News of the year 2012

Date: 18.07.2012



Photovoltaics

Remote fire station in Nevada installs 40 kW off-grid PV system

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 21:44 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District's Nellis Resident Office has completed a 40 kilowatt (kW) off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) plant for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The system is designed to fully support the full load requirement of the fire station, according to Viet Q. Tran, project engineer at the Nellis office. Read more

Atlas Material Testing Technology to exhibit PV production technology at EU PVSEC 2012

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 21:40 (Solarserver)

Atlas Material Testing Technology (Linsengericht-Altenhaßlau, Germany) announced that it will exhibit at the 27th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Frankfurt, Germany. The exhibition will be held from September 25th, 2012, through September 28th, 2012. Read more

Q-Cells to pursue restructuring option through the insolvency court with creditor?s agreement

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 18:02 (PV-Tech)

While talks continue with potential buyers of insolvent PV manufacturer, Q-Cells, Insolvency administrator Henning Schorisch will also potentially conduct a full restructuring of the company under administration. Q-Cells reported that its creditors met in Dessau-Rosslau to hear about the insolvency proceedings. Read more

Registration obligatory with introduction of Conto Energia V

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Effective August 27, 2012, the revised Italian feed-in tariff programme Conto Energia V has made the registration of all PV systems compulsory. EuPD Research claims this will induce an artificial limitation to the market as well as incur a supplementary cost of ?3/kWh. Read more

BNEF: 3.9 GW of PV project changed hands in 2011

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 15:45 (Solarserver)

Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF, New York, New York, U.S.) has released a new report which finds that investors bought a record 3.9 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in 2011, for a total value of USD 10.8 billion. "The Solar Portfolio Hunters: Focus on the Acquisition and Valuation of Solar Assets" describes Italy as the most active market for operational PV plants in 2011, with 540 MW sold. However, the top five deals, as measured by capacity, all took place in the United States and all involved projects under construction. Read more

Northland Power closes financing on 60 MW of Ontario PV

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 15:35 (Solarserver)

Northland Power Inc. (Toronto, Canada) has closed financing on six 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, as the first phase of a 130 MW ground-mounted program. Union Bank Canada Branch (Calgary, Canada), Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) and CIT Financial Ltd. (Toronto, Canada) provided financing in the form of a USD 224 million construction credit facility with an 18-year term loan. The six projects will cost an estimated USD 281 million, and Northland expects to commission the plants in 2013. Read more

Inverter market to double over next five years, says Pike Research

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Inverters for the renewable energy market are set on a course of intense technologicial change while the market booms, according to the latest report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant?s Energy Practice. The RE inverter market was said to have been worth US$7.2 billion in 2011 and on course to more than double of the next five years to reach US$19 billion. Read more

BYD opens new R&D facility with focus in solar cell development

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 14:10 (PV-Tech)

Claimed to be the first R&D facility in China focused on solar cell technology development, Chinese conglomerate, BYD has opened the BYD Ningbo PV R&D Center in the Beilun Free Trade Zone. The new facility was said to be an important strategic initiative of the company and would also employ semiconductor production equipment to develop next generation solar cells. Read more

University of Nottingham joins SCALENANO project

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 12:11 (Solarserver)

The University of Nottingham has joined a EUR 10.2 million (USD 12.5 million) project to develop lower-cost thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing processes, focusing on copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) PV technology. The university's Novel Nanostructured Thin/Thick Film Processing Group will be working on the SCALENANO project, part of the European Commission's FP-7 project. The university will address issues include achieving uniform deposition over large areas and finding alternatives to indium in the manufacture of CIGS PV. Read more

Kyocera opens new warehouse in New Jersey

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 9:36 (Solarserver)

Kyocera Corporation (Kyoto, Japan) has announced a new 27,000 square meter solar photovoltaic (PV) products warehouse in Cherry Hill in the U.S. state of New Jersey, from which it began shipping products in late June 2012. The warehouse supplements the company's existing U.S. distribution outlets in San Diego, California and Scottsdale, Arizona. Kyocera partnered with logistics, warehousing and distribution services company NFI Industries Inc. (Vineland, New Jersey, U.S.) for the new location, as well as its subsidiary NFI Solar. Read more


