Q-Cells creditors approve sale of business operations to Hanwha

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 22:14 (PV-Tech)

After filing for insolvency on April 3, 2012, Q-Cells creditors have approved the sale of the business operations to the Hanwha Group, whereby Hanwha will assume responsibility of 1,250 employees (from 1,550) and most parts of the total Q-Cells Group. Q-Cells Bitterfeld-Wolfen administration site in Berlin, a production site in Malaysia and some international sales companies are included in the transaction. Both companies noted that many of the job cuts in the Q-Cells organization will be from the administration side. Read more

Order Focus: Canadian Solar supplies over 8MW of solar modules to groSolar projects

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 22:02 (PV-Tech)

Canadian Solar has been busy supplying over 8MW of its CS6P solar modules to groSolar, which have been utilized for three utility and commercial PV projects in the US. The largest installation is a 6MW plant under construction in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Read more

Sharp begins manufacturing black-on-black modules

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 18:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Sharp?s solar manufacturing plant in Wrexham is to begin the production of polycrystalline black-on-black modules in August. Sharp hopes to manufacture 4,800 ND-R245A6 modules which will incorporate both black frames and black back film, with the possibility of expanding the production run if they prove successful. Read more

Yingli reports further losses in 2Q 2012 results

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 16:01 (Solarserver)

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Ltd. (Baoding, China) released second quarter 2012 results, reporting a 29% year-over-year decrease in revenues to USD 489 million, a -11% operating margin and a net loss of USD 90.2 million. Yingli also reported an increase in shipments quarter-over-quarter to "record" shipment levels, but did not provide shipment volumes. The company reduced its solar photovoltaic (PV) module production costs to USD 0.77 per watt during the quarter, driven by falling polysilicon costs. Read more

Westinghouse, CBD form joint venture to build PV plants in Italy

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:55 (Solarserver)

Westinghouse Solar Inc. (San Jose, California, U.S.) and CBD Energy Ltd. (Double Bay, Australia) have formed a joint venture (JV) to provide design, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in Italy. Through the JV, Westinghouse will receive 25% of the profits from CBD's commercial project pipeline in Italy, in return for an investment of USD 1.5 million, with the option to double both the share of profits and investment. Westinghouse describes the move in terms of continuing integration of the two entities. Read more

Feed-in Tariff Success in Los Angeles Results in Full 150 MW Program in 2013

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Though the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) just began wrapping up its moderately successful pilot feed-in tariff, it has already decided to move forward with the full 150-MW FIT, well above the 75-MW requirement the utility faces by 2016. The decision, announced August 14th, will put the utility well on the way to the 600 MW requi Read more

Governor of Kaduna, Nigeria signs MOU with Helios for 30 MW PV project

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 10:26 (Solarserver)

Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, the Governor of Kaduna State (Nigeria), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Helios Energie GmbH (Friedrichsdorf, Germany) to develop a 30 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the state. Helios will invest EUR 50 million in the project, under a build, operate and transfer program to last 25 years. The company will return to Kaduna in October 2012 to identify a site for the plant. Read more

GCL-Poly gets government approval to build 340 MW of PV plants in Shanxi Province, China

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 9:43 (Solarserver)

China's National Energy Bureau has approved GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd. (Hong Kong, China) to start preparatory construction work on a 310 MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 30 MW rooftop PV plant in Shanxi Province, China. The plants in Datong, Shanxi Province will be the largest in China and among the largest in the world when completed. Read more

Report: Government ambiguity leaves UK renewables sector in limbo

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 9:42 (Solarpowerportal)

The UK Government?s frequent renewable policy alterations and subsidy announcements seen since the launch of the feed-in tariff have bred uncertainty in the renewables marketplace, preventing strong investment in the sector. Read more

Westinghouse Solar, CBD Energy form JV for development of commercial Italian PV projects

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Westinghouse Solar and CBD Energy have formed a joint venture with an intent to design, engineer, procure and construct commercial PV projects in Italy. Westinghouse Solar will have a 25% stake, with the option to take up to a 50% stake, in the profits from CBD?s commercial project pipeline in Italy in exchange for an investment of US$1.5 million (with an option to invest an additional US$1.5 million). Read more

