University of Albany partners with Ceres Technologies to develop solar cell manufacturing equipment

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 22:07 (PV-Tech)

The University of Albany and Ceres Technologies are coming together to work on a US$20 million project for the development of the next generation in solar cell manufacturing equipment. The Times Union writes that the deal is anticipated to create 250 jobs. Part of the US PV Manufacturing Consortium, the deal will also see Ceres Technologies get $764,000 in tax breaks from the state, according to the Daily Freeman. Read more

PV micro-inverter technology: World Economic Forum recognizes Enphase for technology leadership

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 19:25 (Solarserver)

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recognized Enphase Energy Inc. (Petaluma, California, U.S.) as a 2013 Technology Pioneer. Enphase will join 22 other companies in receiving the award, from the diverse fields of information technology, telecommunications, new media, life sciences, health, energy and the environment. Enphase will formally receive the award at a WEF meeting on September 11th-12th, 2012 in Tianjin, China. Read more

Poll: Small, specialist FiT suppliers come out on top

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 14:06 (Solarpowerportal)

The quality of service offered by UK feed-in tariff supplies varies enormously, with the smaller, specialist companies coming out on top. Read more

Italian court files lawsuit against Suntech?s GSF

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Chinese PV firm Suntech Power Holdings faces more trouble in Italy after an Italian court reportedly filed a lawsuit against the company?s Global Solar Fund (GSF). The lawsuit alleges that the investment fund illegally built solar farms in the country in order to exploit Italy?s subsidies, Reuters has revealed. Read more

Hanwha purchase of Q-Cells approved

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 9:22 (Solarserver)

Creditors of Q-Cells SE (Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany) approved Hanwha Group's (Korea) proposed purchase and transfer of Q-Cells' solar photovoltaic (PV) business operations at a special meeting on August 29th, 2012. The purchase includes a takeover of operational liabilities in the "lower triple-digit million" Euro range, as well as a cash purchase price of EUR 40 million (USD 50 million). The group will retain 1,250 of 1,550 Q-Cells employees, as well as most parts of the group including facilities in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Berlin and Malaysia, and international sales companies. Read more

MNRE: 40% subsidy available for off-grid PV solutions in India

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 9:15 (Solarserver)

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released further details on the Off-grid Solar Applications sub-program of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). MNRE notes that in addition to the 30% subsidy for off-grid PV systems, a 40% subsidy will be offered through government and private banks for solar lanterns, home lights and solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems up to 210 watts. The agency also reports that 911,000 solar lanterns, 862,000 solar home lights and 7,800 PV water pumping stations were installed in the nation by March 31st, 2012. Read more

Gehrlicher Solar completes Perleberg solar park

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Two and a half months after starting construction, Gehrlicher Solar advised that it has completed its Perleberg solar park, located between Hamburg and Berlin. The system holds a 35MWp nominal capacity and is anticipated to generate nearly 33 million kWh of power per year. The company noted that because of the solar park?s high capacity, it also built a separate expandable 110kV transformer station, which connected the solar installation to the grid on August 23. Read more

Sunways expects to be back in the black by 2014 with help from LDK Solar

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Sunways seemed hopeful today that by 2014, and on, it will once again be producing operating profits, thanks to LDK Solar taking over as its new majority shareholder. For its solar modules business, Sunways looks to continue building on its brand and service quality with LDK Solar, while in the solar cells segment, Sunways is expected to play a large role as a technology excellence centre within the LDK Solar Group. Read more

Expansion into the Italian PV market: GP JOULE commissions two solar power plants on Sardinia

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 19:37 (Solarserver)

Within a few weeks German power plant project developer GP JOULE (Reußenköge, Germany) has realized two solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in the one-megawatt (MWp) class on Sardinia and connected them to the grid. The plants, run by a joint operating company, were built on a total area of 3.5 hectares on the edge of Iglesias, a commune in the island?s southwest. Read more

SMA to unveil new products at Solar Power International trade show

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 19:30 (Solarserver)

SMA Solar Technology AG (Niestetal, Germany) announced that it will unveil new microinverter, string inverter and central inverter products at the Solar Power International trade show in Orlando, Florida, United States from September 10th-13th, 2012. These new products include a new Sunny Boy 240-US microinverter, as well as new models in its Sunny Central CP line and Sunny Boy 4000/5000/6000TL-US string inverter lines. Additionally, Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager of SMA America and president of SMA Canada, will present at a panel on markets at the conference. Read more

