NREL shade tests: micro-inverters can improve PV system performance up to 12%

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 20:21 (Solarserver)

On May 14th, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed a new repeatable test protocol that simulates real shade conditions and can predict with much greater precision the effects of shade on a solar array. Read more

CNPV enters tripartite agreement to build up to 2.5 GW of PV plants in China

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 16:22 (Solarserver)

On May 16th, 2012 CNPV Solar Power SA (Luxembourg) announced that it has entered a tripartite cooperation agreement with China Guangdong Nuclear Solar Energy Development Company Ltd. (CDN-SEDC, Shenzhen, China) and Lijin Peoples Government to build up to 2.5 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants over the next five years in the region surrounding the Bohai Sea in China. The agreement begins with a commitment to build 100 MW of PV plants in three phases, for which CNPV will supply the PV systems. These plants will be built on land in Shandong Province with highly alkaline and saline soil which is unfit for other uses. Read more

UK association fights to stop feed-in tariff cuts

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 14:55 (PV-Tech)

The UK Solar Trade Association (STA) has called for a delay to planned feed-in tariff cuts in a bid to boost installed capacity figures. In a letter to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) the association asks for the proposed July cuts to be held off until figures pick up. Read more

Pluto solar cell wins Collaborative Innovation Award

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 14:06 (PV-Tech)

Suntech?s Pluto solar cell technology has won the Cooperative Research Centres Association?s Collaborative Innovation Award in Adelaide, Australia, it has been announced. The Pluto technology was developed by Professor Stuart Wenham and Professor Martin Green at the APC PV centre of excellence at the University Of New South Wales (UNSW) in collaboration with Suntech and funded by the Australian Solar Institute. Read more

Pluto solar cell exceeds 20% efficiency and wins Collaborative Innovation award

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 14:06 (PV-Tech)

The Pluto solar cell technology has won the Cooperative research centres association?s Collaborative Innovation Award in Adelaide, it has been announced. The Pluto technology was developed by Professor Stuart Wenham and Professor Martin Green at the APC PV centre of excellence at the University Of New South Wales (UNSW) in collaboration with Suntech and funded by the Australian Solar Institute. Read more

New Axuntek CIGS modules incorporate DuPont PV5400 ionomer encapsulant

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 12:45 (PV-Tech)

Axuntek Solar Energy is using DuPont PV5400 series ionomer encapsulant in its IEC-certified CIGS thin-film modules, the company has announced. The solar modules are frameless and the first to adopt DuPont PV5400 into CIGS technology. The modules aid to reduce shipping costs because they permit a higher density in shipping, therefore lower costs. Further, the modules are stronger due to DuPont?s encapsulant. The combination of ionomer and glass allows for the utilization of the frameless modules in building-integrated applications. Read more

Suntech to supply Krannich with up to 120 MW of PV modules

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 12:17 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012, Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) announced an agreement to supply 120 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Krannich Solar Projekt GmbH (Weil Der Stadt, Germany) in 2012. Suntech states that the agreement builds on a relationship between the two companies that dates to 2007, focused on providing PV systems for resellers and installers in Europe and Australia. The company also credits Krannich Solar with a strong emphasis on product quality. Read more

PV manufacturing equipment: Manz opens new PV, display equipment fab in Suzhou, China

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 12:11 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012, Manz AG (Reutlingen, Germany) held a grand opening ceremony for its new fab in Suzhou (China) which will produce solar photovoltaic (PV) and display production equipment. Manz states that one of the first products it will make at the new fab will be equipment for wet-chemical processing of crystalline silicon PV cells. The company will present a new wet-process tool at the SNEC trade show in Shanghai on May 16th, 2012. Read more

Conergy?s outlook for 2012 is cautiously positive

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 11:59 (PV-Tech)

