Solar shakeout: Founder of centrotherm photovoltaics steps down

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 19:33 (PV-Tech)

The founder, Member of the Management Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer of centrotherm photovoltaics, Hans Autenrieth has stepped down from his Board position, effective immediately. The company has appointed Jan von Schuckmann as Chief Restructuring Officer, responsible for implementing previously announced restructuring plans as well as becoming the main contact with its banks on financing issues, partly due to financial liquidity issues that surfaced last week. Read more

Welspun to Secure Funds on $1.1 Billion Wind Plan This Year

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 14:21 (Renewable Energy World)

A unit of Welspun Group, India's largest solar photovoltaic company, will secure funding toward its $1.1 billion wind project later this year as the country seeks to double its clean energy capacity by 2017. Read more

Kyocera installs 675kW of PV modules in the Maldives

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:08 (PV-Tech)

Kyocera, in collaboration with Toyota Tsusho and Wakachiku Construction, will install a total of 675kW of PV systems at schools and other institutions on the Maldive islands, the company has announced. The systems constitute the largest PV project on the islands. Read more

PV Feed-in tariff dispute continues in German government

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 9:09 (Solarserver)

The German federal and state governments have failed to come to a compromise on solar photovoltaic (PV) feed-in tariff reductions during an official government arbitration session, which will now continue on June 27th, 2012. Germany's Federal Council (Bundesrat), representing its 16 states, activated the Mediation Committee on May 11th, 2012. The Bundesrat has objected to the severity of cuts to the PV feed-in tariff proposed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's (CDU) coalition government. Read more

Solar shakeout: Further financial woes at centrotherm photovoltaics

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 8:42 (PV-Tech)

Having previously announced a major reorganization of its entire operations, centrotherm photovoltaics the second largest equipment supplier to the PV industry has employed an outside consultancy to prepare discussions with its banks to secure further funding. The move was sparked by short-term liquidity issues after merchandise credit insurance companies, used for products and merchandise being delivered to the company declined further coverage and guarantees. Read more

Phono Solar selects Tigo Energy to launch integrated Smart Technology PV module

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 20:39 (Solarserver)

Phono Solar (Nanjing, China) announced that it has selected Tigo Energy (Tokyo, Japan) to incorporate its Smart Module Technology into Phono Solar's INTELLIGENT-TI module. The Phono Solar INTELLIGENT-TI module optimized by Tigo Energy delivers maximum system uptime, immediately spotting faults and issues with solar arrays, the company states. Read more

bSolar, TSBM win 730 kW PV project in Japan

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 20:32 (Solarserver)

On June 14th, 2012, bSolar (Jerusalem, Israel) announced that it, through TSBM, its strategic partner and Japanese distributor, has won a 730 kilowatt (kW) ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Nasukarasuyama City (Tochigi, Japan). The project, which will feature bSolar's disruptive bifacial solar cells, is scheduled to go online in December 2012. Read more

CSIRO study finds forecasting, energy management essential to managing solar intermittency

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 20:27 (Solarserver)

Australian national science agency CSIRO has released a new study which finds that the intermittent output of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and the subsequent impact on electricity systems can be managed with the right knowledge and tools, including forecasting and energy management. "Solar intermittency: Australia's clean energy challenge" was produced in collaboration with the Australian Energy Market Operator and the Energy Networks Association. The report is in part a response to what authors describe as conflicting outcomes and a lack of quality data in existing studies, and stresses the need for better tools to assess the impact of small-scale PV on distribution networks. Read more

Solar Shakeout: Photovoltech in consultation with workers unions over closure

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 20:18 (PV-Tech)

A workers meeting held with management of Belgium-based solar cell producer, Photovoltech have led to reports that the company is to close down its operations after mounting losses and failure to find a buyer or new investors. The solar cell producer was a spin-off from research centre, imec and had GDF Suez and Total as investors. Read more

DOE awards USD 2 million to Solar Mosaic through SunShot Initiative for crowdfunding platform

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 20:16 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a USD 2 million grant to Solar Mosaic Inc. (Dover, Delaware, U.S.) through its SunShot Initiative to support the creation of an online crowdfunding platform for U.S. residents to create and fund solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. Mosaic says that it will use the USD 2 million grant and a recently raised USD 2.5 million Series A investment from venture capitalists to scale and expand its model. The company has also announced the hiring of Greg Rosen as its new Chief Investment Officer. Read more

