Conergy stocks up after report leaked of potential Chinese buyer

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 19:54 (PV-Tech)

Bloomberg is reporting that Conergy stock rose to its highest point since February following a report from the Financial Times Deutschland. The paper stated that the company was near ready to sell a 30% stake of Conergy to an undisclosed Chinese buyer. Bloomberg noted that company stocks rose as much as 16% to ?0.57 per share. Read more

Masdar receives ?12.9 million of aid from European Commission

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 18:05 (PV-Tech)

The European Commission has authorised ?12.9 million state aid for Masdar for an investment worth around ?120 million for a second solar module production line next to Masdar?s existing plant in Ichtershausen, Thuringia, an area eligible for regional aid, because the aid intensity, the beneficiaries? market shares and the capacity created by the assisted projects are sufficiently low to ensure that the benefits of the aid for regional development will outweigh any potential distortions of competition brought about by the aid. Read more

European Union awards ?10m to solar cell research consortium

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 16:20 (PV-Tech)

The University of Luxembourg?s Laboratory of Photovoltaics has received a sizable grant to develop technologies for more efficient and cheaper solar cells. The University is part of a consortium of 14 partners, known as the Scalenano project, which has been awarded ?10 million by the European Union. Read more

PV technology provider Manz AG: Positive outlook for the full year 2012 despite modest first quarter

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 14:44 (Solarserver)

Manz AG (Reutlingen, Germany), one of the leading suppliers of production systems for the photovoltaic and flat panel display (FPD) industries, generated sales revenues of EUR 44.1 million in the first three months of 2012. This represents a decline of 28.9% relative to the same quarter last year. Aggregate performance at EUR 46.6 million was down 28.7% compared with last year. The modest start into fiscal year 2012 is due to the high revenues and the low level of orders received in the final quarter of 2011, Manz reports in a press release. Read more

IMS Research PV System Integrator Rankings for 2011: BELECTRIC tops again, Chinese companies make biggest gains

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 12:52 (Solarserver)

Germany?s BELECTRIC (Kolitzheim) maintained its position as the world?s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) system integrator in 2011, with close to 400 MW of new PV capacity developed, according to a recently released report from IMS Research (Wellingborough, U.K.), recently acquired by IHS Inc. The report also revealed that Chinese integrators, buoyed by the huge boom in domestic power plants, made the biggest gains, and made up three of the top 10 PV integrators in 2011. Read more

SMA exceeds first-quarter revenue guidance as overseas sales rise by 50%

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 11:32 (PV-Tech)

SMA Solar Technology boasts a positive start to fiscal year 2012. In the first quarter, the company states it sold solar inverters with a total output of 1.9GW (Q1 2011: 1.0 GW), with sales amounting to ?405 million. This exceeded both SMA?s own guidance of ?350 million to ?390 million and the result for the same period in the previous year (Q1 2011: ?255.9 million). Read more

Session Solar announces presentation of expanded proprietary PV mounting system product line Creotecc at InterSolar North America

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 22:29 (Solarserver)

Solar distributor Session Solar (Scotts Valley, Calif., U.S.), specialist in solar photovoltaic (PV) project development, and manufacturer of Creotecc solar mounting systems, announces the expansion of their proprietary product line Creotecc to be presented at this year's InterSolar North American Conference Show in San Francisco, CA. These include the solar mounting systems CREOFLEX, the flat roof solution and CREOTERRA, the ground mount solution. Both systems are made in the USA by Session Solar and are ARRA compliant. Read more

Schletter expands manufacturing capability for solar PV carports in Tucson, Arizona

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 22:23 (Solarserver)

Schletter Inc. (Tucson, Arizona, U.S.), a provider of solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting systems, announced that it has expanded its manufacturing capability for its Park@Sol solar carport product line. The Park@Sol is a complete ready-to-install PV mounting system, eliminating the need for costly on-site welding and third-party services. Read more

ReneSolar exceeds guidance in posted results for revenue, shipments for Q1 2012

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 21:35 (PV-Tech)

