University of Utah students win USD 100,000 prize for quantum dot technology, that could be used in future generations of PV panels

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 17:28 (Solarserver)

Students at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, recently won first place and USD 100,000 at the regional University of Colorado (CU) Cleantech New Venture Challenge in Boulder, Colorado, for quantum dot technology efforts. The student competition concluded on April 20th. Quantum dots can emit a wider range of light with less energy than existing materials, so many scientists believe they will be used in future generations of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, televisions, cell phones and related products. Read more

Weak demand for specialist PV materials hits Ferro?s earnings

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 17:20 (PV-Tech)

Poor demand for silver paste, primarily used in solar cell production was highlighted by Ferro management as a key reason for lower quarterly earnings at Ferro Corporation. The company reported net sales of US$466 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, compared with net sales of US$573 million in the first quarter of 2011. Read more

NRG commissions first 100 MW of Agua Caliente PV plant

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 16:27 (Solarserver)

On April 25th, 2012 NRG Energy Inc. (Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.), MidAmerican Solar (Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.) and First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) celebrated the commissioning of the first 100 MW of the Agua Caliente solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, which is now the largest operational PV plant in North America. U.S. federal and local officials attended a commissioning ceremony at the plant site in Yuma in the U.S. state of Arizona. First Solar plans to complete the full 290 MW plant, which is comprised of its thin film cadmium telluride PV modules, in 2014. Read more

U.S. Bancorp creates USD 150 million fund with Sunrun, Sunrun poll shows Americans overestimate costs of installing PV

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 16:19 (Solarserver)

On April 25th, 2012 a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp (Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.) announced the creation of a renewable energy tax equity fund with Sunrun Inc. (San Francisco, California, U.S.) to support the purchase and installation of more than USD 150 million in residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across the United States. Sunrun will use the funding for solar systems installed through the company's solar power service, and this will be U.S. Bancorp's sixth renewable energy tax equity commitment to Sunrun. A day prior on April 24th, 2012 Sunrun released the results of a survey which finds that the vast majority of Americans are unaware of solar power as a service Read more

Q-Cells marks commercial completion of Brandenburg-Briest PV plant

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 12:29 (Solarserver)

On April 25th, 2012, Q-Cells SE (Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany) announced that the last financial installment has been placed for the 91 MW Brandenburg-Briest solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, marking the commercial completion of the largest PV plant in Western Europe. Q-Cells completed construction of the plant in eight weeks at the end of 2011. The plant is comprised of 383,000 Q-Cells PV modules built in 1 MW blocks on 200 hectares on the site of a formerly military airbase in the German state of Brandenburg. Read more

FPL to re-open PV rebates on May 3rd, 2012

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 12:20 (Solarserver)

Florida Power and Light Company (FPL, Juno Beach, Florida, U.S.) has announced that it will re-open its solar photovoltaic (PV) rebate program at 8:30 AM on May 3rd, 2012. FPL will offer rebates on a first-come, first-serve basis, and predicts that funds will run out quickly as they have in previous application periods. The PV program offers incentives of USD 2 per watt for PV plants up to 10 kW for residential and business customers, and USD 1.5 to 1 per watt for larger systems for business customers. Read more

SMA reaches out to UK consumers

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 12:02 (Solarpowerportal)

In a bid to promote the solar industry to the masses, SMA Solar UK has launched its first end-user campaign. Read more

3W Power down 3% year-on-year, but up 14.6%

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 18:14 (PV-Tech)

3W Power, the holding company of AEG Power Solutions (AEG PS), today issued preliminary results for Q1 2012.Order intake was down 3% year-on-year, but up 14.6% compared to the previous quarter. Revenues for the first quarter were also down by 3% at ?83.5 million (Q1 2011: ? 86.4 million) and EBITDA was ?-2.8 million (Q1 2011: ?2.3 million), which includes one-time expense items of ?1.8 million. The one-time items consist of restructuring charges for the telecom converter business, write-off of receivables due to a solar customer insolvency and certain legal fees. Read more

Seminole Financial Services closes five solar project lending deals in Q1 2012

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 18:12 (PV-Tech)

