AEG Power Solutions introduces new central PV inverter

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 21:23 (Solarserver)

On May 29th, 2012, AEG Power Solutions (AEG PS, Warstein-Belecke, Germany) announced that it has introduced a new solar photovoltaic (PV) central inverter with 630 kilowatt (kW) performance. The new Protect PV 630 is immediately available in indoor version, while the outdoor solution will be introduced shortly to the market, the company states. Read more

TGC Renewables starts construction on 3.6 MW PV plant in Devon, U.K.

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 21:14 (Solarserver)

On May 29th, 2012, TGC Renewables (London, England) announced that it has begun construction on a 3.6 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the north of the village of Clawton, Devon, United Kingdom. The company will install 14,700 PV panels over three adjacent fields on a site comprising 8.32 hectares. The project will be completed by the end of July 2012. Read more

WTI to build 3.6 MW PV project at school in Pennsylvania

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 21:09 (Solarserver)

On May 29th, 2012, Weatherproofing Technologies Inc. (WTI, Beachwood, Ohio, U.S.) announced that it will develop a 3.6 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant for the Neshaminy School District in Pennsylvania. The PV project will be installed at Neshaminy High School and Maple Point Middle School. The project is expected to provide about 90% of the schools' current usage. Read more

CRE claims increase in installation despite FiT cuts

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Despite the feed-in tariff cuts in April, the French energy regulation commission (CRE) has released figures showing that installation requests have not stagnated over the last three quarters. Read more

Xunlight receives US utility patent for its Gen 2 roll-to-roll tool set

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 16:13 (PV-Tech)

Flexible thin-film module and equipment manufacturer Xunlight has been granted a US utility patent to cover its Gen II roll-to-roll thin-film silicon solar cell manufacturing equipment. The company?s tools combine four roll-to-roll processes ? substrate cleaning, back-reflector deposition, PECVD thin-film silicon deposition and ITO sputter deposition ? into a single vacuum machine. Read more

IEA praises UK?s ?ambitious? pathway to a low-carbon future

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 13:27 (Solarpowerportal)

A new report from the International Energy Agency has commended the UK?s current decarbonisation efforts as the country looks to halve its greenhouse emissions from 1990 to 2027 and cut them by a total of 80 percent by 2050. Read more

China Sunergy?s modules pass TÜV Rheinland?s salt mist and ammonia tests

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 12:25 (PV-Tech)

China Sunergy?s mono- and polycrystalline solar modules have been certified as resistant to salt mist corrosion and ammonia in tests conducted by TÜV Rheinland. The tests vouch for China Sunergy?s modules? performance in areas of harsh weather and environmental conditions, such as those experienced in coastal areas and in agricultural areas. Read more

Q-Cells completes final plant in Starwood SSM PV project

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 9:25 (Solarserver)

On May 30th, 2012 Q-Cells SE's (Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany) independent North American subsidiary announced that it has completed the final 11 MW plant in a 69 MW-DC solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada. The Starwood SSM project was built in partnership with Starwood Energy Group Global LLC (Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.). The project consists of three plants comprised of more than 300,000 Q-Cells crystalline silicon Q.BASE PV modules. Read more

CASM attempts to dispel ?myths? with ?facts?

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 19:23 (PV-Tech)

The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) brought together media organizations to consider allegations made by Chinese manufacturers and solar industry representatives. Read more

Emmvee inaugurates its largest PV power plant to date

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 18:55 (PV-Tech)

Having only entered the project development and EPC business in April, 2012 PV module manufacturer, Emmvee has opened an 11.4MWp solar park at an old military airfield in Bronkow, Germany. The company said that approximately 46,000 modules of its modules were used in the project. Read more

Centrosolar and Pohlen Solar plan 8MW installation on 100 German grocery chain roofs

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 17:34 (PV-Tech)

Dubbed ?CentroPlan?, the joint venture of Centrosolar and Pohlen Solar has revealed plans to install around 8MWp of PV arrays on the roofs of approximately 100 grocery chain rooftops in south Germany. The modules will be integrated into the roof?s surface using Pohlen Dach?s substructure system combined with Renusol?s MetaSole product to ensure robust waterproofing properties. Read more

Solar Tree lights up Clerkenwell Design week

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 17:07 (Solarpowerportal)

Billed as ?the future of street lighting?, Ross Lovegrove?s stunning Solar Tree has made its way to London ahead of the Clerkenwell Design week and will stay in situ for the duration of the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics. Read more

Antaris Solar enters Japanese PV market

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 16:00 (PV-Tech)

At the beginning of May, Antaris announced plans to break into the Middle East market, but at PV Expo 2012, the company launched its Tokyo office. German company Antaris will be working in partnership with local PV company NRE, based in Tokyo. Read more

JA Solar says PV cell shipments will not be affected by U.S. tariffs

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 15:56 (Solarserver)

