250 kW PV plant commissioned at Frank Lloyd Wright home in Scottsdale, Arizona

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 19:37 (Solarserver)

On May 24th, 2012, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation announced that it has inaugurated a new 250-kW solar photovoltaic (PV) power system at the historic Taliesin West campus (Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.) . This marks the completion of the first phase of the Energizing Taliesin West initiative, a pioneering effort to transform the entire National Historic Landmark Taliesin West site into a "net zero" energy customer. Read more

Canadian Solar supplies 40,000 solar modules for 8MW park in Hesse, Germany

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 17:24 (PV-Tech)

An 8MW PV installation built in the German city of Dreieich-Buchschlag has received over 40,000 solar modules from Canadian Solar. The Federal State of Hesse?s biggest solar park was finalized on a former waste landfill site spanning 153,000 square meters. The PV system installation supplies electricity for up to 2,000 homes in Dreieich. Read more

Motech pulls the plug on AE Polysilicon operations

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

With polysilion spot prices heading for the low US$20/kg territory and well below small polysilicon producers production cost levels, Motech Industries has decided to exit the polysilicon sector with the shutdown and sale of assets of its subsidiary, AE Polysilicon Corporation (AEP). Motech invested in AEP in 2006 as it started development of high purity granular polysilicon, intended to provide lower cost polysilicon compared to conventional Siemens processes. Read more

TrendForce: Prices for Taiwanese-made PV cells to increase

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 15:52 (Solarserver)

On May 28th, 2012 TrendForce Corporation (Taipei City, Taiwan) reported that the price for Taiwanese-made solar photovoltaic (PV) cells has increased to USD 0.50 per watt, which it credits to an increase in demand stemming from pending U.S. tariffs against Chinese PV products, as well as a seasonal peak in installations. TrendForce estimates that prices have increased 7% since early May 2012 for 16.6% efficient PV cells to between USD 0.49 and USD 0.51 per watt, with prices for PV cells with efficiencies above 17.2% increasing to USD 0.55 to USD 0.60 per watt. The company also speculates that this may affect other parts of the value chain, and that wafer prices will rise Read more

Wacker takes a firm stand against US-imposed trade duties on China

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 15:30 (PV-Tech)

Munich, Germany-based manufacturer Wacker Chemie has released a statement taking a firm stand against efforts to impose trade duties on Chinese-made solar modules in the European Union. Read more

Conergy to install 1MW power plant in Greece

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 13:21 (PV-Tech)

Conergy has announced the construction of, what it is claiming to be, the largest industrial roof-mounted installation in Greece. The system provider will be installing the 1MW power plant on around 47,000 square metres on the factory roof of Greek tomato supplier Nomikos A.B.E.K. in Panagia Domokou in the Fthiotida region of central Greece. Read more

DECC releases new PV FiT rates, including variable degression

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 9:24 (Solarserver)

On May 24th, 2012 the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced reductions to the nation's feed-in tariff (FiT) rates for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, set to take effect August 1st, 2012. Under the new rates, PV plants 4 KW and smaller will receive payments of GBP 0.16/kWh (USD 0.25/kWh), and plants larger than 250 kW will receive GBP 0.071 (USD 0.11/kWh), with degression contingent on market conditions. The Solar Trade Association (STA) welcomed the stability that the new framework offers, but stressed its concern over a "stalled market". Read more

Samil Power announces 2.6 GW of PV projects in Xinjiang Province, China

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 9:12 (Solarserver)

Samil Power Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) has announced that it has secured 2.6 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in China's Xinjiang Province, to be completed over the next five years. Samil on own account signed an agreement for these projects, which will represent a total investment of USD 4.8 billion, on May 10th, 2012. The company cites both favorable government policies and Xinjiang's strong natural solar potential as favorable factors. Read more

IHS looks at affects US antidumping tariffs pose on North American solar market

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 22:56 (PV-Tech)

In IHS?s iSuppli PV Perspectives report, the company looks into how the US government?s antidumping penalties on imports of PV cells from China could affect the US solar market. IHS noted that the Department of Commerce?s May 17 preliminary ruling could suspend Chinese imports by nearly half this year, which would impact pricing, inventories and project timelines. IHS previously estimated that 2GW of solar modules were to be shipped to North America in 2012 from Chinese manufacturers, representing almost 60% of the market for North American use. Read more

IHS looks at effects US antidumping tariffs pose for North American solar market

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 22:56 (PV-Tech)

In IHS?s iSuppli PV Perspectives report, the company looks into how the US government?s antidumping penalties on imports of PV cells from China could affect the US solar market. IHS noted that the Department of Commerce?s May 17 preliminary ruling could suspend Chinese imports by nearly half this year, which would impact pricing, inventories and project timelines. Read more

Report: Tariffs' Impact on Solar Project Costs Will Be Small

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 22:49 (Renewable Energy World)