Conergy has published figures for Q1 2012, highlighting the first results of the restructuring process implemented in 2011. The sales development reflects the decrease in prices in the first quarter by 40% compared to 2011. Sales in Q1 2012 were ?98 million compared to ?163 million in the same period in 2011. Although the German, Asian and American markets increased, shipment volumes in Europe generally decreased, resulting in a decline in shipments from 80MW to 70MW. Conergy managed to increase shipments in the American and Asian markets by 2% sales achieved were ?34 million (?42 million, Q1 2011). The company was able to balance the decline in demand in Germany by taking Read more

German government offers ?30 million as compromise to drastic FiT cuts

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 11:46 (PV-Tech)

Last week, two-thirds of the German states in the Budesrat voted against the draft EEG bill. It has now been passed to the Mediation Committee, which has three sessions in which to be able to reach a decision. Katherina Reiche, secretary of the Federal Environment Ministry has offered ?30 million of federal funds for PV research and development as an incentive to the Committee to agree in favour of the government?s proposed drastic cuts to the feed-in tariff, reports the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper. Failure to reach a decision would result in a veto from the Bundestrat, which would be overridden by the Bundestag. Read more

Motech announces potential induced degradation-free solar cells

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 10:53 (PV-Tech)

Cell manufacturer Motech has announced that it will be offering PID (Potential Induced Degradation) free versions of its cells at this year?s SNEC PV Power Expo. The PID-free cells can be acquired for all types of Motech?s solar cells and they are immediately available. Read more

EuPD Research: Proposed Italian FIT changes to decimate large PV

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 10:04 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012 EuPD Research (Bonn, Germany) released an analysis of the potential impacts of proposed changes to Italy's feed-in tariff under the Conto Energia V, stating that current proposals will lead to a "complete downturn" in the market for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in the nation. EuPD's analysis also predicts that small PV plants up to 12 KW and the building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) sector could experience a "slight boom", noting that BIPV incentives are set to increase. Read more

Five Star Equities looks at impact Saudi Arabia?s US$109B solar plan will have on industry players

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 21:01 (PV-Tech)

Following Saudi Arabia?s revelation of a US$109 billion plan to create a solar industry in the country that will produce a third of its electricity within the next twenty years, Five Star Equities has released reports on the potential outlook for companies in the solar industry, including First Solar and SunPower. Read more

Report: Czech Constitutional Court supports tax on solar power producers

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 20:46 (PV-Tech)

A report published by Reuters has advised that the Constitutional Court has endorsed a Czech tax on solar power producers as part of the government?s push to cut budget deficits and subdue the solar boom in the country. The ruling means that solar plants which came online in 2009 and 2010 are affected. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne PV modules pass TUEV long-term sequential test

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 20:14 (Solarserver)

On May 14th, 2012, Hanwha SolarOne Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China) announced that its SF260-36-1PxxxL module passed the long-term sequential test (LST) by TUEV Rheinland, a certification organization of solar module quality and reliability. The LST test evaluates overall quality and performance of solar modules based on four sub-tests: damp heat, thermal cycling, humidity freeze and bypass diode. Conventional industry testing standards, set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), allow for a separate module to be tested for each criterion. Read more

Thin-film solar firms urged to expand into solar PV systems to stay abreast in today?s solar market

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 20:09 (PV-Tech)

A report from Digitimes has provided musings on how thin-film face an uphill battle in the current market.  According to the report, solar firms will need to segue from being thin-film solar module providers to solar PV system project designers and suppliers in order to stay competitive. According to the report, as silicon-based solar product prices drop, thin-film solar products have been sidelined, especially during the past year. Read more

CPUC proposes that RPS procurement values costs of transmission, grid benefits

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 20:08 (Solarserver)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is currently considering a proposal that would change the way that utilities value renewable energy in required purchases under the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policy. The proposed ruling would use a "least cost, best fit" formula to prioritize projects located near existing transmission, as well as factoring in impacts on grid operation. Concentrating solar power (CSP) companies note that this formula would allow utilities to account for the benefits to grid operation that CSP technology can provide with thermal energy storage. Read more

