Order Focus: KACO, Neon Energy sign framework agreement for delivery of 50MW of inverters to Greece

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 21:16 (PV-Tech)

KACO new energy and Neon Energy recently signed a framework agreement at the Ecotec trade fair in Athens, which will see KACO provide Neon Energy with 50MW of its inverters for solar projects in Greece. Neon Energy plans to develop 100kw, 200kW and 500kW systems in the country over the course of this year. Read more

Suniva ARTisun Select solar cells said to now average 19% efficiency

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 20:50 (PV-Tech)

Suniva revealed that its ARTisun Select series of solar cells are averaging 19% efficiency in plant-wide production. The new cell efficiencies are available to cell customers and have been incorporated into the company?s Optimus modules. Suniva additionally noted that it has refined the aesthetic specifications for the cells, including a narrower color band, which is said to have created a more cosmetically uniform module. Read more

SMA offers new off-grid PV system configuration software

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 20:12 (Solarserver)

On March 29th, 2012, SMA America LLC (Rocklin, California, U.S.) announced that it has introduced its Off-Grid Configurator, a customizable solution that helps solar professionals design the ideal off-grid photovoltaic (PV) system. The software analyzes each design aspect, from sizing the PV array to preparing a final cost analysis, thereby providing the user with comprehensive planning assistance that saves time and reduces costs, the company states. Read more

Los Angeles Set To Launch a Feed-in Tariff Program

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 17:16 (Renewable Energy World)

A feed-in tariff may never become a federal mandate, but it's enjoying a wider support among some local ? particularly municipal ? utilities these days. To wit: Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved a feed-in tariff program that will enable the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to buy renewable electricity from projects up to 3 MW. Read more

Soventix extends its material and workmanship warranty

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 16:19 (PV-Tech)

Soventix Canada, formally Sovello Canada, announced at the Ontario Feed-In Tariff Forum 2012 that it has extended its material and workmanship warranty from five to ten years. The new warranty covers Soventix Canada?s Sovello Project Pro Series and Consumer Pro Series solar modules, effective April 1, 2012. Read more

IMS Research: Global PV installations to reach between 27.8 GW and 32.6 GW in 2012 as global market diversifies

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 16:03 (Solarserver)

On April 4th, 2012 IMS Research (Wellingborough, U.K.) announced the release of a new report which predicts that global solar photovoltaic (PV) installations will grow 3.5% - 21% in 2012, to reach between 27.8 and 32.6 GW. IMS' Q1 2012 "PV Demand Database" estimates that Europe's share will decline to 50% of the global market, from 69% in 2011. The report estimates that Germany will remain the world's largest PV market, with China and Italy in second and third places respectively. Read more

Early field tests of ArrayPower?s sequenced inverter?s claimed to beat string

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 16:01 (PV-Tech)

A 36kW, 154-module ?sequenced inverter? field test PV system being operated by juwi using ?sequenced inverters? from ArrayPower is claimed to have demonstrated higher energy harvest compared to conventional string inverters. The field tests are being carried out in Morbach, Germany. Read more

Early field tests of ArrayPower?s sequenced inverters claimed to beat string

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 16:01 (PV-Tech)

A 36kW, 154-module ?sequenced inverter? field test PV system being operated by juwi using ?sequenced inverters? from ArrayPower is claimed to have demonstrated higher energy harvest compared to conventional string inverters. The field tests are being carried out in Morbach, Germany. Read more

APS to build 35 MW PV plant on Arizona state land

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 15:56 (Solarserver)

On April 3rd, 2012 Arizona Public Service Company (APS, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.) announced that it will build a 35 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant on lands owned by the U.S. state of Arizona in Yuma County. APS will begin construction of the APS Foothills Solar Plant in August 2012, with plans to commission the first 17 MW phase in March 2013, and the remaining 18 MW by December 2013. Arizona Governor Janice Brewer (R) has stated that the project supports her solar energy goals for the state. Read more

REFUsol inverters listed on the New York Standard Interconnection Requirements List

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 14:24 (PV-Tech)

Manufacturer REFUsol has announced that its 12kW, 16kW, 20kW and 24kW inverters are in compliance with the New York Standard Interconnection Requirements (SIR) and qualify for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority?s (NYSERDA) funding programs. Read more

Forget the gloom as markets emerge to support PV growth in 2012 says IMS Research

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:11 (PV-Tech)

Although cuts in feed-in tariffs in major European markets have cast a cloud over PV installations this year, market research firm, IMS Research expects key emerging markets to support growth of the industry in 2012. According to IMS, global installations reach between 27.8GW and 32.6GW in 2012, compared to its latest figures for 2011 when installations were said to have reached 26.9GW. Read more

