centrotherm?s centaurus cell production begins industrial-scale production

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 22:43 (PV-Tech)

centrotherm photovoltaics advsied that it had begun industrial-scale production of its high-efficiency centaurus solar cell for customers in China and Europe. Over 50MW of the centaurus technoloy are in ramp-up mass production with the company noting that it has received interest from various of its existing customers. Read more

Martifer Solar modules using SolarBond InFrame technology achieve IEC 61215 acceptance

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 22:04 (PV-Tech)

Martifer Solar revealed that its PV modules, which use Saint-Gobain Solar?s SolarBond InFrame technology, have passed the set criteria for IEC61215 acceptance, which regulates the safety performance of crystalline silicon terrestrial PV modules. SolarBond is a single component reactive compound, which applied warm fills the aluminum channel completely in order to cut down the risk of water collection in a frame?s corners. Read more

Louisiana reaches 11 MW of installed PV; 77 percent growth in 2011

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 21:16 (Solarserver)

Louisiana has reached a total installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity of 11 megawatt (MW), about 1,832 PV installations statewide, according to a report by Gulf States Renewable Energy Industry Association (GSREIA). In 2011, PV installation grew by 77% and capacity more than tripled with 1000 new units added to the system. Read more

Suntech beats shipment guidance, reports operating loss in 1Q 2012

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 16:02 (Solarserver)

On May 23rd, 2012 Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) released results from its first quarter of 2012, reporting a 35% sequential decline in revenues to USD 409 million, a -29% operating loss, and a net loss of USD 133 million. Suntech notes that its 27% decline in shipments during the quarter was better than the 30% which it projected. The company expects shipments to increase 20% sequentially in the second quarter of 2012, and to ship 2.1 to 2.5 GW over the full course of 2012. Read more

GCL-Poly, Winsun New Energy and Shunfeng Photovoltaic enter strategic agreement

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 12:50 (PV-Tech)

Chinese companies GCL-Poly Energy, Winsun New Energy and Shunfeng Photovoltaic have signed a Letter of Intent (LiT). Under the strategic agreement, the companies have announced the intent to jointly construct PV plants in Europe as well as other countries. Read more

Vermont makes changes to state's feed-in tariff

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 12:22 (Solarserver)

On May 18th, 2012, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed into law a bill that will more than double the cap on the state's feed-in tariff (FiT) policy to 127.5 MW over ten years, while providing an exemption for distributed generation facilities that provide benefits to the grid. SB 214 also simplifies the permitting process for solar photovoltaic (PV) plants 10 kW and smaller, replacing all permitting with a single registration form, and calls for the introduction of "market mechanisms", which could potentially include the replacement of standard pricing with competitive solicitations. Read more

Malaysia considers changes to feed-in tariff due to over-subscription of PV

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 12:16 (Solarserver)

Malaysia's Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) reports that the nation has supported 140 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity through its new feed-in tariff (FiT), out of a total of 312 MW contracted for all renewable energy sources. SEDA states that it is "very likely" to take corrective measures to adjust FiT levels or degression rates before the next round of quotes from July to August 2012, calling the large amount of PV generation the "wrong signal" for the market. Read more

Arava closes on financing for 58 MW of PV projects in Israel

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 8:07 (Solarserver)

On May 21st, 2012 Arava Power Company announced that it has closed on more than USD 162 million in financing for two separate projects to build eight solar photovoltaic (PV) plants totaling 58 MW in Israel's Negev region. Migdal Insurance and Financial Holding Ltd. (Petah Tikva, Israel), Bank Hapoalim BM (Tel Aviv, Israel) and Amitim (Israel) will provide USD 104 million in financing for the first five PV plants, which total 35 MW. The project will receive an additional equity investment from Noy Fund (Israel) and Keren Kayemth Leisrael. Read more

Sunrun closes equity financing with US$60 million

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 23:14 (PV-Tech)

Sunrun advised that during its latest equity financing round it had raised US$60 million. The investment were led by Madrone Capital Partners with existing investors Accel Partners, Sequoia Capital and Foundation Capital also participating. The funding will see the company continue its work to develop and scale the software and service components needed to reduce the cost of solar and streamline the installation process for customers and partners. Read more

Sunrun closes equity financing withUS$60 million

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 23:14 (PV-Tech)

Sunrun advised that during its latest equity financing round it had raised US$60 million. The investment were led by Madrone Capital Partners with existing investors Accel Partners, Sequoia Capital and Foundation Capital also participating. The funding will see the company continue its work to develop and scale the software and service components needed to reduce the cost of solar and streamline the installation process for customers and partners. Read more