A new set of tariffs on Chinese silicon solar cells could hike the price of solar panels shipped to the United States by 10-12 percent, but the tariff will only add a small amount to the price a developer will pay for building a solar project, according to market research firm IHS on Tuesday. Read more

BLM to accept public?s comments on NextEra Energy?s 750MW McCoy solar project

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 21:55 (PV-Tech)

NextEra Energy Resources 750MW McCoy solar project is undergoing review with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The project, located 13 miles outside the city of Blythe in Riverside County proposes to be developed on 7,700 acres of BLM land and 470 acres of private land. BLM is holding a public comment period through August 23. Read more

Conergy connects 8MW German solar plant to grid

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Conergy?s latest solar park, located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, was officially connected to the grid with the celebration attended by Conergy officials, the Mayor of Grimmen and Stephan Johannsen, a private investor from Northern Germany. This marks the third solar plant that Johannsen and Conergy have jointly developed. The 8MW plant was built in Grimmen near Stralsund on over 20 hectares. Nearly 35,000 Conergy PowerPlus modules, manufactured in Frankfurt, will produce 8 million kWh of solar power per year. Read more

Asia Report: China's Solar Giants Unite to Confront Tariff Ruling

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 20:42 (Renewable Energy World)

For those keeping score, there's one more alliance that's sprouted up in response to ongoing U.S.-China trade disputes. Read more

Germany's Day in the Sun: Solar Hits 22 GW Mark

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 18:02 (Renewable Energy World)

With the sun beaming overhead and the nation hard at work, Germany turned to solar like never before last Friday and Saturday as the nation's PV installations fed 22 gigawatts of electricity into the grid at one point, providing nearly half of the country's energy needs. Read more

Bankruptcy Fears for China's LDK Solar Due to Market Downturn

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 17:19 (Renewable Energy World)

Chinese photovoltaics leader LDK Solar is headed for bankruptcy according to industry observers within China, due to its immense debt burden and a global downturn in the solar energy market. Read more

Qatar Solar Technologies secures US$1 billion financing for polysilicon manufacturing

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 16:17 (PV-Tech)

Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) has secured financing for the construction of its US$1 billion polysilicon manufacturing plant from local bank Masraf Al Rayan. Read more

Solar world record in Germany: For the first time PV plants produce more than 20,000 MW of electricity

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 16:06 (Solarserver)

The development of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacities and the early summer weather brought Germany a new world record for solar power production at noon on May 25th, 2012. Under a cloudless sky on Friday, May 25th, 2012 German photovoltaic arrays for the first time fed more than 20,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity into the grid, as reported by the International Economic Platform for Renewable Energies (IWR) in Münster, Germany. Read more

FCC begins construction on 50 MW CSP Plant in Valencia, Spain

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 15:59 (Solarserver)

FCC has begun construction on a new 50 MW concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in the Valencia region of Spain. The plant will cost EUR 240 million (USD 300 million). A groundbreaking ceremony for the new plant was attended by Alberto Fabra, President of the Valencia regional government, and FCC Chairman Baldomero Falcones. Read more

TGC Renewables to develop 3.6MW solar farm in North Devon

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 15:10 (Solarpowerportal)

As part of its plans to connect over 25MW of wind and solar energy initiatives to the grid this year, TGC Renewables has begun construction on one of the largest solar projects in the UK. The 3.6MW project, comprising 14,700 PV panels, will be installed over three adjacent fields on a 8.32 hectare site, north of the village of Clawton, Devon. Read more

Australia Out-installs Germany in sub 10 kW System Size.... again!

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 14:43 (Renewable Energy World)

It may come as a surprise to many, but Australia installed more solar power in the under-10 kW system size than Germany did in 2011. Australia set a similar accomplishment in 2010 too, and looks on track to do so again in 2012. So why aren't we hearing more news about this fast growing segment of the Australian solar market? Well, as far as headli Read more

Australia Out-installs Germany in Sub-10 kW System Size....Again!

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 14:43 (Renewable Energy World)

It may come as a surprise to many, but Australia installed more solar power in the under-10 kW system size than Germany did in 2011. Australia set a similar accomplishment in 2010 too, and looks on track to do so again in 2012. So why aren't we hearing more news about this fast growing segment of the Australian solar market? Well, as far as headli Read more

BRIDGE TO INDIA: Increase in Indian fossil fuel prices to benefit solar

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 12:13 (Solarserver)

On May 24th, 2012, the Indian Government allowed the price of petroleum to increase by INR 7.54 (USD 0.14) per liter to INR 73.18 (USD 1.33) per liter, which BRIDGE TO INDIA (Mumbai, India) states will give a "huge push" to solar generation in the nation. The company states that diesel, LPG and kerosene prices are expected to follow, and predicts that as a result solar and other renewable energy generation will begin to replace some of the 60 GW of back-up diesel power in place in India. Read more

Concentrating solar power: CEC issues preliminary assessment of 500 MW Hidden Hills project

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 11:59 (Solarserver)