Seminole Financial Services has announced closing loan deals for five solar projects in Q1 of 2012. The projects are ground-mounted and rooftop installations as well as canopies, ranging in size from 600kW to 2.4MW. The loans totalled US$13.8 million for all five projects. Of the five projects, two are located in New Jersey, another two in North Carolina and one in Oregon. The first quarter of 2012 follows a busy 2011, during which Seminole lent a total of US$88 million in construction loans and US$25 million in permanent loans. Since 2009, Seminole has closed over $162 million in construction financing and permanent debt financing for solar projects as well as wind projects. Read more

Hanwha acquires three-year US$180 million development loan

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 17:48 (PV-Tech)

Hanwha SolarOne has acquired a three-year US$180 million syndicated term loan facility led by The Korea Development Bank, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), KEB Hong Kong Branch, KDB Asia and KEB Asia Finance. The loans will be denominated in US dollar and will be guaranteed by Hanwha Chemical Corporation. Read more

Canadian Solar, ESA and Zep complete 1.26 MW rooftop PV plant in North Carolina

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 17:21 (Solarserver)

On April 23rd, 2012, Canadian Solar (Ontario, Canada), ESA Renewables LLC (San Rafael, California, U.S.) and Zep Solar Inc. (Lake Mary, Florida, U.S.) announced the completion of a 1.26 megawatt (MW) commercial rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) project in New Bern, North Carolina. The PV array uses 5,376 Zep Compatible PV modules by Canadian Solar covering 177,160 square feet of the rooftop. Read more

Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association releases policy statement on solar electric, distributed energy technologies

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 17:17 (Solarserver)

On April 24th, 2012, the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA, Austin, Texas, U.S.) has released a short policy statement stating that renewable electricity technologies not only generate clean and reliable power, but they also create local jobs, local economic growth and provide other sustainable benefits. Read more

New learner manuals released for solar installers

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 17:15 (Solarpowerportal)

The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies (NSAET) has produced a series of new learner manuals to help solar installers. The new manuals will allow installers of both photovoltaic and thermal systems to acquire the background knowledge required to install, commission, service and maintain solar equipment.  Read more

US Bancorp to invest US$150 million in Sunrun residential systems

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

US Bancorp continues with the expansion of its portfolio with its new partnership. The company has teamed up with Sunrun to support the purchase and installation of more than US$150 million in residential solar systems across the United States. This is Sunrun?s sixth renewable energy tax equity commitment from US Bancorp. Read more

RENA acquires water treatment specialist to expand outside solar sector

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 16:48 (PV-Tech)

Water treatment specialist, Stulz H + E has been acquired by RENA for an undisclosed sum. The company said that the German Federal Cartel Office had approved the transaction, which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2012. Read more

US Solar Heads East

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

New capacity also increasingly comes as centralised projects rather than distributed PV ? another major structural change for U.S. utilities. Read more

Construction begins at Devon-based solar park

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 9:00 (Solarpowerportal)

In big news for the large-scale solar market, independent project developer TGC Renewables has begun work on a 2.9MW solar farm in Devon. Read more

CEM3: Cut Don?t Kill campaign claims British solar industry has contracted by 25 percent

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 3:00 (Solarpowerportal)

New figures obtained by the ?Cut Don?t Kill Campaign? show that the UK solar industry has contracted by 25 percent in the past nine months. As a result of the contraction in the market, 6000 jobs have been lost. Read more

Can We Reduce the Ecological Risks of Extended Bioenergy Production?

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

For years experts have discussed the ecological impact of the extended cultivation of energy crops. Scientists have now developed a computer model that allows assessing the impacts and comparing the effectiveness of strategies for the reduction of risks for biological diversity. Conclusion: The extension of bioenergy leads to problems to biological diversity in agrarian regions. With different accompanying measures, such as the conservation of near-nature areas, however, these effects could be partly reduced, as scientists of the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) write in the current issue of the professional Read more

NRG, First Solar and MidAmerican Solar connect 100MW to the grid in Arizona

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 12:59 (PV-Tech)

NRG Energy, First Solar and MidAmerican Solar representatives gathered to connect the first 100MW of the 290MW Agua Caliente Solar Project to the grid. The project is owned by NRG Energy and MidAmerican, while operator First Solar designed and constructed the plant in Yuma County, Arizona, using thin-film modules. During the event, company representatives answered questions and tours of the site were given. Once completed, Agua Caliente will be the largest solar power plant in North America. The generated energy is sold to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a long-term PPA. Read more

