US Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium recruits Joseph Hudgins as senior VP

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

Following the three new additions to the US Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC) in June, PVMC has announced the appointment of Joseph Hudgins as senior vice president for business development and strategic alliances. Read more

MPrime announces investment in innovation programme for PV module production line

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 17:48 (PV-Tech)

MPrime, a subsidiary of Martifer Solar, has announced its investment in an innovation programme for its photovoltaic module production line at the company?s factory in Oliveira de Frades, Portugal. The factory, which had already received ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001 quality certification, now has an EL Tester to ensure greater quality control of the final product. Read more

JCM closes financing on 50 MW PV project in South America

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:59 (Solarserver)

JCM Capital (Toronto, Canada) has announced that it has closed financing on a 50 MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) project in South America. The company has declined to say what nation the plant will be built in and did not respond to inquiries. However, its statement that the project would participate in a feed-in tariff in an area with "one of the best irradiance levels across the globe" suggests that it will be in Argentina. Read more

Efacec to build 1 MW PV plant on Eletrosul HQ roof in Brazil

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:41 (Solarserver)

On July 18th, 2012, Eletrosul (Florianópolis, Brazil) announced that it has selected Efacec Megawatt Solar Consortium to build a one megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at Eletrosul's headquarters building. The consortium, consisting of Portuguese Efacec and its Brazilian subsidiary, was selected in a bidding process. Read more

SMA introduces new Sunny Central PV inverters

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:14 (Solarserver)

On August 14th, 2012, SMA America LLC (Rocklin, California) announced that it has introduced the Sunny Central inverters 500/630/720/750/800 CP-US, for utility and commercial applications. The Sunny Central CP-US is rated for maximum system voltages up to 1,000 VDC and 10% over nameplate output capacity at ambient temperatures up to 25°C, which translates to substantial balance of systems cost savings while still delivering optimum performance, the company states. Read more

Conergy has built its fourth PV plant for German private investor

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Conergy has constructed its fourth PV solar plant for German private investor Stephan Johannsen. The plant has a capacity of 3.4MW and closely follows the inauguration of the 8MW PV plant in Grimmen in March, which Conergy also built for the investor. Read more

ISOFOTON to build one of the largest PV plants in Latin America, Dominican Republic?s first photovoltaic power plant with 44 MW

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 12:28 (Solarserver)

Isofoton SA (Madrid, Spain) and the Government of the Dominican Republic have signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) giving Isofoton the green light to begin construction of one of Latin America?s largest photovoltaic plants. The plant will be built in the Dominican Republic and will represent the country?s first such installation. The plant will have a nominal power output of 44 megawatts (MW) and a peak power output of 50.6 MW. Read more

centrotherm photovoltaics AG to receive USD 61 million insolvency loan, announces new orders in its Solar Cell & Module segment

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 9:01 (Solarserver)

centrotherm photovoltaics AG (Blaubeuren, Germany) has announced that it will receive a EUR 50 million (USD 61 million) loan from un-named banks to support its reorganization as part of its insolvency proceedings. This loan brings Centrotherm's liquidity to more than EUR 90 million (USD 111 million). In a separate announcement, Centrotherm stated that its business operations are continuing unchanged despite insolvency, reporting new orders in its Solar Cell & Module segment. Read more

Applied EES revenues, orders sluggish in 3Q 2012 on weak equipment demand

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 8:56 (Solarserver)

Applied Materials Inc. (Santa Clara, California, U.S.) has released results for its most recent financial quarter, reporting a 2.5% sequential decline in revenues in its Energy and Environmental Services Division (EES) to USD 77 million. Applied's EES revenues are a 86% decline from the same quarter a year prior, and the division brought in a mere USD 35 million in orders, reflecting the collapse in the solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing equipment market. However, the company remains bullish on the PV industry in the long run and predicts 27 to 35 GW of global installations in 2012. Read more

Imperial County withdraws permit for 8minutenergy Renewables?s 50MW solar project

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

The Imperial Country Planning Department has withdrawn the permit for a 50MW solar project after 8minutenergy Renewables submitted a request to revoke approval for its 50 MW Calipatria Solar Farm II project, the Imperial Valley Press revealed. Read more

SPI reports losses in 2Q 2012, will reorganize

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:56 (Solarserver)

SPI Solar Inc. (Roseville, California, U.S.) has released financial results for the second quarter of 2012, reporting a 32% year-over-year decline in revenues to EUR 24.4 million, an -11% operating margin, and a net loss of USD 2.4 million. SPI Solar also announced a company reorganization, with a new focus on serving as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) manager to other construction services firms. The company says that this new focus will allow it to streamline its business model to more effectively pursue multiple growth opportunities, and the changes will affect 30 positions in the United States and China. Read more

Kyocera Solar to install 405 kW of distributed PV in Fiji's remote villages

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:38 (Solarserver)