On May 25th, 2012, the California Energy Commission (CEC) released its preliminary staff assessment (PSA) of a 500 MW concentrating solar power (CSP) project proposed by BrightSource Energy Inc. (Oakland, California, U.S.). The PSA indicates that the Hidden Hills Solar Electric Generating System would comply with applicable laws, ordinances, regulations and standards, and that environmental impacts would be limited, with the exception of six technical sections. If the project makes it through the remainder of the regulatory process to approval on schedule, construction would be completed by the third or fourth quarter of 2015. Read more

Geothermal Power to The People: Forget Iceland, Hot Rocks Are Everywhere

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 14:38 (Renewable Energy World)

When British geologist Ryan Law lined up to meet the Queen in Exeter, England, earlier this month, he did something not everyone would do: He showed her a drill bit. Read more

Solea tapped for delivery of first South African off-grid utility-scale PV system

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 21:33 (PV-Tech)

Solea Renewables recently signed a turnkey contract with Cronimet Energy South Africa, a subsidiary of Cronimet Mining Energy, in which it will deliver the first off-grid utility scale PV system in South Africa. Solea will also be responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of the 1MW turnkey plant on CESA?s site, which will help power the company?s mining operations. Read more

Bella Energy commissions Utah's largest PV plant at 1.65 MW

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 19:28 (Solarserver)

The PV project, which covers 3.85 acres of rooftop, is currently the largest solar PV system on Rocky Mountain Power's entire electric grid. It is also the largest solar array in the State of Utah. On May 24th, 2012, Bella Energy (Denver, Colorado, U.S.) announced that it has completed a 1.65 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) array atop the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The PV project, which covers 3.85 acres of rooftop, is currently the largest solar PV system on Rocky Mountain Power's entire electric grid. It is also the largest solar array in the State of Utah. Read more

Bloomberg New Energy Finance report looks at transformation of PV finance, shows an increase in third-party financing, new types of investors

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 19:21 (Solarserver)

On May 24th, 2012, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF, New York, New York, U.S.) announced the release of a new white paper examining changes in financing for solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, noting the increase in third-party financing as well as the emergence of new types of investors and new financing vehicles. "Re-imagining U.S. solar financing" estimates that asset financing for U.S. PV projects has grown by a compound annual growth rate of 58% since 2004, and that PV projects will require an average of USD 6.9 billion in annual investment for the next nine years. Read more

IEA sets out ?Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas?

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 18:41 (Solarpowerportal)

The International Energy Agency has compiled a special World Energy Outlook report on the use of unconventional gas. The report states that exploiting the world?s vast resources of unconventional natural gas holds the key to, what it calls, ?a golden age if gas.? Read more

US Government Should Trust the Free Market for Green Energy Investment

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 13:10 (Renewable Energy World)

The loan guarantee program should be retired permanently. The path to commercialization requires brains, discipline and grit. It is rarely aided, and often impeded, by government involvement. Our government should trust the free market forces that have made America great. Read more

Ernst & Young: Green investment at three year low

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 12:36 (Solarpowerportal)

The UK has dropped a position in Ernst & Young?s latest global renewable energy Country Attractiveness Indices report (CAI), due to concerns that the Department of Energy and Climate Change?s (DECC) commitment to renewables is wavering after increased speculation that the department is ready to embrace natural gas as the bridge fuel for the country. Read more

Recurrent Energy completes 50 MW of PV plants in California

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 12:05 (Solarserver)

Recurrent Energy LLC (San Francisco, California, U.S.) has announced that it has completed construction on three solar photovoltaic (PV) plants totaling 50 MW in Sacramento County, California. The company reached "commercial operation" on the 12 MW Dillard, 19 MW Kammerer and 19 MW Bruceville plants in January, February and March 2012. The plants came online in stages, and portions of all three have been supplying electricity to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD, Sacramento, California, U.S.) grid since December 2011. The three plants participate in SMUD's feed-in tariff program, implemented in 2010. Read more

Future of London report: problems with implementing the Green Deal in London

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 12:02 (Solarpowerportal)

Not for profit organisation Future of London has launched its latest report, Delivering Energy Efficiency in London, examining the practicalities in implementing and driving demand for the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Produced in conjunction with EDF Energy, the group?s research concludes that carrying out these efficiency measures will be more difficult and costly in London and therefore will require increased financial aid compared with the rest of the UK. Read more

MOFCOM details ruling against U.S. state-level renewable energy incentives, Chinese PV manufacturers form trade group

Tuesday, 5.29.2012 - 9:18 (Solarserver)

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has released information detailing the preliminary findings of its trade barrier investigation into policy supports for renewable energy markets in the United States, finding that six state-level policies are constituting prohibited subsidies under international trade agreements. Additionally, China's Xinhua News Agency reports that major Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers including Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) have formed a trade alliance, the Solar Energy Promotion Alliance (SEPA), to oppose potential U.S. tariffs against Chinese PV products. Read more