July feed-in tariff cuts: what rate can be expected?

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 12:57 (Solarpowerportal)

The UK solar industry is today anticipating the future feed-in tariff rates as we move from the month of April into May. After Government announced its intention to base the new rates on installation figures seen between March 3 and the end of April 2012, all eyes have been on the FiT database. Read more

India reaches 940 MW of PV, CSP, MNRE provides update on JNNSM status

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 9:16 (Solarserver)

On April 27th, 2012 India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) provided an update to the nation's parliament on the status of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). The report found 1.15 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) projects in various sub-programs and stages of completion including 229 MW of commissioned PV. Read more

Report: Siliken Renewables lays off 40 people from Windsor manufacturing plant

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 21:34 (PV-Tech)

According to a report from CBC News, Siliken Renewable Energies has let go of 40 people from its Windsor, Ontario solar panel manufacturing plant. The dismissal is equivalent to one shift at the plant and has Paco Caudet, production manager at Siliken, blaming the terminations on government regulations and a lack of market. Read more

Assurant offers new comprehensive insurance for commercial solar projects

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 21:23 (PV-Tech)

Assurant has launched a new comprehensive insurance offering for commercial solar project developments specifically aimed to service the 100kW to 3MW solar market. The Assurant Solar Project Insurance is said to be the industry?s first warranty administration and comprehensive protection plan for all phases of commercial-sized development projects. Read more

Schneider helps power 4.99MW Greek solar park developed by Enel Green Power, Cantreva

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 21:10 (PV-Tech)

Hailed as one of the largest solar parks in Greece, Schneider Electric has helped complete a 4.99MW solar park at Kourtesi, which was developed by Enel Green Power and constructed by Cantreva. The solar project is expected to produce over 7GWh of electricity per year. Read more

Advanced Energy posts US$45.4 million in sales during Q1 for its solar energy unit

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 20:57 (PV-Tech)

Advanced Energy Industries released its financial earnings for Q1 2012, posting overall first quarter sales of US$105.8 million; a dip compared to US$112.5 million in Q4 2011. The company?s solar energy business unit also saw a 21.8% drop in sales, recording $45.4 million in Q1 sales, compared to US$58.1 million in Q4 2011. Read more

SunPower completes 40 solar systems for California?s Mount Diablo school district

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 20:47 (PV-Tech)

Representatives from SunPower and the Mount Diablo Unified School District in California acknowledged the completion of 40 solar systems installed across district schools and facilities. By the end of the year, the partnership will see a total of 51 solar systems, representing 12.1MW in capacity, installed across district sites, which will reduce the district?s electricity costs by over US$3 million per year. Read more

Solar energy assures bright future for Bristol charity

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 17:22 (Solarpowerportal)

A charity that supports families following the loss of a child is benefiting from a solar energy system donated by local installer Solarsense. Read more

SolarCity Rides the Rising Demand for Solar PV, Plans To Go Public

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 17:10 (Renewable Energy World)

On the heels of Brightsource Energy's announcement last month that it was canceling its plans to go public, SolarCity on Monday announced that it plans to conduct a registered initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock. Read more

Three Charts Illustrate Why Solar Has Hit a True Tipping Point

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 17:07 (Renewable Energy World)

A new report from the prominent global consulting firm McKinsey shows why solar photovoltaics have hit a tipping point. Read more

Solar Schools project set for takeoff after successful pilot scheme

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 17:01 (Solarpowerportal)

The Solar Schools project, launched by carbon cutting organisation 10:10 in conjunction with Mumsnet, is set to help 100 schools receive solar panels. Read more

Ontario proposes 31.5% microFiT cut to rooftop installations

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 13:44 (PV-Tech)

On April 6, the Ontario Power Authorities released a review of the draft microFiT and FiT 2.0 rules and contract documents in order to implement revised feed-in tariff stipulations. Last week, Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), submitted its recommendations for amendments in order for the government and the industry to reach a mutually beneficial feed-in tariff. The government has proposed to cut the microFiT by 31.5% with rooftop installations earning CAD$0.549 and ground-mounted CAD$0.445. Read more

Talesun Solar?s rapid growth continues as it agrees technology installation project with VRDT Corp

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 13:32 (PV-Tech)