Applied Materials publishes 2012 solar energy survey

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 19:01 (PV-Tech)

PV equipment provider Applied Materials has published the results of its annual solar energy survey, the company has announced. The 2012 survey was conducted among four countries that show great potential for growth in the solar market: USA, China, Japan and India. Read more

TGC Renewables considers £10 million Axminster solar scheme

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 18:19 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewables developer, TGC Renewables, is set to apply for planning permission to develop a 40-acre site at Raymond?s Hill, near Axminster, into a 5MW solar park. Read more

Dow Corning completes European Solar Energy Exploration and Development research centre

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

Dow Corning has completed its new European Solar Energy Exploration and Development research centre (SEED), the company has announced. SEED is part of a network of Dow Corning research facilities with two other centres located in the USA and Korea. The company has further research and development facilities in Germany, Belgium and the UK. The European research centre includes the Solar Application Center and the Silicon Technology Center as well as a solar cell laboratory. Its aim is the development of new technologies and solar cells to increase energy efficiency and the evaluation of materials. The cost for the construction of the facility is estimated at ?9 million. Read more

Order Focus: Westinghouse Solar and CBD Energy supply Australian Harvey Norman with 5MW of PV

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 17:49 (PV-Tech)

Westinghouse Solar and CBD Energy have entered into an agreement to deliver PV systems to Harvey Norman?s commercial division, the companies have jointly announced. The two companies received an order from Australian retailer Harvey Norman for 5MW of PV systems. The purchase of 5MW is still subject to the system?s certification in Australia and will be delivered over a period of six months as soon as certification is achieved. Read more

Japan poised to become world?s second-largest solar market with introduction of new FiT

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 17:36 (PV-Tech)

With European subsidies being cut left, right and centre, it appears Japan could fill the void and become the world?s second-largest market for solar power generation. The country will be welcoming the international solar community with welcome arms through the introduction of its latest feed-in tariff, which has the potential to generate US$30 billion by 2016 for the local economy. Industry Minister Yukio Edano approved the new rates this week, effective July 1. Read more

Solar Boom Heads to Japan Creating $9.6 Billion Market

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 16:56 (Renewable Energy World)

Japan is poised to overtake Germany and Italy to become the world's second-biggest market for solar power as incentives starting July 1 drive sales for equipment makers from Yingli Green Energy Holdings Co. to Kyocera Corp. Read more

Solar Cube will distribute SolarMax inverters across the UK

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 16:33 (Solarpowerportal)

In a bid to increase its UK market share and increase its brand awareness Sputnik Engineering has signed an agreement with Hertfordshire-based Solar Cube. Under the terms of the partnership Solar Cube will distribute SolarMax inverters from its West Midlands depot across the UK. Read more

Solar shakeout: Energy Conversion Devices sets date for complete asset sale

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 16:21 (PV-Tech)

A public auction of Energy Conversion Devices? (ECD) and its subsidiary United Solar Ovonic?s (USO) solar business assets has been set to begin on June 26, 2012. The auction includes the vast majority of assets, which covers machinery, equipment, intellectual property, furniture, real estate and inventory. Piecemeal asset configurations will be sold via online auctions. The sale has been authorized by the United States Bankruptcy Court after the thin-film manufacturer failed to secure bids for the company under Chapter 11 insolvency proceedings. Read more

ET Solar, CECEP form JV to build PV plants in several continents

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 16:04 (Solarserver)

On June 15th, 2012 ET Solar Group Corporation (Nanjing, China) and CECEP Solar Energy Technology Company Ltd. (Beijing, China) announced that they will form a joint venture to develop and build solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Africa and the United States. New Energy Engineering Technology GmbH will be established in Munich and will cover project development, investment, financing, engineering, procurement and construction of PV plants. Read more

Canadian Solar launches EPC and PV installer partner program

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 15:54 (Solarpowerportal)

Canadian Solar has successfully launched a partner program for Engineering Procurement Contractors (EPCs) and PV installers in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. This news follows the opening of the company?s Authorized Reseller Program in April this year. Read more

Solarwatt seeking new finance to support business growth; not insolvent

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 15:29 (PV-Tech)

The solar shakeout hasn?t consumed another victim in the form of German-based PV firm, Solarwatt, according to a spokesperson for the company. During the industry?s largest international exhibition, a plethora of German and international newspapers, including PV-Tech had reported that Solarwatt had filed for insolvency with a Dresden court. Read more

