PV Evolution Labs announces launch of new PID certification program

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 17:30 (PV-Tech)

Canadian Solar has become the first solar company to pass the stringent new PID certification program unveiled by US solar module testing laboratory, PV Evolution Labs (PVEL). The certification program was designed to inform module manufacturers and project developers on intricacies of module degradation from system voltages, a leading cause of module failure. Read more

Concentrator Optics raises ?3.5 million for 40MW lens production line

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Concentrator Optics has received financing totaling ?3.5 million to build a 40 MW silicone-on-glass lens production line. The largest contributors were Belgian Capricorn Cleantech Fund and German company Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, as well as the production line the money will also be used for commercial expansion and organizational development. Read more

EPIA: Global PV market growth to recover in 2014 as European dominance fades

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 12:26 (Solarserver)

On May 9th, 2012, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA, Brussels, Belgium) announced the release of its latest annual report on actual and projected growth in European and global solar photovoltaic (PV) markets. Global market outlook for photovoltaics until 2016 states that future market growth will depend strongly upon national policy decisions, estimating that the global PV market will grow to between 38.8 GW and 77.3 GW in 2016. The report predicts relatively flat growth in global PV markets in 2012 and 2013 due to reductions in European subsidy programs, estimating global PV markets between 20 GW and 40-41 GW in size both years. Read more

Report: Serbian government officials sign memorandum to build 1,000MW solar park

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 22:37 (PV-Tech)

According to a report by EMG, representative from Serbia?s government and the Securum Equity Partners Europe signed a memorandum for the development of what is being called the world?s largest solar park. Minister of the Environment, Oliver Dulic, and members of Securum?s management board, including Alessio Colussi and Ivan Matejak, signed the memo in the presence of Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. Read more

Shanghai Alex Solar to develop over 1GW of PV capacity in Jinchang City

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 22:13 (PV-Tech)

Under an agreement signed by the Jinchang Municipal Government and Shanghai Alex Solar Energy Science and Technology, Alex Solar will be developing 1GW of PV capacity in the Jinchang city development center under five-year plan that takes the agreement until 2016. Alex Solar advised that this marked the beginning of its long-term growth plan to expand in the Jinchang municipality. Read more

Westinghouse Solar, CBD Energy sign definitive merger agreement

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 21:51 (PV-Tech)

Westinghouse Solar and CBD Energy are hoping that the definitive merger agreement both companies signed this week will be completed by Q3 2012. Approvals from both companies? board of directors have been received. Limited closing conditions and approval by both companies? shareholders need to be finalized in order to complete the deal. Read more

HYET Solar acquires all Helianthos assets from Nuon

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 21:32 (PV-Tech)

HYET Solar, a relatively new company founded by Rombout Swanborn, recently bought all assets of Helianthos from Nuon. The company plans to further develop Helianthos? technology with a team of 15 to 20 employees. HYET advised that its long term goal is to eventually bring the Helianthos flexible solar cell foil to market on a large scale. Read more

Solarcentury appoints Frans van den Heuvel as CEO

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 21:16 (PV-Tech)

The former CEO of Scheuten Solar, Frans van den Heuvel, has been named CEO of UK-based Solarcentury.  Van den Heuvel holds over 13 years of industry experience, previously working with ProxEnergy, a solar installation and smart-grid product development company. Van den Heuvel began his new role with Solarcentury on May 8. Read more

Solar was Europe?s most-installed energy source in 2011

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 18:39 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar PV was the most installed energy source in Europe during 2011 according to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). The EPIA reports that solar PV capacity across the EU rose by 63 percent to reach 21.9GW last year. Read more

Solaria and Convert Italia partner to deliver world?s largest low concentrating PV solar power plant

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 18:08 (PV-Tech)

Module manufacturer Solaria Corporation has joined forces with renewable energy project developer Convert Italia to create the largest low concentrating PV solar plant in the world. The plant, located in Puglia, southern Italy, recently came online and will deliver an annual generation of 2MW to the Italian grid. Read more

Australia's CBD Acquires Westinghouse Solar; CEO Out

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 17:59 (Renewable Energy World)

Emerging Australian company CBD Energy has an agreement in place to acquire California-based Westinghouse Solar in an all-stock deal that will give the company better access to the growing American solar market. Read more

Saudi Arabia targets 41GW of solar installations by 2032

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 16:56 (PV-Tech)

Representatives from the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE), the government body directing alternative energy development, have announced the country?s ambitious long-term goals for solar power. The oil-rich kingdom aims to have installed 41GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar PV projects by 2032, 25GW and 16GW respectively. Read more