Forget the gloom: markets will emerge to support PV growth in 2012, says IMS Research

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:11 (PV-Tech)

Although cuts in feed-in tariffs in major European markets have cast a cloud over PV installations this year, market research firm IMS Research expects key emerging markets to support growth of the industry in 2012. According to IMS, global installations will reach between 27.8GW and 32.6GW in 2012, compared to its latest figures for 2011 when installations were said to have reached 26.9GW. Read more

Los Angeles approves US$3 million FiT programme

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 11:53 (PV-Tech)

Los Angeles city council has approved a feed-in tariff programme to generate 10MW supplying 10,000 households a year. The city?s Department of Water and Power will raise US$3 million each year to help the utility develop a pricing plan for residents. This pilot programme will take effect in the coming months. Read more

Prime Minister introduces the Big Society Bank

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 11:41 (Solarpowerportal)

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has today launched the Big Society Bank, which will fund community schemes and social enterprises across the UK. Read more

Order Focus: Guardian Industries supplying EcoGuard mirrors to Ivanpah solar project

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 21:27 (PV-Tech)

Guardian Industries revealed that it has been contracted to supply its EcoGuard Solar Boost mirrors to solar thermal project Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS), which is being constructed in California?s Mojave Desert. The company advised that it had already the first of 160,000 of its mirrors to ISEGS in November. A timeline for delivery of the remaining EcoGuard mirrors was not provided. Read more

NREL analysts claim solar lease business model attracting more attention, customers

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 21:07 (PV-Tech)

Analysts at the US Department of Energy?s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently published a new Energy Policy report, which cites that the solar lease business is picking up, at least in southern California. The report states that less affluent neighborhoods are the primary adopters of the solar lease model. Read more

DEGERenergie provides its solar technology for project at race track in Zolder, Belgium

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 20:41 (PV-Tech)

Intellisol announced that it had completed its most recent solar project in Belgium. Located at the Zolder race track, the solar system uses 25 9000NT DENERtrakers by DEGERenergie. Intellisol noted that it had financed and constructed the project in cooperation with the operator of the track. Read more

Report: Softbank to build 200MW solar plant in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 20:26 (PV-Tech)

According to a report from The Japan Times, Softbank, and its subsidiary SB Energy, will be constructing a new 200MW solar project in Tomakomai, Hokkaido.  The project is said to be the largest solar project in Japan with a maximum output capacity of 340MW. Hokkaido Electric Power advised that it can accept around 200MW, based off of the current infrastructure for electricity delivery. Read more

SolarMax Technology opens offices in California

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 20:08 (Solarserver)

On March 28th, 2012, SolarMax Technology Inc. (City of Industry, California, U.S.) announced that it will open a showroom and office in Thousand Oaks, California. The company is set to open offices by the end of April. SolarMax Technology has also recently opened a location in Norco. The company hired 20 people to staff the locations. Read more

Southeastern U.S. Works to Sustain Manufacturing, Project Momentum

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 18:40 (Renewable Energy World)

If you measured the southwestern United States by its solar and wind capacity, it'd barely register on the map. Dig a little deeper and you'd realize that even without the mega-PV farms and the sprawling fields of turbines, the region plays a vital role in the overall health of the industry. Read more

5 Ways to Guerrilla Market Your Solar Business for Earth Day

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 18:00 (Renewable Energy World)

There are few environmental holidays in the United States, so Earth Day is certainly a great time to market solar. However, it is late in the game, so if you haven't planned anything yet, here are five quickie/fairly cheapie guerrilla marketing ideas that you can do to build solar brand and customer relationships on April 22, 2012, a.k.a. Earth Day Read more

Wararee awarded water pump contract in Rajasthan

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 16:46 (PV-Tech)

Subsequent to the completion of the 10MW plant in Gujarat, Wararee has announced it has won an order to supply water pumps to the government of Rajasthan. Under the JNNSM & RKVY solar incentive policies, Waaree will provide 154 solar pumps. Read more

Order Focus: Dunmore supplying Advanced Solar Photonics with backsheet material

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 16:46 (PV-Tech)

US-based crystalline silicon PV module manufacturer, Advanced Solar Photonics (ASP) has selected backsheet material from Dunmore for its 100MW facility. The backsheet material will be used on ASP?s high-performance modules which are expected to be used several utility-scale PV power plant projects in the US this year. Read more

Envision Solar announces nationwide PV projects and a debt reduction

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 16:34 (PV-Tech)

