News of the year 2012
Date: 14.06.2012
Soitec completes Italy's largest CPV plant at 1.17 MW
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 15:29 (Solarserver)
On June 14th, 2012 Soitec SA (Bernin, France) announced that it has commissioned a 1.17 MW concentrating solar photovoltaic (CPV) plant in Sicily, as the largest CPV plant in the nation of Italy. The plant in Belpasso, Sicily is equipped with 74 Soitec trackers, each holding 168 Concentrix CPV modules, as well as two Schneider Electric 500 kW central inverters. The plant is owned and operated by Soitec, and Enel SpA (Rome, Italy) will purchase the electricity which it generates. Read moreREC unveils multicrystalline PV modules with back side passivation
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 10:48 (Solarserver)
On June 12th, 2012 Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC, Sandvika, Norway) announced the launch of a series of multicrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) modules based on back side passivation technology at the Intersolar Europe trade show in Munich from June 13th to 15th, 2012. REC states that its Peak Energy Plus Series modules deliver an additional 5 watts compared to earlier products, with power outputs between 240 to 255 watts. The company states that the modules will perform better in red light conditions, as well as in low light and at high temperatures. Read moreSatcon to supply 30 MW of Prism Platforms for California PV plants
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 10:37 (Solarserver)
On June 12th, 2012 Satcon Technology Corporation (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) announced that it has been selected by Q-Cells North America (San Francisco, California, U.S.) to supply 30 MW of its Equinox Prism Platform solutions for solar photovoltaic (PV) plants at two sites in California. The two sites are part of a utility-owned generation program by an un-named California utility, wherein the utility will install 250 MW of PV over a five-year period. The sites will be located in Central California, and Q-Cells plans to commission the plants by mid-2012. Read moreChina Sunergy unveils QSAR PV modules in Thailand
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 10:27 (Solarserver)
On June 8th, 2012, China Sunergy Co. Ltd. (Nanjing, China), a specialized solar cell and photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, announced that it has introduced its high-efficiency QSAR modules in Thailand. The company states that it held a large promotion event in Bangkok, Thailand, to introduce QSAR modules to the Thailand Provincial Electrical Authority officials, local banks as well as customers and investors. Read moreCPUC approves PPAs for up to 300 MW of PV
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 10:22 (Solarserver)
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved two power purchase agreements (PPAs) wherein Southern California Edison (SCE, Rosemead, California, U.S.) and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E, San Diego, California, U.S.) will buy electricity from up to 300 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. The CPUC approved SCE's PPA with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc. (Juno Beach, Florida, U.S.) for 250 MW of electricity from the McCoy Solar project on July 7th, 2012. On the same day, the organization approved SDG&E's PPA with SolOrchard LLC (Carmel, California, U.S.) for between 34.5 and 50 MW of electricity from 21 PV plants. Read moreU.S. PV imports from China fall 66% in April as imports from other Asian nations rise
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 9:40 (Solarserver)
U.S. imports of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules from China fell 66% sequentially in April 2012 to USD 70.7 million, the first full month after a preliminary U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) ruling proposing heavy anti-dumping duties. However, according to U.S. DOC data cited by the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), imports from other nations, including Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines have risen sharply. Read moreSmarter Grid Linking Solar Panels May Bypass Utilities
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 18:58 (Renewable Energy World)
I doubt that electricity is fundamentally a wide-area networking service. At first glance, this statement appears absurd. Like telephony or the Internet, electricity enters our homes through outside wires. Is it not therefore a networking service? Read moreIntersolar EU: Power One presents new generation of Aurora microinverters
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 17:56 (PV-Tech)
Power One is showcasing the second generation of Aurora microinverters at Intersolar Europe, the company has announced. The Aurora Micro-0.3-I, with an output of 300W and the Aurora Micro-0.25-I, with an output of 250W have undergone 12 months of designing and testing. The two models have undergone some improvements compared to the former models and are now able to offer broader DC input with a maximum of 65Vdc. Read moreGerman government cannot find common ground on solar subsidies cuts
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 17:07 (PV-Tech)
The German government struggles to reach common ground on the proposed solar cuts, according to Bloomberg reports. In an email statement it was said that the upper house failed to reach an agreement in a panel meeting. Talks will resume on June 27th. The upper house representatives are voiced concerns that the legislation will hurt domestic producers like Solarworld even further. Read moreIntersolar EU: Soitec connects 1.17MW Italian CPV plant to the grid
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 16:22 (PV-Tech)
Soitec has connected the largest Italian CPV plant to the grid, the company has announced. The company completed construction of a 1.17MW CPV plant in the municipality of Belpasso in Sicily. 74 Soitec CPV trackers have been installed, each equipped with 168 Concentric CPV modules and two 500kW inverters. The plant is owned and operated by Soitec and the energy will be sold to Enel. Read moreSolarCity, U.S. Bancorp create USD 250 million fund
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 15:33 (Solarserver)
On June 13th, 2012 SolarCity (San Mateo, California, U.S.) and U.S. Bancorp (Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.) announced a tax equity fund to finance up to USD 250 million in residential and commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) projects for homeowners, businesses and government institutions. This is the sixth fund created by the two companies, and the largest to date. SolarCity and U.S. Bancorp partnered to provide financing solutions in 2009. Read moreJefferies: Industry recovery now on the 2014 horizon
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 14:56 (PV-Tech)
Global solar demand growth has been modest at best, according to Jefferies analyst Jesse Pichel, leading the company to believe that the industry won?t see signs of real recovery until the second half of 2013 or even 2014. The second half of 2012 will see demand in Europe decline further than the first half, with 2013 volume dropping even lower. Read moreHanwha SolarOne cooperates with Italian Assoimprese
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 14:16 (PV-Tech)