ReneSola?s first quarter 2012 results have surpassed the company?s previous expectations with revenues finalized at US$211.5 million and combined solar wafer and module shipments reaching 466MW. The increased revenue shows a 12.7% increase from US$187.7 million in Q4, 2011, while shipments were up 37.1% from 339.9MW in Q4 2011. Gross loss for the quarter was finalized at US$8 million with a gross margin of -3.8%, including a US$12.2 million write-down for inventory. These results compare to a gross loss of US$43.4 million, with a gross margin of -23.1%, in Q4 2011. Read more

ReneSola exceeds guidance in posted results for revenue, shipments for Q1 2012

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 21:35 (PV-Tech)

ReneSola?s first quarter 2012 results have surpassed the company?s previous expectations with revenues finalized at US$211.5 million and combined solar wafer and module shipments reaching 466MW. The increased revenue shows a 12.7% increase from US$187.7 million in Q4, 2011, while shipments were up 37.1% from 339.9MW in Q4 2011. Gross loss for the quarter was finalized at US$8 million with a gross margin of -3.8%, including a US$12.2 million write-down for inventory. These results compare to a gross loss of US$43.4 million, with a gross margin of -23.1%, in Q4 2011. Read more

Cogentrix?s Alamosa Solar facility begins commercial operation

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 21:12 (PV-Tech)

The Alamosa Solar Generating plant is being called the world?s largest concentrating PV electric power generating facility and Cogentrix Energy advised that it has finally begun commercial operation. Located in San Luis Valley in Colorado, the 30MW site produces energy for customers of Xcel Energy?s subsidiary, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo). Read more

Phono Solar, Suntech Power Holdings possibly entering strategic framework agreement

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 21:00 (PV-Tech)

According to a report published by Bloomberg, Phono Solar Technology and Suntech Power Holdings are in talks to sign a strategic framework agreement that would see the two companies working together to develop solar farms in China, the US and Greece. ?It?s a strategic framework agreement, we are still discussing terms on the cooperation,? Zhang Jianmin, a Suntech spokesman, told Bloomberg by phone. Read more

German solar subsidies bill to go before mediation committee

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 19:43 (PV-Tech)

The German Federal Council has determined that that the bill earlier adopted by the German Parliament for the reduction of solar subsidies will be going to a mediation committee, which will allow for the federal and state governments to negotiate finding a comprise. If the members do not find a resolution, the Federal Council has the ability to file an appeal against the bill, which could override Parliament?s decision with an absolute majority vote. Read more

From Deserts to Rooftops: Solar's California Battleground

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 19:43 (Renewable Energy World)

As California pushes the leading edge of renewable energy adoption in the United States, it's also approaching new legal hurdles that are slowly beginning to define the roles that solar developers and utilities will play in the year ahead. Read more

Saudi Arabia Unveils $100 Billion Plan to Make Solar 'A Driver for Domestic Energy for Years to Come'

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 19:15 (Renewable Energy World)

Even the world's largest producer of oil understands the value of developing renewable energy. Read more

Applied Materials Restructuring Solar Business

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 18:53 (Renewable Energy World)

In order to meets its recently announced goal to reduce the annual revenue breakeven level in its Energy and Environment Solutions (EES) segment from $800 million to $500 million in FY 2013, Applied Materials yesterday said it would be laying off approximately 250 people and moving its precision wafering system (PWS) solar business from Cheseaux, Switzerland to Asia. The EES segment includes Applied Material's solar and LED business units. Read more

Two New Reports on Utility-Scale Solar

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Utility-scale solar is still something of a novelty in the renewable energy ecosystem. Large-scale deployment of these multi-megawatt (MW) installations has only recently been enabled in the United States by two key pieces of federal legislation and state-level implementation of renewable energy standards. The market boomed in 2011, adding more than 760 MW of capacity and ending the year with a bullish outlook for 2012. Read more

JCM aligns with Panasonic to launch commercial scale solar PV financing and EPC program in Ontario, Canada

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 12:42 (Solarserver)

JCM Capital (Toronto, Canada) on May 10th, 2012 announced that they have signed an agreement with Panasonic Eco Solutions Canada Inc., an affiliate of Panasonic Corporation of North America, to combine JCM?s financial network expertise with Panasonic?s bankable solar photovoltaic (PV) products and services. The arrangement will combine JCM?s expertise and initial USD 10,000,000 development capital fund with Panasonic?s construction financing and expertise. By aligning, JCM and Panasonic provide the Ontario solar market with a scalable End-to-End financial and service solution, from application stage to commercial operation date (COD) for commercial scale PV projects and/or Read more