Envision Solar has announced that it has entered an agreement with a Fortune 10 company about providing its Solar Tree structures for a large number of locations across the US. The agreement covers over 900 locations, including electric car charging stations and will cover a time period from of 2 years, beginning in the first six months of 2012. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: PV installations in China could reach 6GW level in 2012

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 15:27 (PV-Tech)

The Chinese Government?s feed-in-tariff mechanisms and rebate programs are fuelling an expected increase in PV installations in the country this year, according to NPD Solarbuzz analyst, Ray Lian. According to the market research firm, China installed 2.75GW in 2011 and is expected to double in 2012 to around 5GW. However, upside potential exists that could mean more that 6GW could be achieved. Solarbuzz claims that there is a 25GW PV project pipeline in China as of the end of February 2012. Read more

Global solar installation figures climb despite FiT cuts

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 14:27 (Solarpowerportal)

In the lead up to April 1 the UK solar industry continued to install at top speed, with more than 32MW completed between March 25 and April 1. This increased capacity has pushed the market well beyond the 1GW mark and now, leading research analysts are predicting that global solar PV installations will grow by at least 3.5 percent and up to 21 percent in 2012 ? despite feed-in tariff (FiT) cuts across the board. Read more

First-ever solar project to be built on Arizona State Trust Lands

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 14:26 (PV-Tech)

The Arizona Public Service (APS) and the State Land Department (SLD) have announced a new partnership to deliver 35MW Foothills Solar Plant on 400 acres of Arizona State Trust Lands in Yuma County. This will be the first solar project to be developed on state-owned trust lands and outlines Arizona governor Janice Brewer?s plans to make Arizona a global force in the renewable energy sector. Read more

Industry stakeholders criticise DECC?s ?one-sided? proposals

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 13:57 (Solarpowerportal)

Friends of the Earth (FoE) and Solar Century, the main protagonists behind the recent legal challenges over Government?s handling of the solar feed-in tariff, have spearheaded recommendations that ministers adopt an ?Under-Deployment Trigger? that would see FiT rates rise if installations fell short of expectations. Read more

Activ Solar finalizes 31.55MW Mityaevo plant in Crimea, Ukraine

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 13:32 (PV-Tech)

Activ Solar has completed the EPC phase and begun commissioning of a 31.55MW solar PV plant in Mityaevo, Crimea, the autonomous republic of Ukraine. The ground-mounted plant has been equipped with over 134,000 polycrystalline solar modules and will be operated by Austria-based Activ Solar, which has to date installed over 215MW of solar PV projects in Crimea. Read more

Bill Clinton to headline Solar Power International 2012

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 13:10 (PV-Tech)

Former US president Bill Clinton is to be keynote speaker at Solar Power International this September in Orlando, Florida. The solar energy conference and exhibition is presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). Read more

Ingenostrum announces plans to invest US$2 billion in Chilean solar projects

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 13:05 (PV-Tech)

Spanish solar operator Ingenostrum has tabled plans to construct six solar power plants in Antofagasta, northern Chile, the Latin American Herald Tribune has announced. The power plants could generate up to 688MW of clean energy and the total cost for the development is expected to be around US$1.9 billion. Read more

Solar Frontier supplies CIS modules for 3.8 MW New Jersey PV plant

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:30 (Solarserver)

On April 2nd, 2012 Solar Frontier K.K. (Tokyo, Japan) announced that it has supplied its copper indium gallium diselenide (CIS) solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.) for a 3.8 MW PV plant in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Solar Frontier provided roughly 29,400 CIGS PV modules for the Mill Creek Solar Farm in Burlington County, New Jersey. Juwi Solar GmbH (Wörrstadt, Germany) developed, designed and built the plant as part of PSE&G's Solar 4 All program. Read more

PPG expanding PV anti-reflective glass production at Oregon facility

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:26 (PV-Tech)

Due to growing demand, PPG Industries is expanding production capabilities at its flat glass manufacturing facility in Salem, Oregon, to include higher volumes of its ?SOLARPHIRE? AR anti-reflective and ?2XAR? two-sided, anti-reflective glass for PV module manufacturers based primarily on the West Coast. Read more

Senersun to supply 45 MW of PV modules to KDI Solar under exclusive distribution agreement

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:24 (Solarserver)

On April 2nd, 2012, Senersun (Bordeaux, France) announced that it will supply 45 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to KDI Solar (Nantes, France) between 2012 and 2014, as part of an agreement whereby KDI will serve as the company's exclusive distributor in France. KDI Solar will make Senersun PV modules available through its 70 branch locations across France. The agreement also outlines the development of new Senersun products specifically for the nation's PV market. Read more