On August 13th, 2012, Kyocera Solar Inc. (Kyoto, Japan) announced that it will install 405 kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules on the Fiji Islands. The PV systems will power over 2,000 homes. Kyocera has partnered with Powerlite Generators (Fiji) Ltd. to install 3,000 solar panels throughout Fiji. Each system includes at least one 135 watt Kyocera module, a regulator, maintenance-free batteries, and both indoor and outdoor lighting. Read more

Applied Materials solar sales flat at US$77 million

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

Management at Applied Materials spent little time discussing the performance of its Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) division results, which houses the majority of its solar sector equipment and services to the PV industry. The company reported EES sales in its financial third quarter that were almost flat with the previous quarter at US$77 million. However, new orders decreased significantly to only US$35 million, compared to US$62 million in the prior quarter. Read more

It's Back to the Future on the US Clean Tech Industry

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney recently stated how each would "get tough" with China. This reminded me of a conversation with economists I had in Vice President Biden's office several years ago. We discussed how to put together the president's stimulus proposal and the possibility of using clean tech programs ? solar, wind, batteries and others ? as one of the lynchpins of the program. Read more

Solar Frontier becomes first to obtain new JETPVm certification

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Solar Frontier has become the first company to receive the new JETPVm Certification (Trust Assurance) (JIS Q 8901) from Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories (JET), a Japanese registered certifier of electrical products and other goods. Read more

Manz Solar revenues fall 71% in 1H 2012, company achieves positive EBIT due to diversification

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 12:18 (Solarserver)

Manz AG (Reutlingen, Germany) has released results for the first half of 2012, reporting a 71% decline in revenues in its Solar Business unit to EUR 13.1 million (USD 16.1 million) during the period. Overall, Manz revenues declined 16% year-over-year to EUR 109 million (USD 134 million), with an increase in revenues from its Display segment partially compensating for the decline in its Solar segment. The company reported a 1.0% operating (EBIT) margin, which it attributes to its diversification, and a net loss of EUR 1.5 million (USD 1.8 million). Read more

Singulus Solar segment sales decline 44% in 1H 2012

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 12:14 (Solarserver)

Singulus Technologies AG (Kahl am Main, Germany) has released results for the first half of 2012, reporting a 44% year-over-year decline in sales to EUR 12.0 million (USD 14.7 million) and a -48% operating margin in its Solar segment. Overall, the company reported EUR 43.6 million (USD 53.6 million) in sales, EUR 87 million (USD 107 million) in new orders, a -28% operating margin and a net loss of EUR 12.3 million (USD 15.1 million) during the six-month period. Singulus states that it is adapting its Solar segment to current market conditions, including cost reductions and the development of key technologies. Read more

In Germany, Environmental Concerns Could Impact Offshore Wind Development

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:58 (Renewable Energy World)

Porpoises and bombs left by Adolf Hitler's forces six decades ago are adding millions of dollars to costs for wind-turbine developers in waters off Germany, delaying the nation's shift from nuclear energy. Read more

Cape Wind Receives FAA Approval - Again

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:53 (Renewable Energy World)

The Federal Aviation Administration said the proposed Cape Wind power project off the Massachusetts coast poses no risk to air navigation, clearing a hurdle for what may be the first U.S. offshore wind facility. Read more

Ecuador seeks PV firm for 1.1MW PV Galapagos project

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Ecuador?s Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy will issue an international tender to contract a PV engineering company to take on a hybrid system project on Isabela island, Galapagos Archipelago. Read more

A Bright Spot for Renewable Energy? Clean Energy Patents at Quarterly High

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 17:47 (Renewable Energy World)

The Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI), published quarterly by the Cleantech Group at Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C. provides an indication of the trend of innovative activity in the Clean Energy sector from 2002 to the present.  Results from the Q1 2012 reveal the CEPGI to have a value of 694 granted U.S. patents, the highest quarter Read more

Government identifies UK green growth potential

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 16:42 (Solarpowerportal)

The UK Government has published three detailed reports that aim to highlight the potential of Electricity Networks and Storage (EN&S), Marine Energy and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies. Read more

Clean energy patents reach all-time high

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 15:19 (Solarserver)

Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C. (Albany, New York) has released first-quarter 2012 results for the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI). The Q1, 2012 data reveals that CEPGI comprises 694 granted U.S. patents, which is the highest quarter figure since tracking of the CEPGI began, and is up 154 over the first quarter of 2011. Read more

Sunrise Energy Ventures to build 30 MW of PV in U.S. state of Indiana

Thursday, 8.16.2012 - 8:50 (Solarserver)

Sunrise Energy Ventures (SEV, Wayzata, Minnesota, U.S.) has announced that it will develop three 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plants for Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.). IPL will purchase the electricity generated by these plants through a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Combined, these three plants will be larger than any currently operational PV project in the U.S. Midwest. Read more