JGC takes up its first Japanese solar project with Oita City?s PV project

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

JGC Corporation has entered the domestic solar power scene upon joining Japan?s largest-scale mega-solar PV generation project, which is located in Oita City, Oita Prefecture. The plant is expected to begin commercial operation in May 2013 and will be the largest capacity mega-solar plant in the country. Read more

Solar Universe Network helps Sunrun expand its service network

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Solar Universe Network and Sunrun entered a strategic partnership, which will bring Sunrun?s solar service to more US customers. The partnership will be offered to homeowners in California, Arizona, Hawaii, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Oregon. Read more

Constellation commissions 16.1MW PV project in Maryland

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 23:01 (PV-Tech)

Constellation Solar announced that its 16.1MW (DC) PV project in Emmitsburg, Maryland has been completed and connected to the grid. The project, part of Maryland?s Generating Clean Horizons initiative, is financed, owned and operated by Constellation. The US$50 million solar site will sell its electricity to the Department of General Services and the University System of Maryland under a 20-year PPA with Constellation. Read more

Motech, ModSolar partner for industry?s first hyper-targeted ad platform

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Motech Americas and ModSolar have announced their partnership, which aims to bring Motech?s modules onto the ModSolar Platform utilizing what they deem as the solar industry?s first hyper-targeted ad platform. Read more

Phoenix Solar begins building Tennessee?s largest solar park

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Phoenix Solar, a developer of large-scale PV projects, has started to install more than 33,000 PV modules at Volkswagon?s plant in Chattanooga in Tennessee, US, WDEF News 12 has reported. The ground-mounted project, which costs in the region of US$30 million, is said to be Tennessee?s largest solar park when complete. Read more

Eoplly, Solar Street Lights complete early warning systems for City of Detroit, Michigan

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 16:00 (Solarserver)

On August 27th, 2012, Eoplly USA Inc. (San Bruno, California), a designer and manufacturer of solar products, and Solar Street Lights USA Inc. (Holland, Michigan), a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) street lights and storage systems, announced that they have completed about 50% of early notification and emergency warning systems for the City of Detroit, Michigan. Read more

India Plans Auction to Double Solar Power Capacity

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:57 (Renewable Energy World)

India may auction a third of the solar projects planned by 2017 in the current financial year to double the nation's sun-powered capacity as it seeks additional clean-energy investments to combat power shortages. Read more

ReneSola to ship 4.6 MW of PV modules to Solar Planet

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:50 (Solarserver)

On August 27th, 2012, ReneSola Ltd. (Jiashan, China) announced that it has signed a module sales agreement with Solar Planet Power Inc. (Columbus, OH, U.S.). Under the terms of the agreement, ReneSola will sell 4.6 megawatts (MW) of its 255 watt poly modules to Solar Planet Power. The modules will be shipped to Solar Planet in the third quarter of 2012, ReneSola states. Read more

Solar Electricity Systems brings Energie?s thermodynamic range to the UK

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:35 (Solarpowerportal)

Energie, the Portuguese solar thermal manufacturer, is offering its thermodynamic range of solar modules in the UK for the first time, thanks to a partnership with Scottish renewable specialists, Solar Electricity Systems. Read more

Solar Electricity Systems brings Energie?s thermodynamic range to Scotland

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:35 (Solarpowerportal)

Energie, the Portuguese solar thermal manufacturer, is offering its thermodynamic range of solar modules in Scotland and across the rest of the UK, thanks to a partnership with Scottish renewable specialists, Solar Electricity Systems. Read more

Strong on Solar: Australia Eyes CSP Leadership

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

A move into concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) could not only drive Australia's de-carbonization but establish a global technology lead, says a new analysis from the Australia Solar Institute. Read more

BYD and Juwi-Gruppe connect 47MW PV project in Germany

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 14:46 (PV-Tech)

BYD and Juwi-Gruppe have announced that their 47MW solar project in Germany has officially started its commercial operation after it was successfully connected to the grid. Read more

SolarWorld holds first supplier award event

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Unlike the semiconductor industry, the recognition of suppliers from PV manufacturers is limited. However, SolarWorld has organized its first supplier award event to acknowledge the important role suppliers make to the success of its operations. In a statement, several categories were highlighted by the module manufacturer, which included awards to Kostal, 3M and Gigasolar. Read more

Ikea connects Minnesota?s largest rooftop PV system with Bloomington installation

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 12:10 (PV-Tech)

Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has continued its solar roll-out by connecting its 31st solar project in the US in the form of a 1,014kW PV system on the rooftop of its Twin Cities store in Bloomington, Minnesota, US. Read more

JinkoSolar to supply 30 MW of PV modules for project in Xinjiang Province, China

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 10:18 (Solarserver)

China Guangdong Nuclear Solar Energy Development Co. Ltd. (CGN-SEDC ) has awarded JinkoSolar Holding Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) a contract to supply 30 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to a PV project in China's Xinjiang Province. The project will be located in Hami City, Xinjiang Province. JinkoSolar has increased its modules sales into China, reporting 200 MW of Chinese contracts in its second quarter 2012 financial report. Read more

Canadian solar sells 10 MW PV plant, acquires contracts to build 18.7 MW more

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 9:38 (Solarserver)

On August 27th, 2012 Canadian Solar Inc. (Guelph, Canada) announced that it will sell a 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Ontario, Canada to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners (New York, New York, U.S.) for USD 48.6 million. A day later on August 28th, 2012, the company announced that it had closed on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract and operations and maintenance agreement for two PV plants totaling 18.7 MW in Ontario for Penn Energy Renewables Ltd. (Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, U.S.). Read more

CSI solar thermal program falling far short of goals

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 9:35 (Solarserver)

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E, San Francisco, California, U.S.) has published its second quarter 2012 review of the California Solar Initiative's solar thermal program, CSI-Thermal, on behalf of the program administrators. During the quarter the CSI launched a statewide marketing and outreach campaign designed to speed the adoption of solar thermal systems, as the program is far short of goals for market adoption. Read more

Germany to Cut Risks for Offshore Wind-Farm Delays

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 14:05 (Renewable Energy World)

Germany backed measures to charge consumers and grid operators for risks linked to installing sea- based wind farms, in an effort to support investments from developers including EON AG and RWE AG. Read more

Green Tomato Energy: FiT cut publicity is dampening demand

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 12:32 (Solarpowerportal)

April 1 brought with it another round of feed-in tariff cuts for the solar industry as well as an inevitable stall in installation levels. The introduction of the 16p tariff alongside the reduced 20-year lifetime has caused an 80 percent drop in solar panel installations.  Read more

Oregon's Geothermal Portfolio Expected to Increase before Year's End

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 16:18 (Renewable Energy World)

An article on Sustainablebusinessoregon.com focuses on geothermal energy in Oregon, citing up to 19 projects in development in the state (GEA's "2012 US Geothermal Power Production and Development Report" (April 2012) confirmed 16). Read more

US DOE invests US$10 million in two university-led projects for advancement of CSP technologies

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 23:56 (PV-Tech)

US Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the DOE has selected the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Arizona for its new US$10 million investment through the SunShot Initiative. The projects aim to advance CSP system technologies by improving heat transfer fluids, which in turn help to increase the efficiencies and lower the costs of CSP systems. Read more

American Clean Energy completes MW roof-mounted PV project at school district in New Jersey

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:55 (Solarserver)

On August 27th, 2012, American Clean Energy (Saddle Brook, New Jersey) announced that it has completed megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays for the Toms River Regional Schools in Toms River, New Jersey. The 16,000 PV panels are located on the rooftops of 13 of the school's buildings. The systems will have annual output of 5,095,000 kilowatt hours (kWh), the company states. Read more

Chile's Energy Secretary announces pilot program for renewables in Native community

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:54 (Solarserver)

Chile's Secretary of Energy Sergio Del Campo announced the launch of a pilot program for the implementation of renewable energy generation for the Traiguén Indian community in the Araucanía Region. The pilot program is part of a transfer agreement of the Ministry of Energy to Fosis and the City of Traiguén, which has a total of more than USD 32 million to be invested in the installation of various technical solutions to domestic activities, productive and community service. Read more

Renewable Energy Sees Explosive Growth During Obama Administration

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 15:28 (Renewable Energy World)

Two recently-issued federal studies underscore the dramatic growth in electrical generation from geothermal, solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources during the first three and one-half years of the Obama Administration. Read more

MPs urge Government to work with China towards a low-carbon future

Wednesday, 8.29.2012 - 12:17 (Solarpowerportal)

The UK?s Energy and Climate Change Committee has today issued a report urging Government to work together with China to develop a successful low-carbon strategy. Read more