Jürgen Becker discusses the future of Greek solar energy at Helios conference

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:22 (PV-Tech)

Jürgen Becker, state secretary of the German Federal ministry of the environment, pointed out at the Helios Project conference in Athens, that there are several opportunities to accelerate the development of solar energy in order to create new jobs and economic growth in a time of crisis. Read more

Firsthand Technology purchases 120,000 shares of SolarCity stock

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:19 (Solarserver)

On April 2nd, 2012 Firsthand Technology Value Fund Inc. (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that it has completed the purchase of 120,000 shares of SolarCity Corporation (San Mateo, California, U.S.) common stock. SolarCity and its projects have attracted significant investment in the last few months. On February 29th, 2012 the company announced that it has raised USD 81 million in equity, and on March 15th, 2012 Rabobank (Utrecht, The Netherlands) and SolarCity announced a USD 42.5 million fund to finance over 30 commercial PV projects in California. Read more

ESTIF releases guides to grow national solar thermal markets

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:15 (Solarserver)

The European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) has released three documents addressing strategies to grow national solar thermal markets, as part of the UN's Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative (GSWH). ESTIF's "Guide for Awareness Raising Campaigns", "Guide for Policy and Framework Conditions", and "Guide for Standardization and Quality Assurance for Solar Thermal" were published on behalf of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). Read more

Bill Clinton to speak at Solar Power International 2012 trade show

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:07 (Solarserver)

On April 3rd, 2012 the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.) and Solar Electric Power Association (Washington D.C., U.S.) announced that former U.S. President Bill Clinton will serve as the keynote speaker at the Solar Power International 2012 conference and trade show. The trade show will be held in Orlando in the U.S. state of Florida on September 10th-13th, 2012. Former President Clinton is the most well-known public figure to speak at the event to date. Read more

Four major conservation groups pledge their support for 600MW Imperial County solar projects

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:03 (PV-Tech)

Four conservation groups ? Defenders of Wildlife, The Sierra Club, Audubon California and the Natural Resources Defence Council ? have announced their support for large-scale solar power projects Mt. Signal, Calexico I and Calexico II. The projects, being developed by 8minute energy, satisfy the needs of the conservation groups to deliver clean energy from well-located sites, create union jobs and to consider local wildlife concerns. Read more

Leeds? solar-powered street maps light the way

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 11:31 (Solarpowerportal)

Leeds County Council is set to roll out a network of solar-powered street map signs at 25 different sites across the city. Read more

Algae Biofuels: The Wave of the Future

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 17:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Researchers at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech have assembled the draft genome of a marine algae sequence to aid scientists across the U.S. in a project that aims to discover the best algae species for producing biodiesel fuel. Read more

Biogas Technology: "Cow Power" Catching On in US

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

For years, third world ranchers have been using methane from manure to run electrical generators down on the farm. This clean-burning biogas is not only a good local fuel in countries with little or no infrastructure, now even countries like the U.S. are reaping energy from this foul-smelling source. Read more

DECC announces first round of Green Deal providers

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 16:52 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced the first wave of organisations that have signed up to become Green Deal providers, ahead of the scheme?s launch in October. Read more

Western Australia Leading the Way in Clever PV Incentives

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In a great news story for PV, Western Australia’s Horizon Power announced that they are introducing one of Australia’s most forward-thinking PV FIT programs on July 1, 2012. The program has two crucial new elements that have long been sought by the PV — and in some cases electricity — industry. The first ele Read more

£20m funding pot enables UK farmers to go green

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 13:28 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has today revealed a new £20 million funding pot, which will help UK farmers, foresters and horticulturalists develop green projects. Read more

Moncada Energy announces construction of 16MW Bulgarian PV plant

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 13:00 (PV-Tech)

Moncada has announced its plans to construct a 16MW PV plant in Bulgaria with the help of UniCredit. Electra Volt Trade will begin building the plant in June 2012 usinf thin film modules and the completed project will be controlled by Moncada Energy Bulgaria. UniCredit provides financing for the project with a total loan of ?28.8 million, of which ?23.5 million are a short term loan and ?5.3 million are VAT. Read more

E.ON pledges £100,000 for energy efficiency apprenticeships

Wednesday, 4.4.2012 - 12:40 (Solarpowerportal)

In anticipation of the Green Deal rollout, E.ON has revealed a £100,000 funding package to help with the recruitment of 100 energy efficiency apprentices. This commitment follows Government?s £3.5m fund to train 1,000 apprentices in relevant Green Deal skills. Read more