SunPower installs 12.1 MW PV systems for California school district

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 16:41 (Solarserver)

On May 1st, 2012, SunPower Corp. (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that it is installing a total of 51 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for the Mount Diablo Unified School District schools and facilities in California. The company completed 40 PV systems so far across the district schools. The PV systems with a total generation capacity of 12.1 megawatts (MW) are expected to reduce the district's electricity costs by more than USD 3 million per year, and save USD 220 million over the next 30 years. Read more

NABCEP launches accreditation program for residential PV installers

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 16:35 (Solarserver)

On April 27th, 2012, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) announced that it has launched its new Company Accreditation Program for residential photovoltaic (PV) installation companies. The program will provide consumers with a meaningful way to select PV installation companies that have a commitment to clearly show their standards of quality assurance. Read more

ESA Renewables to build 20 MW PV project in Jamaica

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 16:31 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2012 ESA Renewables LLC (Lake Mary, Florida, U.S.) announced that it has executed a letter of intent (LOI) to provide design and construction services for a 24 MW-DC solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Jamaica. ESA will work with Caribbean Energies Group LLC (Snohomish, Washington, U.S.), which will provide financing, a site and materials, as well as with an un-named U.S. equipment manufacturer. ESA expects to begin construction on the project in 2012. Read more

New hospital in Haiti includes 400 kW of PV

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 16:31 (Solarserver)

On April 27th, 2012, Partners In Health (Boston, Mass., U.S.) announced that a 400 kilowatt (kW) roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system is being developed at the main complex of Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital in Haiti. Read more

Navigant releases report on PV industry shipments, capacities, prices, and provides an insight into how the industry will work in future environments with reduced incentives

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 16:23 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2012 Navigant Consulting (Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) announced the release of a new report which provides an analysis of solar photovoltaic (PV) industry shipments, capacities, average prices and revenues, as well as a forecast of shipments to 2016. "Photovoltaic Manufacturer Shipments, Capacity & Competitive Analysis 2011/2012" notes that while PV industry shipments to the first point of sale grew 35% to 23.6 GW in 2011, technology revenues grew only 4% over the same period. Navigant notes that the report can provide insight into how the industry will work in future environments with reduced incentives. Read more

Suntech unveils high-performance 305W module in Europe

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 15:44 (PV-Tech)

Suntech Power Holdings will use Solar Expo 2012 as its platform to unveil the STP 305-24/Vd module with SuperPoly technology. With 305Wp nominal power and up to 15.7% efficiency, the company states this high-performance module is ideally suited for large-scale commercial projects seeking low levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Read more

IKEA Italy installs 7MW of Q-Cells? modules

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 13:14 (PV-Tech)

IKEA has announced that it will equip the roof of its main warehouse in Piacenza, Northern Italy, with 7MW of Q-Cells? CIGS thin-film modules. The rooftop installation was developed in collaboration with GreenTechPower and F. Ili Zaffaroni. Read more

First Solar and SunPower sales fall in first quarter

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 22:24 (PV-Tech)

Two of the largest US-based PV manufacturers, First Solar and SunPower both reported first quarter sales at the same time, both with quarter-on-quarter sales decline. First Solar reported net sales of US$497 a decrease of US$163 million from the fourth quarter of 2011. SunPower?s first quarter GAAP revenue was US$494 million, down from US$625.3 in the previous quarter. Read more

China Dims 'Golden Sun' Solar Subsidy

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 17:59 (Renewable Energy World)

China, the target of criticism and legal action from those who contend it unfairly subsidizes its export market, is now cutting support for some of its own solar generation. Read more

Canadian Solar and Bank of China enter C$120 million financing agreement

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 17:47 (PV-Tech)

Canadian Solar and the Bank of China have singed a financing agreement to provide a C$120 million construction loan for PV plants in Ontario, Canada, it has announced. The loan is supposed to support funding of Canadian Solar projects in Ontario, expected to begin construction between 2012 and 2014. Read more

SunPower sells 25MW Californian PV plant to K-Road

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 17:04 (PV-Tech)

K Road Power has bought the 25MW McHenry solar project in California from SunPower, it has been announced. The project has been designed and is currently being constructed by SunPower in Modesto, California, and it is expected to commence commercial production in September 2012. Modesto Irrigation District (MID) will buy the generated energy under a 25-year PPA. Read more

SunPower sells 25MW Californian PV plant to K Road

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 17:04 (PV-Tech)

K Road Power has bought the 25MW McHenry solar project in California from SunPower, it has been announced. The project has been designed and is currently being constructed by SunPower in Modesto, California, and it is expected to commence commercial production in September 2012. Modesto Irrigation District (MID) will buy the generated energy under a 25-year PPA. Read more

Masdar announces plans for solar projects in Tonga and Afghanistan

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 16:35 (PV-Tech)

Renewable energy company Masdar has announced the development of solar projects in Afghanistan and Tonga. The development is part of the United Nations? Sustainable Energy for All initiative. Read more

Solar industry CEOs launch Global Solar Council

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 16:29 (Solarpowerportal)

Representatives from some of the solar industry?s most prominent players have announced the foundation of the Global Solar Council. The council is a CEO-level coalition of international companies involved in the solar photovoltaic value chain. Read more

ESA Renewables develops 24MW solar park in Jamaica

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 16:00 (PV-Tech)

ESA Renewables, US project developer, has been contracted by Jamaica-based Caribbean Energies Group (CEG) to construct a 24MW PV plant in Jamaica. ESA is responsible for the design and the maintenance of the plant as well as the legal permits and other requirements. Read more

Canadian Solar and Bank of China agree CAD$120 million solar construction financing agreement

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 15:18 (PV-Tech)

A CAD$120 million ground-breaking financing agreement between Canadian Solar and Bank of China has been signed. The loan facility will be used to support the construction of solar power projects owned by Canadian Solar and which are expected to be built during 2012, 2013, and into 2014. Read more

What Solar Investors Want?