Hanwha SolarOne is cooperating with Italian Assoimprese after the association added PV modules to its portfolio. The association has chosen Hanwha as the preferred supplier for its approximately 600,000 members and installers who are network members can purchase Hanwha modules at special rates. Read moreTrina, Hareon and Suntech provide 40MW of modules for Jännersdorf solar park
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 12:52 (PV-Tech)
Trina Solar, Suntech and Hareon have been chosen by procurement company Parabel to supply a total of 40MW of modules to the Jännersdorf solar park, the company has announced. The PV plant is divided into three northern sites and a southern site. Trina will provide 25.6MW of modules for the southern construction site while the northern construction sites will be equipped with 9.6MW of Suntech modules and 5.3MW of Hareon PV modules. The park is further equipped with 1,900 Siemens inverters and Schletter mounting systems and is expected to be completed by June 30th this year. Read moreDuPont Apollo signs contracts to provide 22.75MW of modules for Thai PV projects
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 12:23 (PV-Tech)
Thin-film manufacturer DuPont Apollo has singed contracts to supply PV projects in Thailand with a total of 22.75MW of modules, the company has announced. The PV modules will equip two projects, one located in the Chaiyaphum province, owned by Smart Green Energy and a second one located in the Saraburi province, owned by Inifinite Green. DuPont Apollo is already involved in an 8.7MW ground mounted PV project in the Prachin Buri province, in collaboration with L Solar 1. Read moreIntersolar EU: Intersolar Awards 2012 presents accolades to nine companies in three categories
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 11:44 (PV-Tech)
The Intersolar Awards have been presented at Intersolar Europe for the fifth time, honoring the most creative and innovative companies, services and products in the PV industry. Nine companies were presented with awards, three for each of the categories Photovoltaic, PV Production Technologies and Solar Thermal. This year?s novelty was that companies from Intersolar China, North America and India were invited to enter submissions for the first time. Read moreAmendment: Global Solar Energy seeks investors for new business segments
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 9:35 (Solarserver)
Flexible CIGS module manufacturer, Global Solar Energy Inc. (Tucosn, Ariz., and Berlin, Germany) has announced it is looking for new investors to come on board, in order for business to progress to the next phase. Chief sales officer of Global Solar Energy, Jean-Noel Poirier said that investors are being sought to allow Global Solar Energy to develop its CIGS photovoltaic business in new directions, additionally to their rooftop business segment. Read moreUS Biomass: Where Do All the Wood Pellets Go?
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 15:15 (Renewable Energy World)
Europe is usually the last thing on one's mind when riding through miles of surprisingly desolate pine forests, stretching from the Alabama line to Georgia's marshy coast. But, in an unlikely convergence of European eco-policy and Southeastern pines, a Georgia wood pellet plant is now supplying a German-based utility with a steady stream of carbon-neutral energy. Read moreAccurate Wind Assessments: Pinning Down Performance
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 21:18 (Renewable Energy World)
Accurate pre-construction assessments are critical to securing project financing and ensuring investor confidence. However, North America's wind power industry has developed a reputation for producing energy below levels predicted by pre-construction wind resource and energy assessments. What are the reasons for over-prediction, and how can such assessments be improved? Read moreThere are no news available
There are no news available
There are no news available
World Energy Revolution? Not Yet
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)
No one needs Trotsky around these days to tell us that revolution, even energy revolutions, have to be international, or as we?d say today ?global.? An Energiewende confined to a single nation-state alone, even an industrial giant like Germany, won?t add up to more than a pile of agricultural biomass. Although a worldwide transition to a low carbon Read moreEnergySage secures US$500,000 investment from DoE SunShot coffers to develop PV shopping platform
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 13:58 (PV-Tech)
Distributed Energy Research & Solutions, or EnergySage, has been the recipient of one of 10 Department of Energy (DoE) SunShot Incubator investments worth US$500,000. The funding will be used to develop a web-based PV comparison-shopping platform that aims to deliver pricing transparency and encourage online networking among property owners and solar PV installers. Read moreGermserv appointed as Green Deal oversight body
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 13:45 (Solarpowerportal)
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has announced that multi service provider, Germserv, will run the new Green Deal oversight body. The company will be responsible for the registration of assessors, installers and providers as well monitoring compliance with the Code of Practice. Read moreGemserv appointed as Green Deal oversight body
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 13:44 (Solarpowerportal)
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has announced that multi service provider, Gemserv, will run the new Green Deal oversight body. The company will be responsible for the registration of assessors, installers and providers as well monitoring compliance with the Code of Practice. Read moreEco2Solar clinches Galliford Try deal
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 11:54 (Solarpowerportal)
Midlands-based renewable energy specialist Eco2Solar has signed a Preferred Supplier Agreement with FTSE 250 construction group, Galliford Try. Read moreNREL joins European Distributed Energy Resources Laboratories
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 10:32 (Solarserver)
On June 8th, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced that it has been selected as a new member of the non-profit Association of European Distributed Energy Resources Laboratories (DERlab). NREL was selected by DERlab in recognition of its work researching the integration of emerging energy technologies into new and existing electricity infrastructure. Read moreDeloitte: Changing Middle East policies to create opportunities for renewables
Thursday, 6.14.2012 - 9:43 (Solarserver)
On June 12th, 2012 Deloitte Middle East released a white paper which finds that recent changes in energy policies across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations will create opportunities for private companies over both the short and long term. "Renewable Energy: Seeds of Change" notes that Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman each have set goals to produce at least 10% of their energy from sustainable sources by 2020, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi have set targets of 5% and 7% renewable energy generation by 2030. Deloitte also notes that the opportunity costs of burning oil to produce electricity is an issue for many nations. Read moreThere are no news available