Recurrent Energy brings 50MW of solar projects to commerical operatin in Sacramento County

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 22:54 (PV-Tech)

Over 50MW of new solar energy projects have been brought into commerical operation by Recurrnet Energy. Comprised of three projects located in Elk Grove, Galt and Sloughhouse, California, the three projects are delivering energy to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) under a 20-year FiT. Read more

DEGERenergie appoints Felix Freudenberg as sales director for North America

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 22:34 (PV-Tech)

Felix Freudenberg has been selected as the new sales director for the North American operation of DEGERenergie. Freudenberg previously worked as a system integrator and installation partner with South West Solar Solutions and will be charged, among other tasks, to establish a dealership network along with the integration of solar plants in the US market. Read more

Sanmina-SCI partners with eSolar for next generation CPV technology

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 21:24 (PV-Tech)

eSolar and Sanmina-SCI advised that they had entered a partnership that will combine the companies? proficiency in solar thermal energy solutions, local content-optimized component design and manufacturing for utility-scale power plants. Sanmina-SCI noted that it plans to work with eSolar to enhance the company?s solar collector system product offering, which is currently being used in operating CSP facilities. Read more

Martifer Solar USA estimates 100 MW pipeline for 2012

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 21:20 (Solarserver)

On May 21st, 2012, Martifer Solar USA Inc. (Los Angeles, California, U.S.) announced that it has planned a project pipeline of 100 megawatts (MW) for 2012 with an additional 30 MW already signed. The company intends to enter additional markets and to continue working with world-renowned clients, such as Hertz and the Westfield Group. Martifer Solar states that it considers solar gardens, schools, small utilities and multi-site commercial projects to be excellent business prospects in 2012. Read more

Asian Development Bank sells USD 339 million in clean energy bonds, announces support for solar-powered lights for tunnel

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 21:12 (Solarserver)

On May 16th, 2012, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced that it has sold about USD 339 million in its second sale of clean energy bonds to Japanese retail investors. The bonds will support ADB's ongoing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Asia and the Pacific. Read more

FoE: Solar industry needs certainty

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 19:12 (Solarpowerportal)

In a letter seen by the Solar Power Portal (published in full below), Andy Atkins, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth has urged Ed Davey to ?end the uncertainty in the solar industry? by announcing the conclusion of the review to the feed-in tariff scheme. Read more

INTERSOLAR: South American market to hold first ever Intersolar exhibition and conference

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 17:06 (PV-Tech)

Developments in the South American market, particularly in Brazil, have created such a buzz that it will play host to Intersolar?s first South America Summit in São Paulo in August 2012. Countries in the region are seeing dramatic increases in energy consumption of up to 30% per year, chiefly as a result of industrial development. At the same time, in nations such as Brazil, solar power is currently on the brink of grid parity. Read more

Trina Solar misses Q1 guidance but expects strong shipment rebound in Q2

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 16:37 (PV-Tech)

Despite the seasonally weak first quarter, Trina Solar reported module shipments of 380MW and revenue of US$349.9 million. Continued ASP declines, despite cost reductions resulted in the company reported a net loss of US$29.8 million, compared to net loss of US$65.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Trina Solar guided second quarter module shipments to be in the range of 500MW to 520MW. Read more

Enerplan entreats French government to save solar industry

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 15:55 (PV-Tech)

Enerplan is demanding the new French administration put its money where its mouth is to show its commitment to the solar industry as promised by President-elect François Hollande. The Association has called on the new Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy Nicole Bricq to implement three emergency measures to boost solar power in what has become a turbulent and unpredictable industry. Enerplan claims 15,000 or 25,000 existing jobs have been lost and further job losses need to be avoided at all cost. Read more

Solar Frontier, BELECTRIC commission world's largest CIS PV plant at 28.8 MW

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 15:55 (Solarserver)

On May 23rd, 2012 Solar Frontier KK (Tokyo, Japan) and BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH (Kolitzheim, Germany) announced the commissioning of a 28.8 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Bochow, Germany. The plant utilizes 205,000 Solar Frontier copper indium gallium diselenide (CIS or CIGS) PV cells, as the largest in the world based on CIS technology. CommerzReal AG (Düsseldorf, Germany) invested in the project, and HypoVereinsbank/UniCredit AG (Munich, Germany) provided financing. Read more

Could Taiwan be the Next Big Solar Manufacturing Hub?