ECD cancels UNI-SOLAR auction, will lay off 300 employees

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 16:52 (Solarserver)

On May 7th, 2012 Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ECD, Rochester Mills, Michigan, U.S.) announced that it has canceled the auction of subsidiary United Solar Ovonic LLC (UNI-SOLAR, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.) due to the lack of qualified bidders by the bid deadline. ECD says that it will continue the sales process through other avenues, and that the companies will lay off 300 employees. ECD and UNI-SOLAR both filed for bankruptcy on February 14th, 2012. Read more

Convert Italia, Solaria commission 2 MW CPV plant in Italy

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 16:44 (Solarserver)

On May 8th, 2012 Convert Italia SpA (Rome, Italy) and Solaria Corporation (Fremont, California, U.S.) announced that they have commissioned a 2 MW concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) plant in the Puglia region of Italy. The Orta Nova Power Plant uses Solaria's low-concentrating photovoltaic modules, and Convert Italia's MX1 horizontal tracking system. The companies state that the plant is the largest low-concentrating PV plant in the world. Read more

Yingli Solar and partners to deliver solar power to Brazil?s Estadio do Maracanã

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 15:49 (PV-Tech)

Yingli Green Energy will team up with Light ESCO, EDF Energy and Rio de Janeiro State to Brazil?s best known football stadium, the Estadio do Maracanã. Project developer Light ESCO, which is also the majority owner of the project, will work with EDF to install and construct the system. The power produced will then be supplied to the State of Rio de Janeiro. Read more

SolarCity opens new operations center in Massachusetts

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 15:00 (Solarserver)

On May 7th, 2012, SolarCity (Foster City, California, U.S.) announced that it has opened a new 15,000-square-foot operations center in Marlborough, Mass. The new operations center will bring the area new jobs and help Massachusetts businesses, non-profit organizations (NGOs) and homeowners save money through better energy options, the company emphasizes. SolarCity on own account offers many businesses and homeowners in Massachusetts the ability to pay 15%-20% less for solar electricity than they pay for utility power. Read more

Verengo Solar, GRID Alternatives team up to install PV systems for low-income families in California

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 14:48 (Solarserver)

On May 7th, 2012, Verengo Solar (Torrance, California, U.S.) announced that it has teamed up with GRID Alternatives (Oakland, California, U.S.) to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for low-income families through GRID's Sub-Contractor Partnership Program (SPP). Under the partnership, Verengo will work as a sub-contracting partner and provide GRID Alternatives with complete residential solar systems, including installation and permitting at below cost value, bringing the power of solar energy to low-income households in 2012. Read more

JA Solar, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics to establish solar efficiency innovation center

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 14:41 (Solarserver)

JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd., (Shanghai, China), a manufacturer of solar cells and solar power products, announced that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (SITP) to establish a center for research and innovation in solar technology. Read more

Solar power was ?most-installed? power in Europe in 2011, says EPIA

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 14:22 (PV-Tech)

The European Photovoltaic Industry Association has reported that, for the first time ever, solar PV power became the most installed energy source in Europe in 2011.The increased uptake of solar power, which rose 63% to reach 21.9GW last year, has been attributed to the implementation of incentive schemes and widespread subsidization by governments. Read more

Solar Media and PV-Tech to showcase industry survival techniques at SNEC 2012

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 14:00 (PV-Tech)

Attending this year?s SNEC International Solar Industry and Photovoltaic Exhibition & Conference, set to attract over 200,000 visitors, will be Solar Media and PV-Tech/Photovoltaics International, Special Media Partner for Conference & Platinum Media Sponsors with this year?s SNEC event. Interested parties can meet the team at the Photovoltaics International booth at E1 103-105-106 from May 15 to 18 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. Read more

Solar industry urges Cameron to halt July cuts

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 13:29 (Solarpowerportal)

High-level executives from over 400 solar companies have written to Prime Minister David Cameron urging him to halt the planned cut to solar subsidies in July. Read more

Antaris Solar forms partner supply network with PV installers in UAE, Qatar

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 12:05 (Solarserver)

On May 7th, 2012 Antaris Solar (Waldaschaff, Germany, and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.) announced that it has formed a partner supply network with local solar photovoltaic (PV) installers in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to serve the region's PV market. The company states that it has seen demand for PV in the Middle East increase with rising energy prices and new solar rebates offered by governments. Nations in the region are highly dependent upon oil and natural gas-based generation. Read more

