Conergy commissions 3.4 MW PV plant for private investor in Germany

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 12:26 (Solarserver)

On August 16th, 2012, Conergy AG (Hamburg, Germany) announced that it has developed a 3.4 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant for German private investor Stephan Johannsen. The new PV plant, located in artists' village of Worpswede in Lower Saxony (Germany), follows the inauguration of an 8 MW solar park which Conergy also constructed for Stephan Johannsen. The Worpswede solar park is the fourth PV plant Conergy realized for this investor. Read more

IBM Research develops 11% efficient CZTS PV cell

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 9:04 (Solarserver)

IBM Research (Yorktown, New York, U.S.) has achieved 11.1% conversion efficiency with a copper zinc tin (CZTS) thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) cell. The company notes that these cells can be manufactured using ink-based techniques including printing or casting. IBM Research also states that the wide availability of materials for these cells is differentiating CZTS cells from dominant thin-film technologies including copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS or CIS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe). Read more

SunEdison to build 14.5 MW PV plant for U.S. Air Force

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 8:57 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Air Force has contracted SunEdison LLC (Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.) to build a 14.5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at an Air Force base in the U.S. state of Arizona. The Air Force states that construction on the plant at the Davis-Monthan Air Force base will begin "soon", with completion planned for no later than December 2012. The agency is also planning a 6 MW PV plant at Otis Air National Guard base in the state of Massachusetts and a 10 MW PV plant at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, which it expects to award in fiscal year 2013. Read more

ReneSola obtains SII certification for Israeli PV market

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 8:52 (Solarserver)

The Standards Institution of Israel (SII) has certified ReneSola Ltd.'s (Jiashan, China) solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, including its Virtus series, monocrystalline series and multicrystalline series. SII certification is required for PV modules used in grid-tied plants in Israel, and the certification ensures that these modules meet the nation's safety requirements. Read more

Tigo Energy receives industry?s first certification for SmartModule technology from TÜV Rheinland

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 1:15 (PV-Tech)

TÜV Rheinland awarded Tigo Energy the industry?s first ever certification for SmartModules, recognizing the company for embedding its junction box in PV modules for the North America and European solar markets. Since Tigo Energy is the first to go through this certification process, it states that it actually helped develop testing standards for SmartModules. Read more

Asia Report: US Accused of Killing India's Solar Energy Industry

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 21:14 (Renewable Energy World)

The United States is killing India's domestic solar industry, according to industry analysts. New Dehli's Center for Science and Environment (CSE) released a report Friday stating that the U.S. Export-Import Bank and Overseas Private Investment Corp. is using a $30-billion fund, fast start financing, set up by the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change intended to help developing countries overcome climate change difficulties. Read more

Spain Won't Levy More Taxes on Solar Power

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 20:04 (Renewable Energy World)

Abengoa SA, the biggest recipient of subsidies for solar-thermal power in Spain, rose to a five-month high, leading industry gainers, after Budget Minister Cristobal Montoro said he'll stop plans to claw back money from companies. Read more

Trina Solar?s CCO departs as it re-jigs its management structure

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

In response to increased losses and deepening negative margins, Trina Solar has implemented a number of changes to its management structure in a bid to ?increase the responsiveness and effectiveness of its revenue-based operations?. As a result, its operations are now divided into four regions, each with a regional leader which will report to Jifan Gao, chairman and CEO of Trina Solar. Read more

Swiss FiT cut by 15%

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Switzerland?s Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) has announced a 15% cut to the solar PV incentive scheme, effective October 1. This is the third reduction since the beginning of this year which the department is attributing to the drop in price of PV modules in Europe. Read more

Under-pressure Sharp assesses sale of solar arm

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

With a debt of ¥1.25 trillion (US$16 billion), Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp Corporation has been feeling the weight on its shoulders and will submit an asset report to its banks next month in order to identify any flagging businesses it could sell to raise some finance, Reuters revealed. Read more

Catalogue of woes hits Trina Solar

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

Following recently revised second quarter financial results, Trina Solar produced a long-list of issues that contributed to growing losses and a meaningful reduction in its full-year shipment guidance. A major shake-up of its senior management structures have been made that included the exit of its short-stay Chief Commercial Officer, Mark Kingsley. Read more

The Key to Exponential Solar Growth Is Virtual Net Metering ? and Solar Companies

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 16:10 (Renewable Energy World)

  On August 15, 2012, at 8 a.m., Colorado?s Xcel utility opened up its registration for a new solar gardens/virtual net metering program. It took just 30 minutes to shut the doors on applications. The utility had received 13.5 MW in those 30 minutes, more than triple the MW allowed. This excitement is one reason why I believe that community sol Read more

Trina Solar reports heavy losses in 2Q 2012

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 16:07 (Solarserver)