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Investors can appear downright hostile to the idea of putting money in solar manufacturing these days, but their attitude toward the business of financing and installing solar panels is another story. So, the Thursday announcement that Clean Power Finance has created a $300 million residential solar fund serves as the latest reminder as to who are the darlings of investors these days. Read more

Scouring the Tropics for Thermal Energy

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The world's largest untapped source of solar energy doesn't lie on the vast sands of the Sahara or even atop the high chaparral of the desert Southwest. Instead, it stretches across at least 23 million square miles of earth's tropical oceans; the uppermost layers of which make a prime natural source of thermal energy. Read more

What Do Solar Investors Want?

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Investors can appear downright hostile to the idea of putting money in solar manufacturing these days, but their attitude toward the business of financing and installing solar panels is another story. So, the Thursday announcement that Clean Power Finance has created a $300 million residential solar fund serves as the latest reminder as to who are the darlings of investors these days. Read more

Order Focus: REC signs agreements to supply 20MW for Bulgarian solar projects

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 12:52 (PV-Tech)

REC has announced that it will supply 20MW PV modules for installations across Bulgaria. The company signed a number of agreements to supply its modules to PV plants. Read more

Eosol?s US$300,000 funds Chile?s first solar PV lab at Adolfo Ibáñez University

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 12:44 (PV-Tech)

Chile?s first solar PV laboratory has been inaugurated this week in Santiago, Chile, giving developers an additional reason to keep a close eye on the Chilean market. With an investment of US$300,000, Eosol New Energy opened the facility at the Adolfo Ibáñez University at a ceremony attended by the minster of energy Jorge Bunster, the president of the IAU Andrés Benítez, dean of the faculty of engineering and science Alejandro Jadresic, the president of Eosol Bruno Bernal, academics and members of the solar industry. Read more

Cogenra installs hybrid solar energy system at Arizona hospital

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 12:23 (Solarserver)

On May 1st, 2012, Cogenra Solar (Mountain View, California, U.S.), a provider of distributed solar cogeneration systems and renewable energy service solutions, announced that it is installing a 115 kilowatt (kW) solar cogeneration project at community hospital Tucson Medical Center (TMC) in Southern Arizona. Read more

Concentrating solar power: Glass Point Solar wins engineering innovation award for enhanced oil recovery

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 12:16 (Solarserver)

On May 1st, 2012, GlassPoint Solar (Fremont, California, U.S.) announced that it has received a special meritorious award for engineering innovation in the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) category by Hart Energy?s ?E&P magazine?, the oil and gas industry?s publication on exploration and production. GlassPoint?s concentrating solar power (CSP) EOR solution was selected for both its technical and economical achievements, delivering fixed-price, zero-emissions steam for thermal recovery projects worldwide. Read more

Assurant launches commercial solar project insurance

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 12:09 (Solarserver)

On May 1st, 2012, Assurant Inc. (New York, New York, U.S.), a provider of specialty insurance, announced that it has introduced a new comprehensive insurance solution for commercial solar project developments. The company?s Solar Project Insurance is designed specifically for the fast growing 100 kilowatts (kW) to 3 megawatt (MW) solar market. It will allow developers of commercial and industrial scale projects to address problematic risks that have traditionally made financing difficult. Read more

Intersolar Europe set to welcome UK solar market

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 11:38 (Solarpowerportal)

Intersolar Europe is set to welcome the European solar industry to the Munich Trade Fair in Germany. The Fair, which will span over 180,000 square metres and house over 2,400 exhibitors, begins on July 11. Read more

Baker Center: U.S. solar industry to employ up to 430,000 people by 2020, role of incentives typical for energy industries

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 9:35 (Solarserver)

On May 1st, 2012 the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy (Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.) released a report which finds that solar energy is following a similar path of government support on the way to mainstream adoption as other energy sources have in the past. "Assessment of Incentives and Employment Impacts of Solar Industry Deployment" also estimates that the U.S. solar industry will grow to between 200,000 and 430,000 total jobs by 2020. The report was funded by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Read more

A Big Audacious Goal: Turning on the Lights for 1.4 Billion People

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 17:28 (Renewable Energy World)

At the recent Fortune Brainstorm Green conference which I attended in Laguna Niguel, California, there was a host of U.S.-focused presentations and conversations. The ongoing themes and dialogue provided significant insights into the current state of affairs in the U.S. clean-tech market, including: Read more

Electricity market reforms could face parliamentary delay

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 12:14 (Solarpowerportal)

Government is reportedly set to delay the much-anticipated electricity bill designed to attract increased investment in energy and help diversify the mix of generation technologies, particularly encouraging low-carbon methods. Read more

Ofgem approves only 5% of applications under British Renewable Heat Incentive program

Thursday, 5.3.2012 - 9:26 (Solarserver)

U.K. electricity regulator Ofgem (London, U.K.) has accredited 20 renewable heat installations out of 376 applications to its Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) program by March 31st, 2012, according to an April 2012 update. Ofgem's RHI Update notes that applications often do not contain all of the necessary supporting information, or sufficiently detailed information, as well as citing issues with clarity and consistency of information and documents provided. Read more