ET Solar completes 4MW of rooftop PV projects in France

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 11:14 (PV-Tech)

ET Solar has announced the completion of four rooftop projects, totalling 4MW generating capacity, in partnership with French developer Langa Solar. The projects are expected to begin power production by June, 2012. Read more

Brighton Energy Co-operative launches community-owned solar scheme

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 11:09 (Solarpowerportal)

Brighton Energy Co-operative is set to a launch a pioneering project that will see local residents invest in a community-owned solar array. The array will provide the local community with locally generated green power and help fund projects designed to allow members of the community to reduce their energy bills.  Read more

Enbridge, First Solar complete 50MW Silver State North project in Nevada

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 0:08 (PV-Tech)

Ken Salazar, US Secretary of the Interior, was on hand today with representatives from Enbridge and First Solar to celebrate the completion of the 50MW Silver State North Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada. This is the first utility-scale solar facility to be built on public lands. Read more

The US Bioeconomy Blueprint: The 10 Minute Guide

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 15:21 (Renewable Energy World)

The Obama Administration recently released its long-awaited, historic strategic plan for the bioeconomy, and U.S. economic revival from advances in health sciences, agriculture, industrial biotechnology and advanced biofuels. No time to read the dense pages of the full report? Try our 10-Minute Guide, including links to the full report and a bonus look at the EU's bioeconomy strategy. Read more

Latin America Report: Work Starts on Chile's Largest Wind Farm

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 18:59 (Renewable Energy World)

Construction has begun on what will become Chile's largest wind farm, a 115-megawatt development in the Antofagasta region in the northern part of the country. Read more

Enel Flips Solar Switch at Cogeneration Plant, Starts Geothermal Work in Utah

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 18:52 (Renewable Energy World)

The world's first solar-geothermal power plant was commissioned last week in Stillwater, Nevada with the completion of a 24-MW solar PV plant developed by Enel Green Power. It is strategically positioned next to Enel's existing 60-MW geothermal plant to increase power production and resource predictability. Read more

Low-Temperature Geothermal: Digging for Its Vast Opportunity

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 18:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The geothermal industry recognizes the need for innovation. Halley Dickey of TAS Energy, Karl Gawell of GEA (Geothermal Energy Association), and Doug Glaspey of U.S. Geothermal Inc. expressed the crucial importance of research and development in the geothermal industry during a conference call last month. Most experts have their sights set on the vast potential of and innovative use of low-temperature geothermal resources. Quotes from the conference call follow. Read more

UK In Talks with Iceland to Establish Geothermal Interconnector

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Iceland may soon spread its vast wealth of geothermal energy to the UK. But how can two islands separated by more than 1,000 km of ocean share electricity? The answer lies in undersea high-voltage cables. Read more

Queen?s speech includes Electricity Market Reform Bill

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 16:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Her Majesty The Queen has delivered her annual speech at the state opening of Parliament, setting out plans for her Government over the next 12 months. As part of her speech, the Queen announced that Government will propose reforms to the electricity market as well as introduce legislation designed to establish the Green Investment Bank.   Read more

Libyan Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy visits Masdar

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 14:55 (Solarserver)

On May 7th, 2012, Masdar (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) announced that Dr. Awad Ebrik Ibrahim, Libyan Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, has visited the company to learn about the cleantech, renewable energy solutions and technologies that the city offers. The Libyan delegation also visited Masdar Institute (MI), a graduate level, research-oriented university focused on renewable energy and sustainability. Read more

Utility shuts down Japan's last nuclear power plant

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 12:35 (Solarserver)

On May 7th, 2012, Hokkaido Electric Power Company Inc. (Sapporo, Japan) shut down the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant in Hokkaido (Japan). With the exception of the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power plant, this was the last nuclear power plant in operation in Japan. The Japanese government and utilities have been under heavy public pressure to shut down these plants following the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in March 2011. The nation will implement a new feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation in July 2012. Read more

Saudi Arabian government unveils ambitious renewable energy plans: 16 GW of PV, 25 GW of CSP to be installed by 2032

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 12:14 (Solarserver)

On Mai, 8th, 2012 Saudi Arabia has launched one of the world's most ambitious solar energy programs, cleantech advisory company Apricum (Berlin) reports. At the Saudi Solar Energy Forum in Riyadh officials from the responsible government entity King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE) announced long-term development goals as well as a policy framework. By 2032, the oil-rich country plans to generate almost a quarter of its electricity from solar energy, with a total 41 GW of solar power capacity, including 16 gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) and 25 GW of concentrating solar power plants (CSP). Read more