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 14:21 (Renewable Energy World)

Whether the U.S. DOCs ruling recommending 31% tariffs on Chinese solar cells will have a positive impact on Taiwan's solar cell industry, Maxim Group's Aaron Chew responds confidently, "Without a shadow of a doubt." Faced with 31% import tariffs on Chinese made solar cells, analysts say Chinese solar manufacturers are already turning to their neighbors across the Taiwan Straits to source solar cells. Read more

SolarReserve, Kensani and Intikon Energy consortium is awarded further 88MW by South African DoE

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 13:49 (PV-Tech)

The South African Department of Energy (DoE) has awarded a further 88MW of PV projects to the consortium consisting of SolarReserve, the Kensani Group and Intikon Energy. After the two 75MW projects Letsatsi and Lesedi Power Project, the Jasper solar energy project in Northern Cape is the third project the consortium has been awarded preferred bidder status. This brings the total of the projects to 238MW. Read more

India proposes 10GW of solar energy between 2012 and 2017

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 12:18 (PV-Tech)

The government of India has issued a proposal to add approximately 10GW of solar energy to the grid between the years 2012 and 2017. The proposal has been submitted to the Indian planning commission and the full proposal further includes targets for other energies, such as wind power, bio-power and hydropower. The Indian Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission has a target of adding 20GW of solar energy to the national grid by 2022. Read more

Anesco leads large-scale solar renaissance

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 11:37 (Solarpowerportal)

Anesco has broken ground on one of the first large-scale solar parks since prohibitive cuts to the feed-in tariff were rushed through in August last year. The park represents the renewable energy company?s first step towards installing significant large-scale solar capacity across the UK. Read more

London Fire Brigade ignites passion for solar energy

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 11:20 (Solarpowerportal)

Adding to the growing number of solar installations cropping up in the nation?s capital, the London Fire Brigade has recently been investigating the potential for solar energy generation at over 100 sites. Read more

Solar Frontier and BELECTRIC JV connect 28.8MW project in Bochow

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 11:01 (PV-Tech)

Having formed a joint venture firm in March, PV CIStems, Solar Frontier and BELECTRIC have connected what they claim to be the world?s largest CIS thin-film solar power plant in Bochow, Brandenburg, Germany. The project?s investor is CommerzReal and the financing is provided by HypoVereinsbank (HBV) /UniCredit. Read more

South Africa announces ten preferred solar bids for IPP Procurement Programme; projects totaling 417 MW of PV, 50 MW CSP

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 8:19 (Solarserver)

On May 21st, 2012 the South African Department of Energy (DoE) announced preferred bidders for the second window of its Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer (IPP) Procurement Programme. Through this window, the DoE has selected nine solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling 417 MW and one 50 MW concentrating solar power (CSP) project. Winning bidders for PV projects included ACCIONA SA (Madrid, Spain), Dreunberg, Sishen Solar and Solar Capital Ltd. (New York, New York, U.S.). ACCIONA will build a 74 MW PV plant. Through this second window, the DoE approved a total of 19 projects using various technologies, totaling 1.04 GW. Read more

Saving Birds and Bucks: Wind States Its Case

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 18:46 (Renewable Energy World)

Who says bipartisanism is dead in America? Look at the wind industry ? which is struggling to save the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the tens of thousands of jobs that have been created because it ? and you'll see alliances coalescing around both sides of the issue. Read more

Sustainable Energy renews operating line with standby equity commitment

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 21:05 (Solarserver)

On May 18th, 2012, Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd. (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters, announced that it has renewed its existing operating line commitment for up to USD 1.5 million from a Canadian Chartered Bank. Read more

Davey offers UK consumers advice on how to reduce energy bills

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 17:11 (Solarpowerportal)

After yesterday publishing the Electricity Market Reform, which outlined how consumer energy bills will continue in their upward trend, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is today offering advice on how to get a better energy deal. Read more

BISOL?s modules comply with Australian AS5033 Standard

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 16:43 (PV-Tech)

BISOL?s polycrystalline and monocrystalline PV modules have been officially accredited by the Australian Clean Energy Council to meet with the requirements to be sold in Australia. The modules comply with the Australian Standard AS5033. Read more

German thin-film PV producer Inventux files for insolvency

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 8:16 (Solarserver)

On May 22nd, 2012 Inventux announced that it has filed for insolvency at a local bankruptcy court in Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany. The court appointed Professor Rolf Rattunde of law firm Leonhardt as insolvency administrator. Rattunde will continue operations, retaining over 200 employees, while searching for investors. The company will also undergo a restructuring. Read more