Large-scale Molybdenum Electrodes for Manufacturing CIGS Solar Cells

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 21:58 (Renewable Energy World)

There is a growing demand for cost-effective and high-performance thin-film photovoltaic solutions, thanks to the falling prices of their crystalline silicon (c-Si) counterparts. Copper-indium-(gallium)-diselenide (or/and sulfide) (CIGS) technology is regarded by some as the most promising thin-film PV contender to the c-Si due to its high conversion efficiencies, potential cost effectiveness and incrementally improving manufacturability. Read more

IPC?s 30kW PV inverter placed on approved PV inverter product list for CEC

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 21:19 (PV-Tech)

Ideal Power Converters (IPC) advised that its 30kW PV inverter, IPV-30kW-480 had been confirmed by Intertek as conforming to UL standard 1741 and is now included on the California Energy Commission?s (CEC) list of approved PC inverter products. As part of the CEC list, IPC?s inverter can be installed in California and across the US. Read more

GET shifting resources away from thin film production

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 16:32 (PV-Tech)

Although monthly revenue in the first 4-months of 2012 have yet to show any meaningful recovery, Taiwan-based Green Energy Technology (GET) said in a statement to the Taiwan Stock Exchange that it was re-allocating operating resources away from a-Si thin film business to meet growing demand for its high-efficiency wafer business as demand is recovering. GET was an early customer of Applied Materials ?SunFab? turnkey thin film technology. Read more

Motech first to tout ?Certificate of Origin? for US tariff avoidance

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 16:26 (PV-Tech)

In anticipation of others to follow suit, Taiwan-based Motech Industries will be offering a ?Solar Cell Certificate of Origin,? to customers wanting to avoid the newly imposed import tariffs on Chinese solar cells and modules. Motech makes c-Si solar cells in Taiwan, which are excluded from the import duties as well as having a module assembly plant in Newark, Delaware. Read more

Kyocera provides 34MW of modules for 127MW Arizona project

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 13:17 (PV-Tech)

Kyocera has supplied 34MW of PV modules for a 127MW utility-scale PV plant in south western Arizona, the company has announced. The company will provide further modules, manufactured at its San Diego facility, for the project, producing through to 2013. Read more

PJM Interconnection secures 56 MW of PV through auction

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 12:37 (Solarserver)

On May 18th, 2012, PJM Interconnection announced that it has procured 56 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation in its latest Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) auction. The organization notes that this represents a 22% increase over the previous year. The auction secured a total of 4.9 GW of new generation from all sources, mostly from natural gas-burning plants, bringing the organization to a total of 165 GW of generation. This year's auction secured resources to meet electricity supply needs between June 1st, 2015 and May 31st, 2016. Read more

Motech responds to US DoC ruling with the launch of ?Solar Cell Certificate of Origin?

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 11:35 (PV-Tech)

Motech has launched a ?Solar Cell Certificate of Origin? in response to the recent anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations against Chinese manufacturers by the US Department of Commerce. Read more

E-CL, Quiborax to build solar park connected to the SING system in Chile

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 21:32 (PV-Tech)

E-CL and Quiborax are teaming up to build a 2MW solar park, which will be the first to be connected to the Northern Interconnected System (SING) in Chile. The project will help provide electricity to mining development in the XV region of Arica and Parinacota. Read more

Richard Peteka takes over Nicholas Radesca?s CFO position at Solar Capital

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 21:03 (PV-Tech)

As of May 18, Richard Peteka took over as Solar Capital?s CFO, following the resignation of Nicholas Radesca. Peteka comes to Solar Capital from Apollo Investment where he served as CFO and treasurer from June 2004 until February 2012. Peteka has also served as CFO for different closed-end and open-end registered investment companies for Citigroup Asset Management. Read more

Martifer Solar USA plans to achieve 100MW pipeline in 2012

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 20:52 (PV-Tech)

Executives at Martifer Solar USA advised that the company plans to exceed a 100MW project pipeline in 2012, and has an additional 30MW already signed. Martifer Solar expects to achieve its goal with plans to enter additional markets and continue its success with installations for schools, multi-site commercial projects, solar gardens and small utilities. Read more

Arava receives US$204 million for 58MW Israeli PV projects

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 18:49 (PV-Tech)

Israeli developer Arava Power Company has received funding for eight PV projects worth US$204 million in total, across Israel, the company has announced. In a statement, the company issued that it has closed deals on two PV plants in the Negev region, totaling 58MW. The company aims at installing over 400MW within Israel and completed the country?s largest solar park last June. Read more

Solar shakeout: Inventux next to enter bankruptcy

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 17:47 (PV-Tech)

First generation PV thin-film adopters are falling like flies as Berlin-based Inventux files for bankruptcy. Inventux was a customer of Oerlikon Solar and an early adopter of its micromorph silicon turnkey technology. A temporary insolvency administrator has been appointed by the Local Court in Berlin-Charlottenburg, which is understood to be looking for new investors and secure some of the 200 jobs at risk at the company. Read more

Doing the Math: Is Net Metering a Cost to Utilities, or a Benefit?