Thermal Power/Heating

Vote Solar releases report on solar permitting practices in Pennsylvania

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Vote Solar took an in-depth look at the solar permitting process, and its developments, in Pennsylvania, the third state in the organizations Project: Permit campaign. The report examined 36 local jurisdictions throughout the state and benchmarked their practices against industry best practices. Vote Solar noted that the average process for permitting a residential solar system in Pennsylvania is nearly twice as expensive, and eight times longer, than recommended best practices. Read more

Sunways, Deutsche Solar settle on agreement for early termination of long-term supply contracts

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 22:11 (PV-Tech)

Sunways? management board approved the conclusion of, and entered into, an agreement with Deutsche Solar in order to resolve the early termination of two long-term contracts, originally concluded in 2006 and 2007, that provide for the supply of PV wafers by Deutsche Solar. Read more

Brazil exceeds 1 million square meters of solar thermal collector area, driven by swimming pool heaters

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 21:52 (Solarserver)

For the first time, the newly installed collector area in Brazil has surpassed the one million mark, solarthermalworld.org reports. 1,029,616 m2 were newly set up in 2011 ? 7 % more than in 2010. Mainly due to the solar swimming pool segment with unglazed collectors this market volume has grown so rapidly over the past few years. Last year, however, indicated a shift in sales: Although only half of the newly installed collector area in 2011 could be attributed to glazed collectors (according to the statistics of DASOL, the Solar Heating Department of the association ABRAVA), the glazed segment (+9%) grew faster than the unglazed segment (+4%) for the first time since the Read more

Telecom Solar: Eltek installs hybrid solar system at Verizon's base station in California

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 21:38 (Solarserver)

On July 16th, 2012, Eltek (Richardson, Texas, U.S.) announced that it has completed an off-grid, hybrid solar power installation for Verizon Wireless. The company installed a Flatpack2 High Efficiency (HE) hybrid solar-propane DC power system at Verizon's wireless base station in Bear Mountain, California. The new system also dramatically reduces maintenance costs for Verizon. Read more

Global Solar Energy expands presence in Japanese solar market with new partnerships, BIPV system

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Global Solar Energy is getting help from new local Japanese partners as it expands its presence in the country. CBC, Eco Holdings and OG have partnered with Global Solar and will help the company in its offering of its new design of the PowerFLEX BIPV system, which was adapted for specific use on rooftops in Japan. Read more

New Regen SW report shows renewable electric capacity in South West, UK has increased by 142%

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Regen SW recently published its ?Renewable Energy Progress Report?, which, among other findings, demonstrates that renewable capacity in the South West of the UK has more than doubled over the past year. The renewable electricity capacity grew by 142% from 217MW in 2010/2011 to 525MW in 2011/2012. Solar Power Portal noted that the region?s growth was propelled by solar PV, which accounted for 237MW of all new renewable capacity during the 2011/2012 year. Read more

Wirsol Solar installs 294kW PV plant on the Maldives

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Wirsol Solar is taking ownership of being the first German company to install solar systems in the Maldives with an output of 652kW. The company recently completed a 294kW PV plant, which is providing energy to hospitals and schools on six of the islands. Wirsol Solar aims to build at least 20MW more over the next few years. Read more

What the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Can Teach Solar

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 20:38 (Renewable Energy World)

In the classic children's book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, Dorothy's dog Toto pulls back a curtain to reveal the Wizard as nothing but a normal man. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain," the man says. With solar energy, that man behind the curtain could be the hidden subsidies that conventional energy enjoys, but, it could also be the promises of low prices for photovoltaic (PV) technology that are proving disastrous to all solar technologies. Read more

Latin America Report: China's Growing Investment in Chile

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 19:00 (Renewable Energy World)

China, always on the lookout for emerging markets, is investing in a $900 million, 300-megawatt (MW) solar farm as part of a broader trade agreement between the two nations. Read more

Long Island Power Authority Launches Limited FIT for Commercial Solar

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 18:03 (Renewable Energy World)

