Duke Energy Renewables acquires 10 MW Arizona PV plant from SOLON

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 14:20 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2012, Duke Energy Renewables (Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.) announced that it has acquired a 10-megawatt (MW) utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project located near Kingman, Arizona. Duke Energy Renewables purchased the Black Mountain Solar Project from SOLON Corp. (Tucson, Arizona), a solar power plant developer in the U.S. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Read more

Satcon enters strategic manufacturing agreement with Sanmina-SCI

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 14:13 (PV-Tech)

Renewable energy solutions provider Satcon Technology has entered into a strategic manufacturing agreement with Sanmina-SCI, the company has announced. Under the agreement, Sanmina will begin producing Satcon?s PowerGate Plus 50, 100, 250 and 500kW inverters well as the company?s Prism Platform solutions at it?s Canadian factory. The production of the utility-scale inverters in Ontario, Canada, is necessary to comply with Ontario?s FiT program. Read more

K Road acquires 25 MW California PV project

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 12:50 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2012 K Road Power Holdings LLC (San Francisco, California, U.S.) announced that it has acquired a 25 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project under construction by SunPower Corporation (San Jose, California, U.S.) in California's Central Valley. SunPower expects to complete the McHenry Solar Project in Modesto, California in September 2012. K Road has arranged non-recourse construction and term project financing for the project with a syndicate of three institutions, with Union Bank N.A. (San Francisco, California, U.S.), Rabobank Group (Utrecht, The Netherlands) and CIT Energy (Houston, Texas, U.S.) acting as lead arrangers. Read more

International Finance Corporation to replicate pilot rooftop PV projects across Gujarat, India, considers loan for 50 MW of PV projects in Rajasthan

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 12:45 (Solarserver)

On April 30th, 2012 the International Finance Corporation (IFC, Washington D.C., U.S.) announced that it is supporting the replication of pilot rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects across five cities in the Indian state of Gujarat, after completing two 2.5 MW projects in the city of Gandhinagar. The IFC is also considering lending USD 26 million for the construction of three PV plants totaling 50 MW to be built in Rajasthan. The agency is expected to decide on the loans on May 30th, 2012. Read more

BTU revenues increase in 1Q 2012 despite PV equipment market weakness

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 12:12 (Solarserver)

On May 1st, 2012 BTU International Inc. (North Billerica, Massachusetts, U.S.) released financial results for the first quarter of 2012, reporting a 9.4% sequential increase in net sales to USD 16.3 million, a -10% operating margin and a net loss of USD 2 million. BTU notes that its business was impacted by the collapse in the market for solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing equipment. The company cites an ongoing weakness in this market segment in its revenue outlook of between USD 14 and 15 million in the second quarter of 2012, but expects this market to improve in future quarters. Read more

First Solar Posts Disappointing Q1 Results

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 18:14 (Renewable Energy World)

First Solar, which recently announced it was shuttering its Germany facility, idling lines in Malaysia and laying off 30 percent of its global workforce, detailed some of the struggles facing the company with its quarterly report. Read more

Solarexpo 2012 gears up for another year of conferences, summits and new technologies

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 16:59 (PV-Tech)

On May 8th, the 13th Solarexpo opens its doors in Verona to international exhibitors and visitors. Over 1,230 direct exhibitors and brands, representing 40 European and non-European countries will be exhibiting on more than 100,000 m² of exhibition area. More than 70,000 professional visitors are expected to visit the 11 exhibition halls and outdoor exhibition areas. Solarexpo hosts 60 international and national conferences, workshops and courses this year with 300 national and international speakers presenting to 6000 expected conference attendees. Read more

Solar Voyage: Around the World in 584 Days

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 16:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It came much more quickly than the three years it took the Ferdinand Magellan expedition, but not nearly as fast as the 80 days it took Jules Verne's fictitious Phileas Fogg. Read more

Rutgers Builds Solar-Powered Computing Center, Studies Power Management

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Contractors recently installed 16 polycrystalline solar panels on top of a novel computing facility on the roof of Rutgers's School of Engineering Building. Researchers will use Parasol, as it's called, to study how to effectively manage computing and data processing with solar-generated electricity. Read more

And the Solar Fred Award Goes to?.

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

From a solar marketing and advocacy perspective, I'm a big fan of public peer awards. They’re important for any industry, especially for a difficult and growing industry like solar. I bring up this award topic now because I’ve just learned that Heather Andrews (a.k.a. “@PVaddict”) has just won a posthumous Woman in Solar Read more

Conergy to equip numerous Hawaiian public schools with multi-megawatt solar PV power plants

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 14:24 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2012 Conergy AG (Hamburg, Germany) announced a new project in the surfer's paradise Hawaii. By 2014, the PV system supplier will have equipped public schools with solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants with a total capacity of more than 4 MW. Recently Conergy has installed a 122 kilowatt (kW) system on the rooftop of the public Aiea High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Read more

Nanosolar achieves ISO 9001:2008 certification for German PV manufacturing facility

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 14:15 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2012, Nanosolar GmbH (San Jose, California, U.S.) announced that it has received ISO 9001:2008 certification for its fully automated solar photovoltaic (PV) panel assembly factory in Luckenwalde, Germany. The certification was awarded by TUEV Sued Germany. The certification covers all aspects of the manufacturing and testing of Nanosolar thin-film solar panels. In addition, it verifies that Nanosolar demonstrated its ability to provide solar panels that meet its customers' needs, as well as applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Read more

Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing: China?s new five-year plan calls for escalation in government sponsorship of export-intensive, price-subsidized PV trade

