Asia Report: Japan Enters Renewable Era With Major Developments

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 22:30 (Renewable Energy World)

Japan officially flipped the switch on its feed-in tariff over the weekend, and several new projects were there to take advantage of a suddenly hot new market. A handful of developments timed their start to this past weekend when the generous FiT went live. Read more

Roth & Rau?s CAMiNI firing furnace qualifies for use in mass production processes

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Roth & Rau?s CAMiNI firing furnace was recently deployed for the first time in a production line for a major, but undisclosed, Taiwanese cell manufacturer, leading the company to state that CAMiNI has successfully qualified for use in mass production processes. Read more

California utility to use GridSense's LineIQ to monitor PV output

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 18:57 (Solarserver)

GridSense has announced that an un-named California utility will use its LineIQ solution to measure the impact of electricity generated by solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on the grid. The utility will use LineIQ monitoring on distribution lines surrounding PV systems, focusing on fluctuations due to time of day and weather conditions. GridSense states that as more and more PV generation comes online, utilities are struggling with disruptive effects from the technology's intermittent and variable production of electricity. Read more

Southern Company, Ted Turner acquire 20 MW PV plant in Nevada, Southern to build 19 MW of PV in Georgia

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 16:03 (Solarserver)

Southern Company (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.) and Turner Renewable Energy have acquired a 20 MW-AC solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the U.S. state of Nevada from SunEdison LLC (Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.). Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.) has also announced that it will partner with Solar Design & Development (SD&D Georgia, U.S.) to develop and build 19 MW of PV plants in the U.S. state of Georgia. Read more

Clean Tech Is Not a Bust

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

To paraphrase Mark Twain, the reports of the clean tech sector's demise are much exaggerated. True, it has encountered difficulties, with the bankruptcy of Solyndra often cited as an indicator that the sector represents an artificial bubble, sustainable only with government support. Such a characterization, whether based on Solyndra or the troubles encountered by other recipients of federal loan guarantees, such as the battery maker Ener1, is overly simplistic. Any emerging market will experience growth problems and will have winners and losers. And the losers' problems do not necessarily indicate the absence of a long-term market. Were that the case, the loss of Palm and Read more

Why Do We Keep Hearing About Microgrids?

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Just under 10 years ago, I started hearing people mention the term ?Smart Grid.? It mostly revolved around people talking about the installation and adoption of automated metering infrastructure and renewables. Over the years friends and colleagues would ask me, ?Why do I keep hearing about the Smart Grid?,? and I would tell them about our increase Read more

German FiT adjustments made official

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Following the agreement between the two houses of Germany?s parliament last week, the second chamber has officially approved the legislation confirming the amendments to the country?s feed-in tariff. The first chamber, the Bundestag, had already approved the Bill during the second quarter of 2012 and will be backdated to April 1. Read more

MEMC closes 98MW of solar projects in Bulgaria and Italy

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

MEMC Electronic Materials advised that during Q2 2012, it had completed sales contracts for four solar projects in Europe totalling 98MW. The company completed solar projects worth 60MW in Bulgaria and 38MW in Italy. Read more

Intersolar NA: Thunder Bay Airport Solar Park chosen as finalist Solar Project Award

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 22:12 (PV-Tech)

Ontario?s Thunder Bay Airport Solar Park has been chosen as a finalist in Intersolar North America?s 2012 Solar Project Award competition. The project, owned and developed by SkyPower and EPC-contracted to Canadian Solar was hand-selected by an expert panel as one of entries under the ?Solar Projects North America? category. Read more

Thunder Bay Airport Solar Park chosen as finalist for Intersolar NA 2012 Solar Project Award

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 22:12 (PV-Tech)

Ontario?s Thunder Bay Airport Solar Park has been chosen as a finalist in Intersolar North America?s 2012 Solar Project Award competition. The project, owned and developed by SkyPower and EPC-contracted to Canadian Solar was hand-selected by an expert panel as one of entries under the ?Solar Projects North America? category. Read more

Rehm Thermal Systems will display latest vacuum soldering technology at Intersolar North America

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 21:58 (PV-Tech)

During next week?s Intersolar North America, July 10-12 in San Francisco, Rehm Thermal Systems will have its latest vacuum soldering technology on hand, including its VS 160S vacuum soldering system. Read more