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 17:12 (Renewable Energy World)

Utilities often claim that allowing customers to run their meter backward (by generating electricity on-site, e.g. from rooftop solar) can affect their bottom line because these customers don’t pay enough to cover the cost of maintaining the grid.  In at least one case, however, a utility’s cost-benefit analysis of net metering was Read more

Lawmakers expand first-in-nation solar registration

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 17:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Vermont’s pioneering solar registration program, which caught the attention of the national solar industry and policymakers last year, has been expanded. The program is providing a national model for reducing costly and time-consuming local solar permitting. A year after Vermont lawmakers initiated the program, Act 125 doubles the size of pr Read more

Lawmakers Expand First-in-nation Solar Registration

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 17:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Vermont’s pioneering solar registration program, which caught the attention of the national solar industry and policymakers last year, has been expanded. The program is providing a national model for reducing costly and time-consuming local solar permitting. A year after Vermont lawmakers initiated the program, Act 125 doubles the size of pr Read more

NanoSolar completes 1 MW PV plant at U.S. military base in California

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 16:39 (Solarserver)

On May 18th, 2012, Nanosolar Inc. (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that it has completed a 1 MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at Camp Roberts training facility in San Miguel, California. The PV project includes 4,992 of Nanosolar's thin-film Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenium (CIGS) utility panels. The company did not provide any financial details. Read more

Orange County gets USD 1 million from DOE for hosting Solar Decathlon 2013 and XPO in October

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 16:31 (Solarserver)

On May 17th, 2012, the Orange County Great Park Corp. announced that its board has approved an agreement with the U.S Department of Energy (DOE). Under the agreement, DOE will provide a USD 1 million grant to Orange County to host the Solar Decathlon 2013 at the Great Park. Read more

Trina Solar tops SVTC environment, social responsibility scorecard

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 16:25 (Solarserver)

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC, San Francisco, California, U.S.) has released results from its annual survey of the health and environmental practices of leading solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers, awarding top scores to Trina Solar Ltd. (Changzhou, China), SunPower Corporation (San Jose, California, U.S.) and SolarWorld AG (Bonn, Germany). Trina earned a 94 out of 100 on SVTC's Solar Scorecard, followed closely by SunPower with a 93, and SolarWorld at 91. Yingli Green Energy (Baoding, China), REC ASA (Sandvika, Norway) and Suntech (Wuxi China) also achieved scores between 88 and 86. Read more

Ascent Solar to supply modules for railway station rooftop PV plants in China

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 15:56 (Solarserver)

On May 21st, 2012 Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. (Thornton, Colorado, U.S.) announced that it has entered into a tripartite agreement with Shenzhen Radiant Enterprise Company Ltd. (Shenzhen, China) and Third Railway Survey and Design Institute (TDSI) Group Corporation (Tianjin, China), under which it will supply its flexible thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for rooftop PV plants on railway stations throughout China. Radiant will work with TSDI to design, engineer and install the PV plants both as retrofits and new installations. The companies project the total volume of solar installations on China's public infrastructure will reach 800 MW over the next five years. Read more

Solar Junction supplies SolFocus with 5MW of CPV modules

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 15:55 (PV-Tech)

SolFocus has ordered 5MW of CPV cells from Solar Junction, the company has announced. SolFocus earlier announced the building of the 50MW first part of a 450MW PV project in Baja California, Mexico, due to commence construction in late 2012. Read more

Kyocera begins shipping PV modules for 127 MW Arlington Valley Solar Energy II project

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 12:21 (Solarserver)

On May 21st, 2012, Kyocera Solar Inc. (Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.) announced that it has begun shipment of 34 MW of its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to LS Power Group (New York, New York, U.S.) for a 127 MW PV plant in southwestern Arizona. Kyocera will produce modules for the Arlington Valley Solar Energy (AVSE) II plant through March 2013. The company will supply 245 W and 315 W crystalline silicon PV modules for the plant, which is scheduled to begin operations in late 2013. Read more

Martifer Solar and Hanwha SolarEnergy signed contracts for the development of 17.6 MW PV plants in Lisbon area, Portugal

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 12:14 (Solarserver)

Martifer Solar (Oliveira de Frades, Portugal) announced the acquisition of a 17.6 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) project, located in Lisbon area, Portugal, by Hanwha SolarEnergy. This project is being developed based on the cooperation between Hanwha SolarEnergy, Hanwha SolarOne and Martifer Solar. Read more

Anesco plans 50MW in the UK

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 12:05 (PV-Tech)

Anseco is planning to develop a total of 50MW of solar parks in the UK, according to Bloomberg reports. The company is currently constructing a ground mounted 5MW PV installation at a farm in Hampshire. Read more

Petra Solar distributes 5MW of energy in Bahrain

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 11:32 (PV-Tech)

American-based company Petra Solar has announced that it will install 5MW solar energy across a number of locations in Bahrain. The company is collaborating with the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA), Caspian Energy Holding and the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO). Read more