India to supply 10,000 solar-based water purification systems in Maoist-affected districts

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 19:58 (Solarserver)

The Indian Ministry of Rural Development plans to install 10,000 solar-based water purification systems to supply drinking water to rural communities in 78 Maoist-affected districts across the country, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said in a press conference. The project, which is estimated to cost Rs 540 crore (USD 1 million), aims to combine development of rural areas through provision of clean drinking water and promote use of renewable energy. Read more

Solar FIT Fallout: Germany's Environment Minister Forced Out

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 18:20 (Renewable Energy World)

The European shake-up continues as Germany's powerful Minister of the Environment Norbert Roettgen was fired Thursday as Chancellor Angela Merkel looks to hold onto power following her party's regional election loss over the weekend. Read more

CNPV Solar Power co-operates with CGN-SEDC and the Lijin People?s government to develop 2.5GW

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 16:39 (PV-Tech)

CNPV Solar Power has announced collaboration between itself, the China Guangdong Nuclear Solar Energy Development Company (CGN-SEDC) and the Lijin People?s government. Under the collaborative agreement the parties plan to construct a total of 2.5GW PV plants in the Shandong area.  Read more

Trina Solar to supply 2.1 MW of PV modules for PV plant in Tibet

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 16:18 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012 Trina Solar Ltd. (Changzhou, China) announced that it will supply 2.1 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Longyuan (Tibet) New Energy Company Ltd. for an off-grid PV plant in Tibet. The plant will be located in Naqu Prefecture in Northern Tibet, which lies at an altitude of 4,500 meters. Trina states that the project is the largest off-grid system in China in recent years, following the building of 40 off-grid PV plants in 2002 in the Chamdo region of Tibet. Read more

ET Solar completes 9.6MW of PV plants in Germany

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 13:13 (PV-Tech)

ET Solar has announced that it has finished the comstruction of two ground mounted PV plants in Germany, 4MW and 5.6MW in size. The plants are located in Oberböblingen near Leipzig and and Rätzlingen near Hamburg. The plants are equipped with ET Solar?s PV modules and the company was also responsible for engineering, construction and procurement of the plants. Read more

PV production technology: Singulus presents new machine concept for cleaning silicon solar wafers

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 12:22 (Solarserver)

On May 14th, 2012, Singulus Technologies AG (Kahl am Main, Germany) announced that it has introduced Materia, a new machine for the cleaning of silicon chunks and ingot saw off cuts for the manufacturing of crystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. The first Materia cleaning machine, delivered to an undisclosed U.S. customer, was installed at the customer?s site in the first quarter of 2012, Singulus reports. Read more

Shinsung Solar Energy achieves 20.03% efficiency on cells using LDSE technology

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 11:21 (PV-Tech)

Korean cell manufacturer Shinsung Solar Energy has achieved a 20.03% efficiency rate for its crystalline solar cell by using next-generation Laser Doped Selective Emitted (LDSE) technology, the company has announced. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) attested the rate of the cell that uses a six-inch p-type Cz wafer. Shinsung had already achieved an efficiency rate of 19.6% in 2010 by using LDSE; this further increase was also achieved by the same technology. Read more

IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme: Solar thermal markets grew 14% in 2010

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 10:10 (Solarserver)

The International Energy Agency's (IEA) Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC) has released a report which finds that solar thermal markets grew 14% in 2010, with 60.2 million square meters of solar thermal collector area added in 55 nations. The 2012 edition of "Solar Heat Worldwide" finds that China represented 81% of the 2010 market at 34.3 GW-thermal, and that evacuated tube collectors are increasing their market share at 78% of new capacity. The report also finds that while domestic water heating for single-family homes remains the most common use of the technology, other applications including combined space and water heating are becoming more popular. Read more

House Armed Services Committee Proposes Ban on Biofuels

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 18:35 (Renewable Energy World)