Intersolar NA: Rehm Thermal Systems will display latest vacuum soldering technology

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 21:58 (PV-Tech)

During next week?s Intersolar North America, July 10-12 in San Francisco, Rehm Thermal Systems will have its latest vacuum soldering technology on hand, including its VS 160S vacuum soldering system. Read more

Intersolar NA: Heraeus to showcase new SOL315 paste

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 21:43 (PV-Tech)

Heraeus? PV unit announced that during Intersolar North America 2012, July 10-12 at San Francisco?s Moscone Centre, it will be featuring its latest pastes for conventional and advanced cell designs. One of its highlighted products will be its SOL315, a low activity, low silver content paste for new passivation layer cell designs. Read more

Heraeus to showcase new SOL315 paste at Intersolar North America

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Heraeus? PV unit announced that during Intersolar North America 2012, July 10-12 at San Francisco?s Moscone Centre, it will be featuring its latest pastes for conventional and advanced cell designs. One of its highlighted products will be its SOL315, a low activity, low silver content paste for new passivation layer cell designs. Read more

Trony Solar in trouble

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 20:04 (PV-Tech)

China-based thin-film manufacturer, Trony Solar recently warned investors that due to further reductions in demand and continued price erosion due to ?cut-throat competition? it expected to make further losses for the first 6-months of 2012. The company had posted losses for the second-half of 2011. Read more

Bosch reveals support for AD tariffs against Chinese manufacturers in EU

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 19:36 (PV-Tech)

Chairman Franz Fehrenbach recently revealed in an interview, with German publication Handesblatt, his support for the imposition of anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese manufacturers exporting to the EU. Jefferies has predicted doom and gloom for the Chinese market stating that, ?With Bosch we believe SolarWorld will have the necessary support to move forward with its dumping case.? Read more

Schletter to unveil new steel PV mounting system at Intersolar North America

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 19:02 (Solarserver)

Schletter Inc. (Tucson, Arizona, U.S.) will display a new all-steel ground mount system for solar photovoltaic (PV) plants at the Intersolar North America trade show in San Francisco (California, U.S.) on July 10th-12th, 2012. The company states that its FS ECO system can be installed without the need for on-site fabrication, large cranes or special tools, and also offers a low price point. The FS ECO is the beginning of a new steel product line, which Schletter says follows on its experience with aluminum PV mounting systems. Read more

Antaris Solar inks distribution deal with Wynnstay Group

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 18:53 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar PV manufacturer and wholesaler Antaris Solar has signed a co-operation agreement with Wynnstay Group, which offers an extensive range of farming products, in a bid to better serve solar installers working in the agricultural sector. Read more

Solarbuzz: Top-tier solar polysilicon and PV wafer producers to be profitable in 2013; falling costs expected to enable positive margins for best of class suppliers

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 18:52 (Solarserver)

Solar grade PV (photovoltaic) polysilicon prices are forecast to drop 48% and wafer prices 56% year-over-year in 2012, due to the NPD Solarbuzz Q2?12 ?Polysilicon and Wafer Supply Chain Quarterly Report?. With such severe price declines, only 12 Chinese PV polysilicon manufacturers are still producing, and more than half of these companies are running at significantly reduced utilization rates, Solarbuzz reports. Industry-wide, wafering plant utilization is forecast to average only 53% in 2012. Read more

Absolute Solar and Wind expands UK senior management team

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 17:53 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar designer and installer Absolute Solar and Wind has recently expanded its UK team by appointing Alex McDonald as the New Business Director. Read more

Bulgaria cuts FiTs by more than 50%

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

The Bulgarian government has announced a 50% cut to solar feed-in tariffs, having only approved a new FiT in April. Effective July 1, chair of the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), Angel Semerdzhiev, told Parliament on Friday that the renewable energy surcharge was solely responsible for an increase in electricity rates. Read more

University of Oxford solar researchers win the Materials Science Venture Prize

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 17:09 (Solarpowerportal)

A solar research team at the University of Oxford have been awarded the Materials Science Venture Prize by the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers to help develop technology that will reduce the manufacturing costs of new-generation solar photovoltaic cells. Read more

Payom Solar restructuring as it exits large-scale PV project business

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 17:07 (PV-Tech)