SMA Solar Technology announces first quarter results

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 11:32 (PV-Tech)

SMA Solar Technology boasts a positive start to fiscal year 2012. In the first quarter, the company states it sold solar inverters with a total output of 1.9GW (Q1 2011: 1.0 GW), with sales amounting to ?405 million. This exceeded both SMA?s own guidance of ?350 million to ?390 million and the result for the same period in the previous year (Q1 2011: ?255.9 million). Read more

MEMC reports 38% decrease in Solar Energy division revenues in 1Q 2012

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 9:46 (Solarserver)

On May 9th, 2012 MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (St. Peters, Missouri, U.S.) released financing results for the first quarter of 2012, reporting a 38% sequential decrease in its Solar Energy division to USD 303 million, recognizing revenue from the sale of 47 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. The company blames the ongoing collapse in the solar wafer volumes and pricing for this decrease. Overall, the company reported a 27% sequential decrease in quarterly revenues to USD 519 million, and a net loss of USD 92 million. Read more

Offshore Wind: Making an American Industry, Part 1

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Positioned between the affluent of Martha's Vineyard to the east and the well-heeled of The Hamptons to the west, Block Island has always been more of a casual paradise, a place for blue collar workers to make summertime memories and sea-loving residents to enjoy the solitude of the other three seasons. Read more

Study Compares Energy Sources From 'Cradle-to-Grave'

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 16:59 (Renewable Energy World)

No form of energy really emits zero emissions, and that's a point that's both missed by casual advocates and overstated by strident critics. Read more

How To Become Energy Efficiency's #1

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It’s easy to get the impression that technology game-changers happen in a near flash. And the stories of Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Apple leave us thinking that genius pops right out of the dorm room. But in the energy industry it’s not that easy. The innovation we see today often stems from years of late nights, deep discussion a Read more

How To Become Energy Efficiency's #1 State

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It’s easy to get the impression that technology game-changers happen in a near flash. And the stories of Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Apple leave us thinking that genius pops right out of the dorm room. But in the energy industry it’s not that easy. The innovation we see today often stems from years of late nights, deep discussion a Read more

Centrica warns of rising energy bills

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 14:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Centrica, the largest British-based ?Big Six? member has warned that millions of households across the UK can expect their utility bills to rise over the coming months. Read more

UK: Renewable Energy Association responds to Queen's speech on energy bill

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 12:39 (Solarserver)

The Renewable Energy Association (REA, London, U.K.) has responded to Queen Elizabeth's speech on the introduction of the electricity market reform (EMR) and the green investment bank (GIB). "We look forward to seeing the details of the Energy Bill. This is of immense importance to project developers in renewables, as the measures it puts in place will eventually replace the Renewables Obligation," stated REA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gaynor Hartnell. ?Many of the projects in development now are working to a timescale that takes them into the new regime, and they need to know the details as soon as possible." Read more

Clugston Distribution set to donate green savings to charity

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 10:53 (Solarpowerportal)

Clugston Distribution Services is celebrating its 75th anniversary by raising £75,000 for a number of different charities. Read more

Energy costs ranked among the most important SME concerns

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 10:40 (Solarpowerportal)

According to the latest research from the Forum of Private Business, energy costs are among the most important infrastructure issues faced by small businesses in the UK. Read more

Cogentrix Energy commissions world's largest CPV plant at 30 MW

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 9:51 (Solarserver)

On May 10th, 2012 Cogentrix Energy LLC (Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.) announced that it has commissioned the 30 MW Alamosa Solar Generating plant in the U.S. state of Colorado, the largest concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) plant in the world. The plant is comprised of 500 dual-axis tracker assemblies located on 91 hectares in Colorado's San Luis Valley. Each tracker assembly is 20 meters wide and 15 meters high, and contains 7,560 Fresnel lenses that concentrate sunlight 500 times to produce 60 kW from multi-junction solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. Read more

Ingenious £10m funding pot will improve UK energy efficiency

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 9:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Ingenious Clean Energy has now closed its Ingenious Energy Efficiency EIS Fund, exceeding its £10 million target. The finance mechanism, which is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, will be used to support businesses which provide energy efficiency services in commercial and industrial properties. Read more