MP praises Dunstable solar scheme

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 14:43 (Solarpowerportal)

Habinteg Housing Association has installed solar arrays on all 46 properties of the association?s tenants in Clerkes Way, Houghton Regis. Read more

Hoku?s CEO resigns to chair company?s restructuring committee

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 13:55 (PV-Tech)

Hoku?s board of directors has established a committee of five members including the company?s CEO Scott Paul that will supervise Hoku?s restructuring, the company has announced. Scott Paul will resign as Hoku?s CEO effective June 30th in order to take up his role as director and chairman of the committee. Hoku?s president ?Jeremy? Xiaoming Yin will report directly to the board of directors as acting CEO. Furthermore, Hoku is exploring possibilities to sell Hawaiian subsidiary Hoku Solar. Read more

Intersolar EU: Innovative PV Technology awards presented to Schott Solar & Schmid, Solon and Isra

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 13:39 (PV-Tech)

The industry-renowned Intersolar Europe 2012 has presented Schott Solar and Schmid, Solon and Isra with the award for innovative photovoltaic technology. Read more

SolarEdge wins the prestigious Intersolar Award 2012 for its next generation PV power optimizer

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:54 (Solarserver)

SolarEdge Technologies (Hod Hasharon, Israel), a leading global provider of end-to-end solar photovoltaic (PV) power optimization systems and monitoring solutions has received the 2012 Intersolar AWARD for Innovation in the Photovoltaic category. The distinguished award was granted to the SolarEdge next generation power optimizer featuring the new IndOPTM technology which allows broader market adoption of power optimizers on June 13th, 2012. Read more

U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association elects Arno Harris new chairman, Patricia Nugent vice-chair

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:40 (Solarserver)

On June 14th, 2012, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington, D.C.) announced that it has elected new chairman and vice-chairwoman to serve on its board of directors' executive committee. The association elected Recurrent Energy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arno Harris as chairman and Patricia Nugent, director of policy and business development for Dow Solar, as vice-chairwoman. Read more

ET Solar and CECEP announce PV system development operation in Germany

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:35 (PV-Tech)

ET Solar and CECEP have entered and agreement to institute a PV system development venture called New Energy Engineering Technology by August 2012, the companies have announced. The joint venture will be located in Munich, Germany, and its main focus will be EPC, project development, investment and financing of PV plants Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, America and the African continent. Read more

DOE awards USD 56 million to advance CSP technologies

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:33 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will award USD 56 million to 21 companies to develop improved concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies at the SunShot Grand Challenge Summit in Denver, Colorado, U.S. on June 13th, 2012. SunShot CSP Research and Development (R&D) award winners include the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL), BrightSource Energy Inc. (Oakland, California, U.S.) and 3M Company (St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.). The awards are still subject to congressional appropriations. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne to supply 47 MW of PV modules to Assoimprese, becomes preferred supplier

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:24 (Solarserver)

Hanwha SolarOne Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) has announced that Italian industrial association Assoimprese has chosen the company as its preferred supplier, and will offer discounted Hanwha solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Italian PV installers who are part of its network. Hanwha has also signed a two-year contract with Assoimprese to supply 47 MW of its poly-crystalline PV modules in 2012. Read more

Last Week to Submit an Abstract for Solar POWER-GEN. Submit Today!

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:16 (Renewable Energy World)

http://s36.a2zinc.net/clients/pennwell/spg2013/Public/MainHall.aspx?ID=9230 Read more

Grid parity: Leaked email hints at end of solar subsidies by 2020

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:11 (Solarpowerportal)

In a leaked email seen by the Telegraph, Cabinet Office Minister, Oliver Letwin, spoke of Government?s desire to phase out subsidies for both solar PV and onshore wind by 2020 because both technologies should reach grid-parity before the end of the decade. Read more

Grid parity: leaked email hints at end of solar subsidies by 2020

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:11 (Solarpowerportal)

In a leaked email seen by the Telegraph, Cabinet Office Minister, Oliver Letwin, spoke of Government?s desire to phase out subsidies for both solar PV and onshore wind by 2020 because both technologies should reach grid-parity before the end of the decade. Read more

Intersolar EU: Singulus presents Clustertool system; ISFH increases conversion efficiency to 20.1%

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 12:05 (PV-Tech)