Having experienced a 52.7% drop in sales and a full-year loss of ?68.3 million, Payom Solar is restructuring its entire operations to focus in the future on PV systems sales below the 100kw mark and withdrawing from larger project business. The company said that its 2011 sales were ?73.1 million with approximately 80% of losses non-cash items, partly from asset write-downs. Read more

China Quadruples 2015 Solar Energy Target to Aid Demand, Prices

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 16:02 (Renewable Energy World)

China, the biggest supplier of solar power panels, quadrupled a domestic installation goal for sun- derived energy projects to 21 gigawatts by 2015 to help absorb excess supply of panels and support prices. Read more

Himin Solar IPO Pulled Amidst Allegations of Corruption

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 15:21 (Renewable Energy World)

The upcoming Shanghai IPO of Himin Solar, one of China's largest solar water heater companies, has been suspended by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and the company has been placed on a list of enterprises whose IPO evaluation procedure "has been terminated." Chinese news reports speculate that the reason for the IPO's abrupt cancellation is Himin's involvement in a Shandong province corruption scandal which has already claimed the scalp of one of its leading politicians. Read more

Areva Solar Venture Seeks Power Agreement After Losing Funds

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

A venture led by Areva SA planning a A$1 billion ($1 billion) solar-thermal project in Australia is in talks to supply power to potential customers after failing to meet a June 30 deadline to complete an agreement. Read more

Overturning the '15 Percent Rule' Can Expand Distributed Generation

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

If you haven?t heard yet, there?s a ?rule? that precludes distributed renewable energy projects from supplying more than 15 percent of the power to most ?distribution circuits? (part of the low-voltage electric grid that brings power into homes and businesses).  With the rapidly falling cost of solar power, many places in the country are starting t Read more

Trina launches UK solar training academy

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 13:54 (PV-Tech)

Trina Solar has launched its training academy in the UK, the company has announced. The academy?s target group are installers and distributers that work with Trina products and the aim is to help them with marketing and sales as well as product training and information. The company has scheduled online seminars beginning July 6, 2012, for example for theTrinamount or Trinasmart systems, as well as workshops. The academy is linked to Trina?s Partner Plus program, though non-partners can participate as well. Read more

BRIDGE TO INDIA on Abound Solar's bankruptcy: Indian PV projects face a high risk of losing module warranties

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 13:28 (Solarserver)

On June 28th 2012, US-based manufacturer of thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, Abound Solar (Loveland, Colorado), announced that the company intends to file a petition for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code this week. According to the company, aggressive pricing actions from Chinese solar panel companies have made it very difficult for a startup company like Abound to scale in current market conditions. In the past year, many companies like Solyndra and Evergreen Solar have failed. Most solar manufacturers are in a bad financial condition and more consolidation in the market is expected. Read more

First Solar appoints Georges Antoun COO

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 12:17 (Solarserver)

On June 29th, 2012, First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) announced that it has appointed Georges Antoun as Chief Operating Officer (COO), with responsibility for manufacturing, research and development (R&D), quality and product management. First Solar Senior VP of Global Operations Tymen DeJong, Chief Technology Officer Raffi Garabedian and VP of Product Management and Customer Support Tom Kuster will all report to Antoun in his new position. Read more

SPI acquires Italian EPC contractor Solar Green Technologies

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 12:14 (Solarserver)

On June 28th, 2012, SPI Solar (Roseville, California, U.S.) announced the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of engineering, procurement and construction contractor Solar Green Technologies (SGT, Italy) from a subsidiary of LDK Solar Company Ltd. (Xinyu, China) and two SGT founders. SPI paid roughly EUR 5 million (USD 6 million) for 13.4 million shares of SGT common stock at USD 0.45 per share, plus roughly USD 250,000 in cash to the SGT founders. SGT will continue operations in Italy and Europe as a subsidiary of SPI. Read more

Trina Solar launches UK training academy

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 11:28 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar PV manufacturing specialist Trina Solar has today announced the launch of the Trina Solar Training Academy, which will deliver online seminars and on-site workshops for distribution partners and installers working with Trina Solar products in the UK. Read more

Sky Solar to build 300 MW of PV plants in Chile

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 9:51 (Solarserver)

