2030

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 8:00 (Solarpowerportal)

Environmental charity, Friends of the Earth, is calling on Government to demonstrate global leadership at the international Clean Energy Summit hosted in London by committing the nation to a fossil fuel free electricity system by 2030. Read more