Conergy completes second rooftop PV installation for BIG Shopping Centre in Israel

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Conergy advised that it had finished the installation of its second 630kW rooftop installation for BIG Shopping Centres. The latest project was developed on a BIG shopping mall in Beit Shemesh in Israel using over 2,600 Conergy PowerPlus modules. The energy produced will be fed into the grid using Conergy IPG 300K inverters.  BIG Shopping noted it plans to install more solar plants on its shopping malls in Israel. Read more

Sales at Sunways slumped 50% in 2011

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

Despite record PV installations globally and in Germany in particular, German-based PV systems supplier, Sunways saw its sales decline by 50% in 2011, according to financial statements. The company has sales of ?116.2 million in fiscal year 2011, compared to ?222.7 million in 2010. Sunways reported a consolidated net loss of ?62.1 million, compared to a profit of ?9.3 million in the prior year period. Management cited shifts in demand in target markets as well as dramatic price declines for slump in sales. The company is now majority owned by LDK Solar. Read more

AEG PS to supply power electronics for 170 MW of PV plants in Eastern Europe

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 15:39 (Solarserver)

AEG Power Solutions Group (Zwanenburg, The Netherlands) has signed a contract with Activ Solar GmbH (Vienna, Austria) to supply power electronics and services to accompany 170 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation by the end of 2013. The company states that this is the extension of an agreement signed in the second half of 2010 covering electrical systems for 14 PV plants, each roughly 20 MW. Under the extension, AEG will supply and install a turnkey solution including inverter stations and PV Guard monitoring and supervision systems at new Activ Solar plants in Eastern Europe. Read more

Powerway to invest USD 1.2 million in six South African solar photovoltaic mounting and tracking systems factories

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 15:34 (Solarserver)

Powerway Renewable Energy Company Ltd. (Foshan City, China) has announced that it will invest ZAR 10 million (USD 1.2 million) to build six facilities in South Africa to manufacture its mounting and tracking systems for solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. This project will be partly self-financed and partly bank financed. The six facilities will be located in towns including Kimberley, De Aar and Upington, and will manufacture the company's Powerfit, PowerScrew and PowerTracker products to accompany 500 MW of PV production annually. Powerway will also build galvanizing facilities for its steel structures as well as a training center for the workforce in Kimberley. Read more

Survalent Technology supplies smart grid infrastructure for 1 MW PV plant in Mexico

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 13:14 (Solarserver)

On July 18th, 2012, Survalent Technology (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) announced that it has commissioned a new supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for the 1 MW Santa Rosalia solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Baja California Sur state (Mexico). Read more

Shoals Technologies gets UL certification for MultiLink PV junction box

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 13:09 (Solarserver)

On July 19th, 2012, Shoals Technologies Group (Portland, Tenn.) announced that it has received a certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for the MultiLink junction box. With the UL certification, the MultiLink junction box gains dual certification status and maintains its status as the only certified and "ready to ship" universal interface for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. Read more

UCLA researchers develop highly transparent plastic PV cell

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 13:03 (Solarserver)

Researchers at the University of California (UCLA, Los Angeles, California, U.S.) have developed a new transparent solar photovoltaic (PV) cell for building integration (BIPV). The new solar cell will generate electricity while still allowing people to look outside. The new polymer solar cell (PSC) produces energy by absorbing mainly infrared light, not visible light, making the cells nearly 70% transparent to the human eye. UCLA researchers made the device from a special PV plastic that converts infrared light into an electrical current. Read more

U.K. DECC tweaks feed-in tariff, publishes consultation on Renewable Heat Incentive

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 12:18 (Solarserver)

The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published a consultation on enhancements to the nation's Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), as well as making minor changes to the nation's feed-in tariffs (FiT) system. DECC has expanded FiT eligibility for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on schools and community projects, as well as proposing tariff degression to the RHI based upon deployment levels instead of calendar dates. The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has commented on both statements. Read more

SolarWorld?s Adelanto solar plant in California dedicated by LADWP

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

The 11.4MW DC Adelanto solar plant in California?s Mojave Desert was recently dedicated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The project was designed and supplied by SolarWord, which also managed the installation?s engineering, procurement and construction. Read more