Suntech introduces compact 60-cell module series at Intersolar Europe

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 10:58 (PV-Tech)

At Intersolar Europe 2012, Suntech will introduce a compact and lighter design of its 60-call solar module series, the company has announced. The slim framework of the Suntech W-series has a capacity of 260W and consists of 60 six-inch monocrystalline cells, at measurements of 1640x992x35mm. Read more

JinkoSolar to supply modules for 50 MW PV plant in Northwestern China

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 9:38 (Solarserver)

On May 21st, 2012 JinkoSolar Holding Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) announced that it will supply 50 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to GSHHSD (China) for a PV project in Northwestern China. GSHHSD expects to commission the project in Zhangye, Gansu Province by the end of 2012. JinkoSolar notes that the project will help China reach its renewable energy targets under its 12th Five-Year Plan. Read more

GT receives orders for polysilicon growth and casting equipment

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 9:24 (Solarserver)

On May 17th, 2012 GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S.) announced that it has received two orders totaling USD 8 million from UTECH Solar Corporation (Miaoli City, Taiwan) for polysilicon growth and casting equipment. UTECH placed orders for GT's DSS 450 MonoCast technology, as well as additional DSS 450HP casting furnaces. Through the orders, the company will upgrade a portion of its GT DSS 450 casting furnaces to begin producing MonoCast wafers, as well as increasing its total wafer production capacity. Read more

Engensa SolarLoan helps more UK homeowners to afford solar energy

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 9:00 (Solarpowerportal)

UK homeowners unable to find the upfront capital required for a solar PV installation may now be able to own a system while also reaping the reward offered by the feed-in tariff scheme. This is the premise behind Engensa?s SolarLoan, available to customers from June this year. Read more

New Jersey considers bill to increase solar requirements under RPS

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 8:48 (Solarserver)

On May 17th, 2012 a committee of the New Jersey Senate approved a bill that will amend the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, with the goal of stabilizing New Jersey's solar renewable energy credit (SREC) market. S1925 would accelerate the timeline for solar targets through the RPS as well as reducing Solar Alternative Compliance Payments (SACPs). However, analysts warn that even these steps might not fix the collapse in SREC prices. Read more

Vermont expands CLEAN Program from 50MW to 127.5MW

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 20:40 (PV-Tech)

Late last week, Vermont?s Governor Shumlin signed the 2012 Energy Bill into law, which among other benefits saw the state?s CLEAN Program expand from 50MW to 127.5MW. The bill outlines that the capacity of any distributed generation facility that provides ?sufficient benefits to the operation and management of the electric grid? because of its location or other characteristics will not count towards the overall program cap of 127.5MW. Thus, this portion of the legislation mandates that no limit exists on the amount of clean local energy produced from facilities providing locational benefits. Read more

Foreign Dominance of U.S. Clean Energy Market Spells Trouble for America

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 18:44 (Renewable Energy World)

If you are a small player in the U.S. clean energy market, you are having a harder and harder time finding capital to continue to fund your business, despite that fact that your domestic market is seen as the one with the largest potential for growth. So what do you do? According to Third Way, a political think tank, you look to foreign investors. Read more

Electricity Market Reform: what does industry have to say?

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 16:37 (Solarpowerportal)

This morning the Department of Energy and Climate Change published the Draft Energy Bill, including the much-anticipated Electricity Market Reform (EMR). Read more

Saving Money, Gaining Energy Independence: ESPCs with the U.S. Government

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 16:17 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. federal government uses a lot of energy. In fact, it is the world's largest single consumer of energy. According to a recent government memo, the organization incurred approximately $20 billion in energy costs in FY 2010 alone. Of that, $7 billion was for energy consumption in federal buildings. Read more

Poll: CEOs identify affordable energy as the decade?s biggest business concern

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 16:13 (Solarpowerportal)

Ahead of the Rio+20 Conference on sustainable Development, Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC) has conducted a business poll to examine global threats and challenges to business in driving sustainable development. Read more

Soventix expands operations to South Africa

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 12:37 (PV-Tech)

Soventix has announced the founding of a subsidiary in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The company is dealing with the preliminary application for insolvency proceedings of Sovello and possible impacts on its business. The company is positive, though, that Sovello?s insolvency will have no impact on Soventix? operations as the company has been independent from former minority shareholder Sovello since 2011. Soventix will bid in the next round of the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Program (IPP) in August for a 75MW project that could be expanded to 300MW. Read more

DECC publishes long-awaited Electricity Market Reforms

Tuesday, 5.22.2012 - 12:30 (Solarpowerportal)

This morning the Department of Energy and Climate Change published the long-awaited draft energy bill, which includes the UK Electricity Market Reform (EMR). Announcing the news the UK Secretary of State, Ed Davey, highlighted keeping the lights on, consumers energy bills down and creating cleaner electricity to help tackle climate change as the three most significant problems the EMR is seeking to resolve. Read more