To much media fanfare, Long Island Power Authority has begun accepting applications for a limited and short-term feed-in tariff program for commercial solar photovoltaics (solar PV). Read more

CTS Solar to be renamed as CTS Renewables

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 16:43 (Solarpowerportal)

CTS Solar, a trading name of Commercial Technical Services Ltd, is to offer a range of new renewable energy installation services, including solar thermal, air source heat pumps and biomass. As of the company?s new focus CTS Solar is to be replaced with CTS Renewables.  Read more

Hybrid Solar Heat and Power Systems On the Rise

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 16:05 (Renewable Energy World)

According to "Residential Combined Heat and Power," a new study by Pike Research, the market for residential combined heat and power (resCHP) systems ? defined as small, distributed energy generation systems that produce electricity for residences while also capturing heat that would otherwise be treated as waste ? is still very small, but growing rapidly. Read more

Intersolar NA: 18% drop in attendees since 2011

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

It appears concerns over market consolidation and the changing incentive landscape affected Intersolar North America more than many had hoped. Around 22,000 visitors and 850 exhibitors were expected at this month?s exhibition in San Francisco. However, the reality was closer to 18,000 visitors and 757 exhibitors, compared to last year?s 20,000 visitors and 839 exhibiting solar companies which was a 30% growth from 2010. On a more positive note, Intersolar claims that approximately two thirds of the exhibition space has already been booked for the 2013 exhibition and conference. Read more

CarbonFree Technology installs 543kW rooftop PV system at Algoma Orchards

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

Canadian solar developer CarbonFree Technology has installed a 543kW PV system on the roof of Canada?s largest apple grower Algoma Orchards, the company has announced. The system, which is operated by BrightRoof Solar, a collaboration between CarbonFree and Connor Clark and Lunn Infrastructure, is installed on the roof of one of Algoma Orchards processing facilities. Read more

Solar power projects in 2011 cost ?3.6 million per MW to purchase

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 14:47 (PV-Tech)

In a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, 2011 was a record year for investors purchasing PV power plants. A record 3.9GW of solar photovoltaic projects worth an estimated US$10.8 billion were acquired, a 122% increase over 2010. PV power plants in Italy and the US dominated investor?s purchasing decisions with an overall average cost per MW of ?3.6 million. Read more

It cost ?3.6 million per MW to purchase solar power projects in 2011

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

In a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, 2011 was a record year for investors purchasing PV power plants. A record 3.9GW of solar photovoltaic projects worth an estimated US$10.8 billion were acquired, a 122% increase over 2010. PV power plants in Italy and the US dominated investor?s purchasing decisions with an overall average cost per MW of ?3.6 million. Read more

Solar Impulse landed successfully in Toulouse

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 14:09 (Solarserver)

On July 17th, 2012 at 21:46 (UTC+2) the solar aircraft HB-SIA Solar Impulse landed successfully in Toulouse-Francazal airport (France). Originally planned for July 18th, the take-off for Payerne (Switzerland), the final flight of the project ?Crossing Frontiers?, has been postponed because of growing winds in the area around the mountains of Jura, causing strong turbulence in the border region between France and Switzerland. Read more

Ethiopia signs agreement to install PV systems in rural areas

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 14:05 (PV-Tech)

Ethiopia will receive solar systems to connect rural areas to the grid, according to 2merkato reports. Chinese and British solar companies have singed agreements with the Ethiopian government to develop PV arrays ranging from 8kW to 130kW to power rural villages. Read more

Unirac to supply mounting systems for Catalina Solar plant

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 12:16 (Solarserver)

Bechtel Power Corporation (San Francisco, California, U.S.) has awarded a contract to Unirac Inc. (Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.) to supply ground-mount systems for the 110 MW-AC Catalina solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Kern County, California. Unirac will deliver the systems over a three-month period. The company states that the ground-mount systems it will supply were engineered specifically for the Catalina Solar project, combining its ISYS Ground Mount 2.0 with custom racking. Read more

Infigen constructs 1MW PV plant with integrated storage in Australia

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)