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 13:46 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2012, the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), an association of more than 190 employers representing over 16,000 Americans, said that China?s 12th five-year plan for the domestic solar industry will provide greater government control and support of the Chinese solar industry. According to an analysis commissioned by CASM, China?s five-year plan will fuel China?s export-intensive solar-industry campaign calls for a number of government initiatives, including new policy, financial and price subsidies. Read more

Concentrating solar power: 3M, Gossamer Space unveils large aperture parabolic trough technology

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 13:37 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2012, 3M (ST. PAUL, Minnesota, U.S.) announced that its renewable energy division has teamed with Gossamer Space Frames to unveil a new parabolic trough solar collector technology that is designed to significantly reduce equipment and installation costs for concentrating solar power (CSP) systems used in power generation. The Large Aperture Trough 73 (LAT 73) features a concentration factor of over 100x and an aperture size of 7.3 m, both world benchmarks for the industry. Read more

Pike Research: CSP market to more than double by 2020

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 12:15 (Solarserver)

On May 2nd, 2012 Pike Research LLC (Boulder, Colorado, U.S.) announced the release of a new report which estimates that the global market for concentrating solar power (CSP) technology will more than double by 2020, despite considerable market volatility from year to year. According to "Concentrated Solar Power", worldwide annual revenue for CSP systems will increase to USD 5.1 billion in 2013, and drop again in 2014, to reach between USD 4.8 billion and 8.6 billion in 2020. Pike Research notes that the most significant current advantage of CSP technology is its ability to integrate thermal energy storage. Read more

Major construction work commences at First Solar?s 550MW Topaz project

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 11:54 (PV-Tech)

MidAmerican and First Solar have announced the beginning of major construction work on the site of the 550MW Topaz Solar Farm in San Luis Obispo County, California. Both companies congregated about the construction schedule as well as environmental issues and future plans to involve communities and private landowners in the project. Read more

SunPower reports 21% fall in revenues in 1Q 2012 results

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 9:51 (Solarserver)

On May 3rd, 2012, SunPower Corporation (San Jose, California, U.S.) released first quarter 2012 results, reporting a 21% sequential decrease in revenues to USD 494 million, an operating margin of -10%, and a net loss of USD 74.5 million. SunPower has also offered an updated guidance for the second quarter of 2012, predicting revenues between USD 560 to 635 million and a net loss per diluted share of USD 0.95 to 0.80. A day earlier on May 2nd, 2012, the company reported the sale of the 25 MW McHenry Solar Project to K Road Power Holdings LLC (San Francisco, California, U.S.). Read more

First Solar reports heavy losses in 1Q 2012, James Hughes appointed CEO, begins construction on Topaz Solar Farm

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 9:48 (Solarserver)

On May 3rd, 2012, First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) released financial results from the first quarter of 2012, reporting a 25% sequential decrease in sales to USD 497 million, an operating loss of USD 456 million, and a net loss of USD 449 million. The company cites a significant decline in module sales and heavy restructuring expenses for these losses. First Solar made a number of other high-profile announcements on the same day. These include the appointment of current Chief Commercial Officer James Hughes as CEO, the creation of an Indian operating company and the beginning of construction on the 550 MW Topaz Solar Farm in California with MidAmerican Solar (Des Moines, Read more

Solar Industry CEOs launch Global Solar Council

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 9:44 (Solarserver)

On May 3rd, 2012, representatives of leading international companies in the solar photovoltaic industry announced the founding of the Global Solar Council, a CEO?level industry coalition whose aim is to expand the global deployment of solar energy in a sustainable and cost?competitive way. Global Solar Council members will engage with policymakers worldwide to demonstrate the progress towards abundant, affordable and low emissions energy already made possible by the solar industry and to emphasize the importance of a supportive policy and trade environment, which will enable the ongoing development of competitively?priced solar energy, driving job creation and economic growth. Read more

Managing the Wind

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

With nearly 47,000 MW of wind power capacity in the U.S. and more than 8,000 MW expected to go online in 2012, wind power's rapid growth poses a tremendous challenge for utilities and grid managers charged with managing a growing source of intermittent electricity. Read more

Major construction work commences at 550MW Topaz project

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 11:54 (PV-Tech)

MidAmerican and First Solar have announced the beginning of major construction work on the site of the 550MW Topaz Solar Farm in San Luis Obispo County, California. Both companies congregated about the construction schedule as well as environmental issues and future plans to involve communities and private landowners in the project. Read more

Japanese Proposed Tariffs Submitted

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 15:30 (Renewable Energy World)

In what may be the most significant renewable energy policy development worldwide in years, Japanese authorities are circulating proposed feed-in tariffs that-if confirmed by the Minister of Trade later this month-could lead to a crash renewables program. Read more

Ofgem set to change transmission charging structure

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 14:28 (Solarpowerportal)

Ofgem has announced that it will be requiring industry to develop changes to the current transmission charging approach. The energy watchdog has warned that it needs to implement a new transmission charging structure to better reflect the ?costs placed on the system by all forms of generation, particularly renewable generators, which operate intermittently.? Read more

Yingli sets up regional headquarters in Tokyo, Japan

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 14:02 (PV-Tech)

Yingli Green Energy has furthered its reach across Asia with its establishment of a regional headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. In conjunction with this new location, the company has also set up a new wholly owned subsidiary in the form of Yingli Japan, or more formally, Yingli Green Energy Japan Corporation, Ltd. The news is a move on the part of the vertically integrated manufacturer to further its business development in Japan. Read more

Solar car hits the road on annual tour of Alberta

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 13:29 (Solarserver)

University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) announced that its solar-powered car, Schulich Axiom, will hit the highway in Alberta for the first time since the World Solar Challenge in Australia last October. Members of the university?s solar team will visit communities and schools in the province as part of their third annual tour of Alberta. Read more