On May 30th, 2012 JA Solar Holdings Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) declared that its shipments of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules intended for the United States market will be mostly unaffected by pending U.S. tariffs. This statement was part of a JA Solar's response to the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) preliminary ruling which proposes 31% and higher anti-dumping duties against imports of Chinese PV cells, as well as modules made from these cells. JA Solar stated that it is "disappointed" with the DOC decision, and that tariffs will be damaging to solar industry growth. Read more

Canadian Solar ELPS PV cells reach 21.1% efficiency

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 15:47 (Solarserver)

On May 31st, 2012 Canadian Solar Inc. (Kitchener, Canada) announced that its mono ELPS solar photovoltaic (PV) cells have reached 21.1% conversion efficiency, according to in-house tests. Canadian Solar states that this is the highest efficiency reached to date with a p-type monocrystalline silicon PV cell. The company's PV modules based on its ELPS technology have been nominated for the 2012 Intersolar Awards in the Photovoltaics category. Read more

Israel to slash solar equity returns by 50%

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 15:35 (PV-Tech)

This week, the Public Utility Authority of Israel slashed solar equity returns in half from 14% to 7%. The new rate will be 69 agorot (US$0.17) per kilowatt hour down from 90 agorot (US$0.23). However, both the Authority and Energy and Water Ministry have stressed that the regulation applies only to non-domestic installations of up to 50kW, connected to the grid by August 1. Read more

Flanders introduces further cuts to solar subsidies

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 14:36 (PV-Tech)

Flemish minister for energy Freya Van den Bossche has reformed green energy support. The government intends to overhaul its renewables certificates? scheme, where renewable energy producers receive a certificate for every megawatt generated, alongside phasing out subsidies. Read more

Tremco to construct 3.36MW PV project on Pennsylvania school rooftops

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 14:26 (PV-Tech)

Neshaminy School District, Pennsylvania will soon be generating around 90% of its annual electricity needs from a 3.36MW solar power installation on its schools? roofs. Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc. (WTI), a subsidiary of Tremco, will soon commence construction of the rooftop project on the roofs of Neshaminy High School and Maple Point Middle School, which is expected to take in the region of 10 months to complete. Read more

Luxcara acquires 12MW PV plant in Aquitaine, France

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 14:06 (PV-Tech)

Hamburg-based asset manager Luxcara has been the recipient of a 12MWp PV power plant in Aquitaine, south-western France, said to have been purchased by EDF EN for around ?49 million. Luxcara?s Luxemburg-based Flaveo SA, SICAV-FIS fund has received the ?Béguey? plant, which has a capacity of close to 12MWp and is equipped with inverters from SMA Solar and modules from First Solar. Read more

Japanese PV equipment supplier NPC consolidates German subsidiaries

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 13:33 (PV-Tech)

In a move cited to provide a more comprehensive product and service offering, Japanese PV equipment supplier NPC has merged its Germany-based subsidiaries, NPC Europe and Meier Solar Solutions. The module assembly tool specialist expects the move to support customers in and outside Europe. Read more

Save Energy Group signs partnership with Solar Frontier

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 13:22 (Solarpowerportal)

UK-based solar distributor Save Energy Group has expanded its product portfolio through its latest partnership with CIS thin-film module manufacturer Solar Frontier. Read more

Intersolar EU: Canadian Solar touts 21.1% ELPS mono cell conversion efficiency

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 13:06 (PV-Tech)

Emphasis by Canadian Solar at this year?s Intersolar Europe 2012 is its ELPS cell technology that features a Metal Wrap Through (MWT) design, coupled to its manufacturing quality control systems throughout the production process that characterises a new versatile multicrystalline module, CS6A-P with a output up to 205W. Read more

Eclipse Solar scores major sports sponsorship

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 12:52 (Solarpowerportal)

Leeds-based installation company Eclipse Solar has signed a major advertising deal that will see the company?s message displayed across the pitch side LED boards during Rugby Super League games on Sky Sports, Fox Sports, and the BBC. Read more

SunPower?s 110MW US project comes under fire from environmentalists

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 12:33 (PV-Tech)

SunPower?s 110MW Quinto solar project proposed for Merced County, US, has come under criticism from farmland advocates and environmental groups, reports Merced Sun-Star. The project is to be constructed on over 1,000 acres outside of Santa Nella, generating enough power for about 40,000 households. Read more

TVP Solar thermal collector nominated for Intersolar Award

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 12:31 (Solarserver)

TVP Solar's (Geneva, Switzerland) MT-Power solar thermal collector has been nominated for the 2012 Intersolar Award in the Solar Thermal Technologies category. TVP uses a novel collector design which is neither a traditional flat-plate nor vacuum tube design, but instead a flat high-vacuum panel. The company's MT-Power can supply heat between 100 and 200 degrees centigrade, and is intended for commercial and industrial applications that require either cooling or industrial process heat. Read more

Interstate Renewable Energy Council praises changes to California net-metering law, allowing for 2,000 additional MW of solar

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 12:26 (Solarserver)

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council Inc. (IREC, Latham, New York, U.S.) has commended the changes made to California's net-metering law by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). On May 24th, the commission voted to clarify the methodology for calculating the state's 5% net metering cap, which will dramatically expand opportunities for California ratepayers to go solar. Read more