Infigen has been chosen to construct a 1MW PV plant with integrated storage, the company has announced. The Capital East solar farm will be built in New South Wales (NSW) and it will be the first in Australia to be registered with the National Electricity Market (NEM) as well as Infigen?s first PV project in operation. Read more

Gestamp Solar and Real Goods Solar build 4.8MW of PV projects in Vermont

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)

Gestamp Solar and Real Goods Solar have entered an agreement to construct a total of 4.8MW of PV projects, the companies have announced. The companies are jointly developing two PV plants in Vermont, a 2.3MW project in Pownal and a 2.5MW installation in Williamstown. Read more

Mecasolar signs contracts to deliver trackers to 56 Greek PV plants in first six months of 2012

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 12:04 (Solarserver)

In the first six months of 2012 Mecasolar (Fustiñana, Spain) has signed contracts to supply 351 trackers to 56 solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Greece in 2012, including 229 dual-axis trackers. This increases the number of projects to which the company is supplying trackers by 52% over the total it supported in the nation between 2009 and 2011. Read more

UK solar industry should approach the future with ?pragmatic optimism?

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 11:42 (Solarpowerportal)

Industry experts have called for ?pragmatic optimism? within the UK solar sector over the coming months at a recent industry seminar hosted by PV distributors SunConnex and EH Smith.  Read more

Siemens supplies drive technology to Solana CSP plant

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 9:43 (Solarserver)

On July 17th, 2012 Siemens Industry Inc. (Buffalo Grove, Illinois, U.S.) announced that it has begun shipping integrated drive technology to Abengoa SA's (Seville, Spain) 280 MW Solana concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in Gila Bend, Arizona. Siemens will provide 18 Robicon Perfect Harmony medium-voltage drives to the plant, including ten 4,000 hp GenIIIe drives, two 2,000 hp GenIIe drives and six 800 hp GenIV drives. The plant will be the largest CSP plant in the world when complete. Read more


Biomass/Pellets

BP Says New Biofuel Energy Grasses Targeted for Market by 2014

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 18:30 (Renewable Energy World)

BP Plc is testing two advanced biofuels that could be commercially available by 2014, said Philip New, chief executive officer of the U.K. petroleum company's biofuels unit. Read more


Wind Energy

In Parts of India, Wind Energy Proving Cheaper Than Coal

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 15:41 (Renewable Energy World)

The cost of wind power has dropped below the price of coal-fired energy in parts of India for the first time as improved turbine technology and rising fossil-fuel prices boost its competitiveness, Greenko Group Plc said. Read more


Hydropower

There are no news available

 



Hydrogen/Fuel Cell

There are no news available

 



Geo Thermal/Heat Pump

Geothermal Heat Pumps: The Best of the Best

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 17:42 (Renewable Energy World)

Waterfurnace Renewable Energy (TSX:WFI, OTC:WFIFF) launched its new highly efficient 7 Series geothermal heat pumps (GHP) today. The 7 Series commercial release beats Climatemaster's (a division of LSB Industries (NYSE:LXU)) Trilogy 40 as the first commercially available GHP with a variable speed compressor. The Trilogy 40 is currently available as part of a pilot program, and is expected to be commercially available later this year. The variable speed compressor enables a significant jump in efficiency over previous two-stage compressors. Read more


Energy Policy/Climate/CO2

Tamil Nadu government near finalizing solar energy policy, subsidies for rooftop PV installations

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 20:58 (PV-Tech)

According to a report from the Hindu Business Line, the government of Tamil Nadu is nearing the finalization of a solar energy policy, for which it will announce a subsidy to support rooftop PV installations. Sudeep Jain, managing director of the Tamil Nadu energy development agency reportedly told the Hindu Business Line that the final policy will drive the establishment for over 3,000MW of solar power generation capacity in the state. Read more

How Schools Can Use Less Energy & Spend Less Money without the Sacrifice

Wednesday, 7.18.2012 - 18:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Making schools energy efficient need not be an exercise in sacrifice. Schools can get the same or better services, as well as increase the health and comfort of students and staff, all while using less energy. The first step is to get an energy assessment that can help identify and prioritize opportunities for substantial energy and operational sav Read more


Solar-/Electromobil

There are no news available

 



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