Trina Solar Ltd. (Changzhou, China) has released results for the second quarter of 2012, reporting a 40% year-over-year decline in revenues to USD 346 million, a -23% operating margin, and a net loss of USD 92.1 million. The company notes that its results were impacted by a number of factors, including large provisions for accounts receivables and inventory write-downs, as well as the ongoing collapse in the price of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. Read more

BIPV: Monier Group acquires Schott Solar's InDaX roof-integrated technology

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 15:58 (Solarserver)

Monier Group Services GmbH (Oberursel, Germany) has acquired Schott Solar AG's (Mainz, Germany) InDaX technology for roof-integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, including the framing technology, the rights to use the InDaX name and patents related to the product. The companies have not disclosed financial terms of the transaction. The Monier Group states that the system has already been launched in Germany, Italy and Southeastern Europe, with further market launches planned in the United Kingdom and France by the end of 2012. Read more

Switch2Renewable eyes 7.5MW solar park in Suffolk

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 15:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Forest Heath District Council is currently considering a planning application submitted by Switch2Renewables to turn 15 hectares of agricultural land into a 7.5MW solar power plant. Read more

SolarSuperState Association publishes global rankings for installed solar, wind capacity

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 14:55 (Solarserver)

On August 15th, 2012, SolarSuperState Association (Zuerich, Switzerland) has published its new global rankings for solar and wind energy capacity. In the solar category, all the states of the world are ranked according to the installed per capita capacity of photovoltaics (PV). Germany reached 301 W peak per capita; Vatican City State follows with 267 Wp per capita, and Italy with 210 Wp per capita. Read more

North Carolina GreenPower changes premium payment for new small solar PV agreements

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 14:48 (Solarserver)

NC GreenPower (Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.), an independent, nonprofit organization established to improve North Carolina's environment through voluntary contributions, announced a change in premiums for new small solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation. The maximum premium for all new small solar PV agreements of 5 kW or less will be adjusted to USD 0.08 per kWh, effective September 10th, 2012. This change from the current rate of USD 0.10 will be effective for all applications received after September 10th, 2012. Read more

Eight19 expands Indigo off-grid solar scheme; launches Azuri Technologies Limited

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Cambridge University spin-off Eight19 has revealed the launch of Azuri Technologies Limited, which will be used to develop the company?s Indigo ?pay-as-you-go? solar technology for off-grid markets. Read more

WAAREE wins EPC contract for 5MW thin-film plant

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

India-based WAAREE Energies, a specialist in the manufacture of PV modules and a provider of EPC and support for PV plants, has been awarded another turnkey EPC contract for a 5MW PV plant in Gujarat, India, from US solar project developer Avatar Solar. Read more

Cambridge University spin-off expands pay-as-you-go solar scheme

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 12:37 (Solarpowerportal)

Cambridge University spin-off Eight19 has today revealed the launch of Azuri Technologies Limited, which will be used to develop the company?s Indigo ?pay-as-you-go? solar technology for off-grid markets. Read more

Xcel community solar program oversubscribed 30 minutes after opening

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 12:15 (Solarserver)

Xcel Energy Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.) closed the window for applications to its Solar*Rewards Community standard offer program due to over-subscription shortly after the program opened on August 16th, 2012. Xcel was seeking MW of generation from community-based solar photovoltaic (PV) systems 500 kW or smaller in the U.S. state of Colorado, but says that it received applications for roughly three times that amount by 30 minutes after the program opened. Clean Energy Collective (Carbondale, Colorado, U.S.) reports that it has been awarded six contracts through the program for a total of 2.5 MW of capacity. Read more

New York creates new tax exemptions for solar

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 12:09 (Solarserver)

Andrew Cuomo, governor of the U.S. state of New York (U.S.), has signed three bills to incentivize solar installations in the state by creating state tax credits and exempting solar systems from a variety of taxes. The bills include state tax credits for the lease of solar equipment and power purchase agreements, sales tax exemptions for commercial solar equipment, and an expansion of the real property tax abatement in New York City for solar equipment. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.) praised the new legislation. Read more

Solon completes construction of 1.6MW PV system in Berlin

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 2:15 (PV-Tech)

Berlin?s environment minister, Michael Müller, was on hand to celebrate the completion of a 1.6MW solar system, which was completed by Solon Energy for Berliner Energieagentur. The rooftop PV system is said to be Berlin?s largest roof-mounted system and will generate almost 1,400MWh of solar power per year. Berliner Energieagentur was responsible for contracting and financing the project and will take over the system?s operation. Read more

Yingli modules pass PID testing conducted by Intertek

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 2:15 (PV-Tech)

Yingli Green Energy Holding?s advised that its multicrystalline PV modules had undergone, and successfully passed, potential induced degradation (PID) testing, which was conducted by Intertek Group. The test analysed the power output of Yingli Solar?s PV modules under sever conditions of high voltage, temperature and humidity. Read more

SPI 2012: REC to present new products at Orlando solar show

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 2:15 (PV-Tech)

Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) will be on hand September 10-13 in Orlando, Florida for Solar Power International. The company plans to exhibit its product innovations, technical achievements and its REC Partner and Professional Programs during the event. Read more

Senersun modules pass salt mist corrosion testing

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 1:15 (PV-Tech)

Senersun advised that its polycrystalline modules had passed testing performed by SGS for compliance with IEC 61701 standards for salt mist corrosion. The solar panels underwent four test cycles spread over 28 days. Each module was sprayed with a salt mist solution and then stores for 7 days at 40° C and 93% relative humidity. Testing confirmed that the panels were visually, dimensionally and functionally compliant with the IEC standards. Read more

Massachusetts Finalizes Strict Regulations on Biomass Plants

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 22:10 (Renewable Energy World)

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) finalized the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard Class I regulations for biomass eligibility yesterday after more than two years of evaluation and heated debate. Read more

Japanese Company Plans To Convert California Coal Plants to Biomass

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 15:47 (Renewable Energy World)

IHI Corp. a Japanese maker of heavy machinery, acquired as much as 50 percent stakes in five power plants in California from Exelon Corp. Read more

Energy Market Uncertainty Boiling Up in Texas

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Texas is an energy powerhouse. It dwarfs nearly every other state in total production on both a British thermal unit (BTU) and kilowatt-hour (kWh) basis. Yet the Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is reportedly facing a looming problem of shrinking capacity reserve margins thanks to peak electricity load growth outpacing new capacity additions. According to energy analysts, low energy prices and unfavorable future market conditions are not encouraging additional peaker generation capacity to be built. Read more

Flying on Woody Biomass and Camelina: Consortium Seeks Biofuel Answers

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 7:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Aviation remains as much a part of Washington State as its eastern dry-land agriculture or the rain-soaked forests on its mountainous western fringes. But only the alternative energy industry proposes to combine the three in a regional effort to create a green and renewable jet fuel (biojet). Read more

Phase-out of the Federal Wind Tax Credit a Good Thing?

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News has a very long story on a new angle for the federal wind tax credit debate: a phaseout. This article raises several issues, apart from that policy strategy, that are worth a quick discussion. 1. Why Would Wind Compete with Natural Gas? The article waxes long about the trials of the wind industry in the face of low natur Read more

Daqo New Energy fails to comply with NYSE price criteria

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Daqo New Energy Corporation, a Chinese manufacturer of polysilicon, has received a notification from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) claiming that the company does not meet its price criteria. Read more

Massachusetts clean energy economy grows by 11.2%; state employs 72,000 people in clean energy jobs

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 15:04 (Solarserver)

On August 16th, 2012, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) announced that clean energy economy in Massachusetts grew by 11.2% from July 2011 to July 2012. The growing sector now employs 71,523 people at 4,995 clean energy companies across Massachusetts, according to the ?2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report?. Read more

New England Governors Plan Massive Renewable Energy Procurement for End of 2013

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

At the New England Governors? Conference (NEGC) on July 30th, 2012, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts presented, and all six governors signed, a resolution stating their intent to launch a coordinated regional procurement by the end of 2013. The resolution charges the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) with the responsibilit Read more

California Assembly fiscal committee clears community renewable energy bill

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 14:29 (Solarserver)

On August 16th, 2012, California Assembly's fiscal committee has voted to approve several bills by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis), including measures to expand consumer access to clean, renewable energy. The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted to approve the SB 843 bill, which aims at creating a program to provide customers of the state's major utilities the opportunity to buy clean energy produced by a shared community renewable energy system. Thus customers will receive credit on their utility bills for their portion of the power generated, much as if those renewable energy systems were located at their own home or business. Read more

enXco is Now EDF Renewable Energy

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 12:59 (Renewable Energy World)

The world of mergers, acquisitions and strategic investments got a little bit more interesting this week with the announcement that enXco, once a winner of a RenewableEnergyWorld.com Excellence in Renewable Energy Award, will become EDF Renewable Energy. The name change is a result of its investment partner and 50 percent owner, EDF Energies Nouvelles, becoming fully owned by its parent company EDF Group. Read more

REAL accused of ?working closely? with TV production company to ?expose? its members

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 7:00 (Solarpowerportal)

Prospect Law, working on behalf of Crystal Windows and Doors, has accused the Renewable Energy Assurance Scheme (REAL) of ?working closely? with TV production company Ricochet Productions to ?expose? its members through the popular television show Cowboy Traders.  Read more

Daqo New Energy sees US$30.6 million in revenues for Q2 2012

Tuesday, 8.21.2012 - 2:15 (PV-Tech)

Daqo New Energy released its second quarter 2012 financial earnings, which saw the company post revenues of US$30.6 million, down from US$34 million in Q1 2012. Additionally, Daqo?s Q2 2012 polysilicon shipments were approximately 1,028MT, while its PV module shipments amounted to 3.6MW. Wafer shipments for the second quarter were 11.2MW. Read more