Just one month before the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in Hawaii, the world's largest international maritime exercise, the biofuels industry has encountered a possible roadblock. The House Armed Services Committee issued its report on next year's Pentagon budget, which inclues a measure that would exclude the development and purchase of biofuels that cost more than traditional fossil fuels. Read more

EGS Takes Geothermal Global

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 15:15 (Renewable Energy World)

As ancient as the earth itself, unharnessed geothermal energy most often bubbles to the surface in geological hot spots long known for geysers and naturally-boiling mud pots. Read more

Future Renewable Energy partners with Easy MCS Ltd

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 18:10 (Solarpowerportal)

Future Renewable Energy has partnered with Easy MCS Ltd to offer support and renewable heat training to UK-based installers. Read more

Welspun Energy wins bid for 250MW Indian PV project

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 17:34 (PV-Tech)

Welspun Energy has won the bid for a 250MW PV project in Madhya Pradesh. Welspun won the bid by quoting a tariff of Rs8.05 per unit, compared to the current feed-in tariff in Madhya Pradesh, which is Rs15.35 per unit. Welspun will develop one 100MW PV plant and another 25MW plant in the region in only 19 months, the company has announced. The investment in the PV plant will be US$225 million. Read more

The $6 Gasoline That Almost Was

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 16:03 (Renewable Energy World)

A landmark 2009 study, conducted by researchers at Iowa State's Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, and updated this week for impacts through 2011, found that US ethanol production reduced wholesale gasoline prices by an average of $1.09 per gallon, in 2011. Read more

Government denies last-minute Green Deal review

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 14:28 (Solarpowerportal)

Government has denied that the Green Deal is under review following a report by the BBC that indicated that the Cabinet Office had been interviewing critics of the scheme in response to widespread criticism. Read more

Day4 Energy publishes results for Q1 2012

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 12:24 (PV-Tech)

Day4 Energy has published its operating results for Q1 2012. Revenues decreased to US$6.5 million compared to UD$16 million in Q1 2011 (59%) and by US$1.8 million (22%) from Q4 2011. Gross loss for Q1 2012 constituted US$0.7 million compared to US$2.7 million in Q1 2011 and UD$1.4 million in Q4 2011. Decreasing sales prices, as well as downwards adjustments in the market contributed to this decrease. Read more

STA urges DECC to stop July FiT cuts

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 12:07 (Solarpowerportal)

Since April 1 this year UK solar deployment figures have slowed down to a worrying pace. Today, keen to breathe some much-needed life back into the industry, the Solar Trade Association (STA) has written to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) asking to delay the proposed July feed-in tariff cuts. Read more

Hague: ?response to climate change is an imperative for growth?

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 12:03 (Solarpowerportal)

William Hague has warned cabinet ministers that Britain needs to show greater commitment to the low carbon economy in a leaked letter obtained by the Guardian. Read more

Sir Richard Branson launches green energy competition in Scotland

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 10:54 (Solarpowerportal)

Sir Richard Branson is set to launch a green energy competition, with a £400,000 prize fund, in Scotland. The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, which is also supported by the Scottish Government, is aimed at reducing carbon emissions through sustainable business ideas and inventions. Read more

International trade fair on renewable and conventional energy in Novosibirsk; Germany is Guest of Honor at the new elcom Rossija in September 2012; deadline for exhibitors ends May, 25th

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 9:59 (Solarserver)

The 1st International Trade Fair on Renewable and Conventional Energy, Energy Efficiency, Electrical Engineering, Lighting and Automation, elcom Rossija, will be launched from September 18th ? 20th, 2012 in Novosibirsk at the recently opened Expocentre. Against this background elcom Rossija The 1st International Trade Fair on Renewable and Conventional Energy, Energy Efficiency, Electrical Engineering, Lighting and Automation is organized by the inventors of elcomUkraine, fairtrade and Euroindex together with Siberia Expo from Russia. Read more