Western Solar Zones to Streamline Development on Public Lands

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 21:30 (Renewable Energy World)

The Wild West days of American solar development are nearing their sunset with the release and likely adoption of federal guidelines that more clearly define where large-scale projects can be sited. Read more

SolFocus announces completion of 1.25MW solar park in Italy

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Working with solar investor Sistema Solare, SolFocus has completed a 1.25MW solar park in Italy. The project spans two sites in central Italy, one in Aveani and the other in Savini, which combined are said to form one of the largest CPV power plants in the country. The CPV plants were developed and designed by Ren It and built by EPC company Delta. Read more

Alcatraz prison home to new 307kW rooftop PV array

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 21:07 (PV-Tech)

Sitting in the middle of the San Francisco Bay is one of the most iconic US prisons, Alcatraz, and while it hasn?t served as an operating prison for several decades, it does now serve as host to a 307kW PV system. Developed by the National Park Service (NPS) and the U. S. Department of Energy?s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) the solar project brings clean energy to another national landmark. Read more

New Jersey passes renewable energy bill ensuring its solar future

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Almost one month after New Jersey?s bill obligating companies to purchase more solar energy, the US state?s governor Chris Christie has signed legislation S1925/A2966 acknowledging the imbalance of its current renewable energy policy. Spearheaded by senator Bob Smith and assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, this legislation addresses the current oversupply of solar renewable energy credits (SRECs), with the intention to bring back stability the New Jersey solar market, ensuring growth over the next several years. Read more

Landmark Manufacturing, Generation Solar Deal Struck in San Antonio

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 18:30 (Renewable Energy World)

San Antonio's goal of becoming a renewable energy hub took a major step forward this week with the announcement that a $100 million manufacturing operation was moving into the city to help serve a 400-megawatt (MW) solar project. Read more

Small PV projects becoming large-scale business in US, says NPD Solarbuzz

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

The number of small-scale PV installations in the sub-500kW range, are expanding rapidly in the US, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz United States Deal Tracker report. Known predominantly for large-scale utility projects, the US would seem to be broadening its market base, creating increased business opportunities and jobs for downstream PV suppliers and installers. Read more

OCI and CPS?s 400MW project will drive US$700 million into Texan economy

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 15:10 (PV-Tech)

Endemic overcapacity and continued price declines within the polysilicon sector impeded Korean OCI Company?s previously announced plans for the construction of two plants in May. Nevertheless, its North-American arm, OCI Solar Power, has signed a landmark deal with CPS Energy in San Antonio, Texas, to develop more than 400MW of projects. The contracts are based on a 25-year power purchase agreement. Read more

Moving Solar Beyond 1603 ? There Are Alternatives

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The 1603 Federal Grant Program is dead. Fine, so let's all move on because PV solar is here to stay and will be a critical component of our economic growth and environmental health. Read more

Real Goods Solar to install PV with GRID Alternatives in California

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 13:19 (Solarserver)

On July 19th, 2012, Real Goods Solar Inc. (Louisville, Colorado, U.S.) announced that it will participate in Bay Area Solarthon in San Jose (California, U.S.), installing solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays for low-income homeowners. Solarthon is an annual fundraiser and solar block party for GRID Alternatives. Read more

California's CSI Solar Thermal Program: Demand Cloudy with a Chance of Solar

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Despite a huge pot of incentive dollars available for commercial and residential solar hot water, California?s entire CSI Thermal program remains cloudy. That is, while there has been some limited success in the Northern California commercial program, the rebate remains in its earliest (and richest) step one phase for both residential and commercia Read more

Governor Chris Christie signs bill to stabilize New Jersey solar market

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 8:51 (Solarserver)

On July 23rd, 2012 Chris Christie, Governor of the U.S. state of New Jersey, signed legislation to accelerate and change the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policy in the state, thereby addressing a collapse in the value of solar renewable energy credits (SRECs). A2966/S1925 also creates an annual cap on solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, as well as allowing virtual net metering for PV plants controlled by government agencies. Read more

American Council on Renewable Energy study finds that solar investment tax credit pays for itself