Sky Solar Holdings Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) reports that it has signed an agreement with the state-owned China Development Bank (Beijing, China) and Sigdo Koppers SA (Las Condes, Chile) for investment in and construction of 300 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Chile. The project represents a total investment of USD 900 million. Sky Solar will develop these plants over a number of stages. The company expects to break ground in 2012 on a 2 MW pilot PV project followed by an 18 MW ground-mounted PV project. Another 150 MW or more of projects will be developed over the next 18 months. Read more

Schott Solar to quit crystalline silicon PV manufacturing

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 9:42 (Solarserver)

Citing "sever deterioration in market conditions" Schott Solar AG (Mainz, Germany) has announced that it will close its crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing business in 2012. Schott states that it will continue to meet its guarantee obligations, and will retain an after-sales PV service team. The company will continue to manufacturing amorphous silicon thin film PV modules in Jena, Germany, as well as components for concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. Read more

Centrosolar supplies modules for 3.7 MW of BIPV plants in Northern France

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 9:30 (Solarserver)

Centrosolar Group AG's (Munich, Germany), French subsidiary announced that it is serving as the main supplier for a project to build 190 building integrated solar photovoltaic (BIPV) plants in the roofs of structures in Northern France, for a total of 3.7 MW. Centrosolar will supply 19,000 BIPV modules for systems to be built in roofs in the Seine Maritime belonging to housing developer Habitat 76 (Rouen, France), on behalf of Électricité de France SA (Paris, France). Centrosolar notes that BIPV plants qualify for additional incentives in France. Read more

Renova Strives for World's Cheapest Wind Power in Brazil

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 16:09 (Renewable Energy World)

Renova Energia SA's strategy to produce wind energy cheaper than anywhere else in the world will be tested as it brings its first turbines online, helping to transform Brazil into the world's fourth-biggest market. Read more

Opus Energy launches £10k community competition

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 17:30 (Solarpowerportal)

Independent energy supplier Opus Energy has launched a £10,000 video competition to help fund energy projects run by UK charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations. Read more

Kyocera, SB Energy complete 2.1 MW PV plant in Kyoto as Japanese feed-in tariff takes effect

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 16:08 (Solarserver)

Kyocera Corporation (Kyoto, Japan) has completed installation of its PV modules at a 2.1 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Kyoto, Japan. The company is currently building a second 2.1 MW PV plant in Kyoto, which it expects to commission on September 1st, 2012. SB Energy K.K. (Tokyo, Japan), a subsidiary of the SoftBank Group (Tokyo, Japan), will operate the PV plant. The SoftBank Kyoto Solar Park began producing electricity on June 1st, 2012, which coincides with the beginning of Japan's new feed-in tariff for renewable energy including PV generation. Read more

SMEs will now gain fair access to the Green Deal

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 14:02 (Solarpowerportal)

Parity Projects is now in the final stages of launching a project designed to open up Government?s upcoming Green Deal to organisations of all sizes. The Green Deal Conduit will build a network of small and medium sized organisations involved in the assessment and refurbishment buildings throughout the UK. To date SMEs have voiced concerns that the scheme will only benefit larger companies. Read more

Kyocera and SB Energy inaugurate 2.1MW Kyoto PV plant

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 12:59 (PV-Tech)

Kyocera has inaugurated the largest PV project in the Kyoto prefecture, the company has announced. The two PV facilities have been built in a joint venture between SB Energy and Kyocera and the inauguration of the first of the two plants, which was attended by Softbank?s president and CEO Masayoshi Son, took place on the day the new FiTs (Feed-in tariffs) took effect. The second facility will be connected to the grid in September. Each of the facilities will generate 2.1MW of energy. Read more

SunEdison sells 20MW project to Southern and Turner Renewable Energy

Monday, 7.2.2012 - 12:05 (PV-Tech)

Southern Company and Turner Renewable Energy have acquired a 20MW SunEdison PV project, the company has announced. The Apex Solar Project, located in Clark County, Nevada, on a site of 254 acres is estimated to commence commercial operation in the next months. The plant has been built by SunEdsion and the company will maintain operation and maintenance of the project. The energy will be sold to Nevada Power Company under a 25-year PPA. Financial details were not disclosed. Read more