Green Build Energy Ltd

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 17:46 (Solarpowerportal)

Green Build Energy Ltd is a leading nationwide MCS accredited supplier and installer of solar energy, offering some of the most cutting edge renewable energy solutions. We bring these technologies together to provide a completely modular package; we can advise you which systems to install to suit your specific project requirements and budget. Read more

REA report: 110,000 employed in U.K. renewables sector

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 17:33 (Solarserver)

On April 23rd, 2012 the Renewable Energy Association (REA, London, U.K.) announced the release of a new report which finds that renewable energy represented a USD 20.2 billion industry in the U.K. from 2010-2011, employing 110,000 persons. REA states that "Renewable Energy Made in Britain" is the first time that turnover and employment figures from the nation's entire renewable energy sector have been quantified and presented in one location. The report also finds that the sector grew 11% from 2009/2010 to 2010/2011, far more than the 1.4% growth of the U.K. economy overall. Read more

Latin America Report: Mexico Climate Law Takes Shape

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 15:20 (Renewable Energy World)

Mexico, a heavyweight in oil production, took a firm stand against climate change by passing a law that would make it the second nation after the United Kingdom to institute legally binding carbon targets. Read more

Message to Congress: Not Picking Energy Winners Should Not Mean Disadvantaging Clean Tech

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Last week I had the privilege to participate in Environmental Entrepreneurs' (E2) annual advocacy trip to Washington, D.C., joining a small delegation of E2 members to voice the economic benefits of clean energy directly to our nation's leadership, from Senators and Representatives in Congress to key Administration offices and Department officials. After nearly 20 meetings in less than 48 hours ? and many more meetings for the delegation as a whole ? I left the Capitol inspired as ever that clean tech can and will be a true engine for the U.S. economy; but I also left even more convinced that our system in Washington is broken, and that today's stalemate created by partisan Read more

Canadian Clean Cash: Renewable Energy Impact in the Wake of the Federal Budget

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Despite tension-filled anticipation of the 2012 federal budget announcement on March 29, Canada's Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program continues to be one of the most lucrative research and development (R&D) tax incentives in the industrial world. Last year, SR&ED awarded $3.6 billion in tax credits to Canadian corporations contributing in varying degrees to the Canadian R&D drive. The budget (Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity: Economic Action Plan 2012) turned out to be a pleasant surprise for SR&ED stakeholders and claimants, as serious cuts to the program were rumored in the days preceding the budget announcement. The 35 percent enhanced Read more

CEM3: Cameron speaks of the challenge of making renewables ?financially sustainable?

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 11:41 (Solarpowerportal)

After an uncomfortable few weeks in office, the Prime Minister David Cameron has spoken of the need for the UK to embrace clean energy both domestically and globally as he provided opening remarks to delegates on the second day of the Clean Energy Ministerial being held in Central London. Read more

REC reports 25% decline in revenues, positive operating margin in 1Q 2012

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 10:00 (Solarserver)

On April 25th, 2012 Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC, Sandvika, Norway) released its first quarter 2012 financial results, reporting a 25% sequential decline in revenues to USD 374 million, a 3% operating margin, and a net loss of USD 36.5 million. REC's positive operating results were carried by its silicon division, which reported an 18% operating margin. The company's wafer division reported a -69% operating margin, and on April 24th REC announced that it will close its last wafer facility in Norway, the 650 MW multicrystalline wafer plant in Herøya. Read more

Clean Energy Ministerial brings criticism of slow progress by global governments including U.K.; IEA warns of "potentially disastrous consequences" of inadequate action

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 9:57 (Solarserver)

Beginning on April 25th, 2012 energy ministers from 23 of the world's largest economies, including the U.S., China, India, Germany and Japan, met for two days in London to discuss accelerating the transition to clean energy technologies. The third Clean Energy Ministerial was co-chaired by U.K. Energy Secretary Edward Davey and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu. The event was accompanied by dire warnings from the International Energy Agency (IEA, Paris, France) regarding the failure of governments to meet carbon reduction goals, as well as criticism of U.K. government actions towards the nation's solar industry. Read more