Canadian Solar supplies modules for 8 MW PV plant in Hesse, Germany

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 12:11 (Solarserver)

On May 29th, 2012, Canadian Solar Inc. (Kitchener, Canada, U.S.) announced that it has supplied more than 40,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for a 8 MW PV plant in Dreieich-Buchschlag, Germany. The plant, which covers an area of 15.3 hectares, will be the largest in the German state of Hesse. Frankfurter Entsorgungs- und Service GmbH (FES, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany) served as project contractor, and construction work was performed by Sinusstrom GmbH (Ilmenau, Germany). Read more

Feature: the battle for the solar systems

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 11:49 (Solarpowerportal)

You may not know but there is currently a battle going on to take control of solar systems. However, we are not talking intergalactic solar systems or anything Star Wars-related. This is something much more down to earth. Read more

Bosch Solar Energy announces board reshuffles

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 11:31 (PV-Tech)

Dr. Steffen Haack has been appointed to the executive board of Bosch Solar Energy, taking effect on August 1st, leaving his former post as head of sales and branch management for factory automation in Bosch Rexroth AG. He will replace Peter Schneidewind on the board, who takes on a new role of head of the international operating product area accessories division at Bosch Power Tools in Solothurn, Switzerland. Read more

Bosch Solar Energy announces board reshuffle

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 11:31 (PV-Tech)

Dr. Steffen Haack has been appointed to the executive board of Bosch Solar Energy, taking effect on August 1st, leaving his former post as head of sales and branch management for factory automation in Bosch Rexroth AG. He will replace Peter Schneidewind on the board, who takes on a new role of head of the international operating product area accessories division at Bosch Power Tools in Solothurn, Switzerland. Read more

Logitech and G24i pave the way for solar-powered gadgets

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 10:51 (Solarpowerportal)

The marriage of solar technology and mobile gadgets has long been touted as the solution to the continual charging cycle of modern-day mobile technology. However, it has mostly been written off as future fantasy; typically a combination of cost and efficiency has rendered the partnership commercially unviable. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne reports decline in sales, losses in 1Q 2012

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 9:31 (Solarserver)

On May 30th, 2012 Hanwha SolarOne Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) released financial results for the first quarter of 2012, reporting an 18% sequential decrease in revenues to USD 128 million, a -27% operating margin, and a net loss of USD 48.2 million. Hanwha's module shipments fell to 161 MW during the quarter, a decline on both a sequential and year-over-year basis. The company says this is the result of its decision to not ship PV modules into the U.S. market, which also resulted in sales into the German market climbing to 43% of total first quarter revenues. Read more

SolarBridge raises USD 25 million in Series D round

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 9:20 (Solarserver)

On May 30th, 2012 SolarBridge Technologies Inc. (Austin, Texas, U.S.) announced that it has raised USD 25 million in a Series D round, bringing its total raised to more than USD 71 million. This latest funding round was led Shea Ventures (Walnut, California, U.S.), a new investor, and included previous investors Battery Ventures (Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.), Rho Ventures (New York, New York, U.S.) and Osage University Partners (Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, U.S.). SolarBridge states that it will use the funding to support the launch of new software and hardware products. Read more

Midwest Study: Adding More Wind Power Will Save Money

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 22:37 (Renewable Energy World)

Adding more wind power to the electric grid could reduce wholesale market prices by more than 25 percent in the Midwest by 2020, according to a new analysis. Read more

A Gust of Wind Industry Mergers

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 6:01 (Renewable Energy World)

A rising tide may float all boats, but a stiff wind separates the wheat from the chaff. Over the last week, it's become clearer which wind developers are the wheat and which are the chaff. Stronger developers with deeper experience are buying projects from their weaker kin. At least two such deals were announced last week. Read more

Powin Energy, Ideal Power Converters to co-develop modular grid storage solution

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 21:18 (Solarserver)

On May 29th, 2012, Powin Energy (Tualatin, Oregon, U.S.), a subsidiary of Powin Corp., announced that it has signed a development agreement with Ideal Power Converters (Spicewood, Texas, U.S.). Under the agreement, Powin Energy will utilize Ideal Power Converters patented bi-directional battery converters as part of the Powin Energy Grid Storage Solution. Read more

Social Networking Is Great, But it Doesn't Beat Socializing?And Networking

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 19:29 (Renewable Energy World)

I’m a big fan of social media, especially as a business-to-business publication editor.  Through RenewableEnergyWorld.com, our Facebook page, my Twitter account, the REWorld Twitter account, my LinkedIn Profile and the renewable energy-focused LinkedIn groups of which I am a member, I am connected to a huge community of people who have t Read more

National Trust receives Gold Ashden Award

Thursday, 5.31.2012 - 18:54 (Solarpowerportal)

The National Trust has been awarded this year?s Gold Award at the annual Ashden Awards. Now in its twelfth year, the Ashden Awards are designed to champion practical, local energy solutions that cut carbon, protect the environment, boost economies and improve people?s lives in the UK and developing world. Read more