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 8:27 (Solarserver)

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) has released a new study which finds that the solar investment tax credit (ITC) more than pays for itself, with a 10% internal rate of return for the federal government due to increased tax revenues. "Paid in Full" examines the case flows generated by tax revenues on solar leases and power purchase agreements, finding that a USD 10,500 tax credit for a residential solar photovoltaic (PV) system can provide a USD 22,900 nominal benefit to the government. Read more

RRB Energy Targets African Market With Smaller Wind Turbines

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 17:54 (Renewable Energy World)

RRB Energy Ltd., Vestas Wind Systems A/S's former joint-venture partner in India, expects as much as 25 percent of sales next year to come from exports of smaller turbines to emerging markets led by Africa. Read more

New MLP Parity Act Could Give a Boost to Geothermal/Renewable Energy Investors

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 15:45 (Renewable Energy World)

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) have introduced legislation, S. 3275, or Master Limited Partnerships (MLP) Parity Act, which gives renewable energy projects access to a tax incentive available now only to oil, gas, and coal projects. Read more

China Sunergy signs 7.8MW module sales contract with Australia?s Urban Group Energy

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

China Sunergy announced that it had recently signed a 7.8MW solar modules sales contract with the energy unit of Urban Group Australia, Urban Group Energy. The solar modules are scheduled to complete delivery by the end of August. China Sunergy noted that during Q1 2012, Australia accounted for 18% of its total shipments. Read more

Terna proceeds with temporary shut down of Italian generation systems

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

Terna responsible for developing the national electricity transmission grid has received authorization to shut off distributed generation systems in case of emergency. Read more

First U.S. Tidal Power Project Launches in Maine

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 19:51 (Renewable Energy World)

The ocean is a tremendous bank of energy. Covering more than two-thirds of our planet, the amount of energy embodied in the ocean's tides, currents, and waves, not to mention temperature and salinity gradients, could power the world?if we were able to commercialize the technology to harness its renewable power. Read more

First U.S. Tidal Power Project Set to Launch in Maine

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 19:51 (Renewable Energy World)

The ocean is a tremendous bank of energy. Covering more than two-thirds of our planet, the amount of energy embodied in the ocean's tides, currents, and waves, not to mention temperature and salinity gradients, could power the world ? if we were able to commercialize the technology to harness its renewable power. Read more

Green Deal legislation passed by the House of Lords

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 18:40 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has revealed that the framework underpinning the Green Deal has been approved by the House of Lords, in keeping with the department?s stated October launch date. Read more

RO banding decision due tomorrow

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 16:36 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has indicated that it will be presenting its decisions on Renewable Obligation banding tomorrow after a protracted disagreement over wind subsidies between George Osborne and Ed Davey has apparently come to an end. Read more

Microbes Treat Waste and Produce Power

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Microbes have been evolving for millions of years to efficiently digest organic material. Now researchers are tapping these natural processes to maximize energy output from the breakdown and use it to power farms and even waste facilities. Read more

DECC announces community low carbon heating scheme

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 13:42 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has launched a new low carbon heating scheme designed to allow community-based organisations to embrace renewable heating measures by bidding for a share of £8 million under the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP). Read more

GE splits energy business into three companies

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 12:22 (Solarserver)

General Electric Company (GE, Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.) has announced that it will reorganize its Energy business into three standalone businesses, including forming GE Power and Water which will include its renewable energy and water processing technologies. Current GE Senior VP Steve Bolze will serve as CEO of GE Power and Water, which will be headquartered in Schenectady in the U.S. state of New York. This change will take effective in the fourth quarter of 2012. Read more

CPS Energy, Korean OCI Company subsidiary sign deal to build 400 MW of PV in San Antonio, Texas

Tuesday, 7.24.2012 - 8:36 (Solarserver)

CPS Energy (San Antonio, Texas, U.S.) and a subsidiary of OCI Company Ltd. (Seoul, South Korea) have announced the signing of a contract to build 400 MW of municipally-owned solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in and around the city of San Antonio, Texas, United States. OCI plans to commission the first 50 MW of PV by mid-2013. The deal also involves the building of multiple facilities to supply components for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, trackers and inverters. Read more