At the industry-renowned Intersolar Europe 2012 last week, Singulus Technologies presented its Clustertool system for the development of CIS/CIGS solar modules of substrate size 300 x 300mm2, initiated in July 2011. The goal of this system, sponsored by the Photovoltaics Innovation Alliance, the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, is to considerably reduce the manufacturing costs for thin-film photovoltaic modules and to achieve the highest module efficiencies. Read more

Canadian Solar supplies Potentia Solar with 17MW of PV modules

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 11:46 (PV-Tech)

Potentia Solar and Canadian Solar have entered a supply agreement, the company has announced. Under the agreement, Canadian Solar will provide 17MW of its CS6P modules for Potentia?s rooftop PV installations in Ontario. The modules will be used in over 100 PV systems on a variety of buildings, including commercial, industrial and institutional. All projects are expected to be completed in 2013. Read more

Trina, Suntech, Hareon to supply modules for 40 MW solar park in Brandenburg

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 9:16 (Solarserver)

Parabel AG (Berlin, Germany) has finalized supply contracts with three different manufactures for a total of 40 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for its Jännersdorf solar park in the German state of Brandenburg. Under the contracts, Trina Solar Ltd. (Changzhou, China) will supply 25.6 MW of PV modules, Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) will supply 9.6 MW of modules and Hareon Solar Technology Company Ltd. (Jiangyin, China) will supply an additional 5.3 MW. Read more

Asia Report: U.K.-Korea Unite Behind Offshore Wind, Tidal Prospects

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 20:25 (Renewable Energy World)

Two nations with vast plans for offshore wind development are forging an alliance that may help each become a dominant presence in their respective regional markets. Read more

The Interview: Counting the Cost of Capital

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

While facing short-term challenges such as a difficult financing context, the wind sector's fundamental economics should ensure its bright outlook over the longer term, argues Christian Kjaer of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). Read more

On the Cutting Edge: Next Generation Materials in Turbine Blade Construction

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

As machines get ever larger and rotor diameters grow to match, wind turbine blade materials are evolving, with new designs, materials and manufacturing processes. Strength and lightness are the goals of materials scientists working in wind. Read more

1.21 Gigawatts!

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 18:48 (Renewable Energy World)

New Local Solar Policy, Not DeLorean, Moving U.S. to Cleaner Future In the past five years, a new U.S. renewable energy policy has quietly grown more popular, enabling enough solar power (1.21 gigawatts!) to send Michael J. Fox ?Back to the Future.?  CLEAN programs ? Clean Local Energy Accessible Now ? have been adopted in 14 states and can signifi Read more

US Energy Department to invest US$55 million to spark US manufacturing

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 18:47 (PV-Tech)

The US Energy Department has today announced it will invest more than US$54 million in 13 projects, leveraging approximately an additional US$17 million in cost share from the private sector. The projects are aimed to develop technologies and materials to help American manufacturers dramatically increase the energy efficiency of their operations and reduce costs needed to power facilities. These projects form part of the Obama administration?s strategy for investing in emerging technologies that create high-quality domestic manufacturing jobs and enhance the competitiveness of US companies in today?s global markets. Read more

Brazil Top in Latin America, Caribbean Clean Energy Opportunity

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 17:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Brazil topped an index of best clean energy opportunities among 26 Latin American and Caribbean countries, the Multilateral Investment Fund of the Inter- American Development Bank and Bloomberg New Energy Finance said. Read more

SunPower completes 1.8MW PV project for Bloomberg in New Jersey

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 16:32 (PV-Tech)

SunPower has completed a 1.8MW PV installation at the main building of Bloomberg?s New Jersey campus, the company has announced. The system is owned by Integrys Energy Services and Bloomberg will be buying the generated electricity at below-retail rates. The system is equipped with SunPower PV panels as well as the SunPower T0 tracker system. Read more

Recurrent to sell 100 MW of Ontario PV to Mitsubishi, Osaka Gas

Monday, 6.18.2012 - 9:03 (Solarserver)

On June 15th, 2012 Recurrent Energy LLC (San Francisco, California, U.S.) announced that it intends to sell 100 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in Ontario, Canada to Mitsubishi Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) and Osaka Gas. Mitsubishi and Osaka Gas will acquire the plants after Recurrent commissions them. Recurrent began construction on its 200 MW portfolio in Ontario in Spring 2012, and the company expects to commission all of the projects which it is selling in 2013. Read more