Talesun Solar USA, a subsidiary of Chinese solar cell and module producer Zhongli-Talesun Solar will partner with US green-tech integrator VRDT Corp (Verdant) to develop and integrate PV management and energy storage systems. The two companies will also work together on other new projects that as yet remain unnamed. Read more

California Launches Solar Hot Water Public Awareness Campaign

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

When California funded the CSI Solar Thermal program in 2010, part of the funding included a carve-out for marketing the program and educating the public about solar hot water’s benefits to consumers and businesses. That public awareness program finally launched on Earth Day. The first step was a media release that outlines the CSI Thermal Read more

Tata BP Solar chief executive resigns

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 12:32 (PV-Tech)

K. Subramanya has resigned as CEO of India?s third largest panel manufacturer, Tata BP Solar, effective May 1. No explanation was given for the resignation and Subramanya has stated he has no plans for the immediate future. Read more

Tata BP Solar Chief Executive resigns

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 12:32 (PV-Tech)

K. Subramanya has resigned as CEO of India?s third largest panel manufacturer, Tata BP Solar, effective May 1. No explanation was given for the resignation and Subramanya has stated he has no plans for the immediate future. Read more

Concentrating solar power: Siemens to provide long-term maintenance service for CSP/natural gas plant Hassi R'Mel in Algeria

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 9:24 (Solarserver)

On April 27th, 2012 Siemens Energy (Erlangen, Germany) announced that it has been awarded a contract by Abengoa SA (Seville, Spain) to provide long-term maintenance services to the Hassi R'Mel hybrid concentrating solar power (CSP)/natural gas plant in Algeria. The contract includes preventative and corrective maintenance for two SGT-800 gas turbines which Siemens installed in April 2011. Commissioned in May 2011, Hassi R'Mel is Algeria's first hybrid CSP/natural gas plant, as well as one of the first in the continent of Africa. Read more

SolarCity to conduct IPO

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 9:07 (Solarserver)

On April 30th, 2012 SolarCity Corporation (San Mateo, California, U.S.) announced that it will conduct an initial public offering (IPO). SolarCity expects to commence the IPO after a review period, which began on April 26th, 2012 when the company filed draft registration documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Read more

Wind Industry Looks to Karl Rove for Answers

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 19:15 (Renewable Energy World)

Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Republican strategist Karl Rove sits downs with Obama's former press secretary Robert Gibbs for a conversation about politics and, and, ?. wind energy? Read more

Bipartisan Congressional Leaders to Ways and Means: Act Now on PTC

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Leaders of a bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill last week joined the U.S. wind power industry to sound an urgent call for the House Ways and Means Committee to find a vehicle as soon as possible for extending the successful Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy ? and avert thousands of layoffs already beginning in factories across America. Read more

Intertek partners with LCAB for auditing and inspection services under Ontario?s CORE program

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 21:45 (PV-Tech)

Intertek advised that it has joined forces with the Local Content Assurance Bureau (LCAB) in order to deliver auditing and inspection services under the Contributor to Ontario Renewable Energy (CORE) Program. The CORE Program helps, among others, manufacturers and suppliers meet the domestic content requirements set by the Ontario Power Authority as part of its FiT program. Read more

Renewable Energy Generation is Big Business in Kenya

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Take an exponentially rising need for clean, reliable energy; add a new renewable energy feed-in tariff (REFITT); and then consider erratic weather conditions that have affected over-relied upon hydropower generation in Kenya and you get an influx of interest in renewable energy by Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Read more

Ofgem paid top level staff over £600,000 in bonuses

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 13:56 (Solarpowerportal)

The energy regulator Ofgem has come under renewed pressure after figures obtained by the Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Caroline Flint, show that the energy watchdog awarded staff in excess of £640,000 in bonuses over the last two years. Read more

12 nations pledge support of IRENA Global Clean Energy Atlas at CEM3

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 9:00 (Solarserver)

On April 25th, 2012 the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) announced that a dozen nations have committed to support its Global Solar and Wind Atlas Initiative at the Third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) in London. IRENA's Global Atlas aims to combine and expand existing databases on wind and solar potential from around the world into one open web portal that will provide information for decision-making and renewable energy investment. Read more

Report: Electric Cars Cost Less, But Watch the Assumptions

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 15:27 (Renewable Energy World)

Pike Research just released a report on the Total Cost of Ownership of Alternative Fuel Vehicles for Fleet Operators. The report compares the purchase price plus lifetime fuel cost of mid-sized cars available in the US. Read more