Goldfield Partners launches £50 million fund for pension and charity investors

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 18:10 (Solarpowerportal)

Building on the success of its Solar Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) Goldfield Partners has launched a £50 million fund for pension and charity investors looking to get involved in UK-based renewable energy. Read more

SunTechnics Fabrisolar completes 900kWp rooftop PV system in Switzerland

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Switzerland-based SunTechnics Fabrisolar has successfully installed a large-scale 900kWp PV system on the rooftops of Sagewerke Christen?s production and storage buildings in Luthern, Switzerland. As a result of the installation, Sagewerke Christen has become the first ?self-sufficient and carbon neutral? sawmill in Switzerland, the company claims. Read more

Q-Cells and Hanwha: Solar Geopolitics Gets Messy

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 16:50 (Renewable Energy World)

The pending sale of bankrupted Q-Cells, once the largest solar cell maker in the world, to Korea-based Hanwha Group is the latest reminder that playing geopolitics in the world of solar will only get harder. Read more

Germany Seeks to Prevent China Solar Dumping Case in Europe

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 16:23 (Renewable Energy World)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel seeks talks involving the European Commission and Chinese authorities to prevent the opening of anti-dumping proceedings against Chinese solar-panel makers in Europe. Read more

Document Standardization: It's Not Just for Pencil Pushers Anymore

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. renewable energy industries are persistently on the hunt for means of cutting down the cost of delivered energy. For example, in the case of solar, module costs have historically been the prize game. Although, now that modules are selling at bargain-basement prices worldwide, attention has shifted to "soft cost" components. And this is where document standardization ? the creation of an industry-wide set of contracts, forms, permits, etc., required during the project development cycle ? could pay some real dividends. Read more

Constellation Energy, Governor dedicate 16.1 MW PV plant; Maryland?s largest operational solar installation to supply an estimated 20 million kilowatt hours per year to the state

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 11:24 (Solarserver)

On August 29th, 2012 Constellation Energy (Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.) announced the completion of a 16.1-megawatt (DC) grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) installation in Emmitsburg, Md., as part of the state of Maryland?s Generating Clean Horizons initiative. Constellation financed, owns and operates the approximately USD 50 million solar facility on behalf of its customer, the state of Maryland. Electricity generated by the system is purchased by the state?s Department of General Services and the University System of Maryland under 20-year solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Constellation. Read more

JA Solar losses increase in 2Q 2012, despite greater share of module production

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 9:11 (Solarserver)

JA Solar Holdings Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) has released results for the second quarter of 2012, reporting a 31% year-over-year decline in revenues to USD 284 million, despite a 4% increase in shipments to 418 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) products. The company also reported a -8.6% operating margin and a net loss of USD 72.1 million. For the first time, PV modules have replaced cells to represent the bulk of JA Solar's shipments, at over 55% by volume. Read more

Scotland Gives Five Ocean Energy Developers $12.5 Million

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 16:13 (Renewable Energy World)

The Scottish government is giving five wave- and tidal-energy developers 7.9 million pounds ($12.5 million) to develop prototypes off the country's coast. Read more

On Clean Energy, the Military's Biggest Fight is with Congress

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

For two days in mid-July, 100 miles off the northern coast of Oahu in Hawaii, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz played host to the first large-scale demonstration of the Navy's Great Green Fleet. More than 70 aircraft, including F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, E-2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft, and helicopters, as well as destroyers and other ships, participated in the biannual Rim of the Pacific naval exercises with sailors and pilots from 21 other nations. A 50-50 biofuel/petroleum blend powered virtually all of the Navy's ships and aircraft. Read more

Rising Tide for Ocean Energy: UK Aims to Ride the Wave

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Growing global interest in harvesting the sea's vast generation potential is now focused on the UK, where a series of initiatives such as the new Marine Energy Parks are aimed at maintaining the country's technological lead. Read more

Adventure Inn: A Lean, Green, Hospitality Machine

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Susan and Mike Edgington, owners of the Adventure Inn in Ely, provide guests with energy efficient living, including solar-heated water and floors, and provide benefits to the surrounding environment with increased green space to absorb runoff. The Edgingtons also ?freecycled? old equipment including toilets, sinks, windows, doors, and furniture. S Read more

Survey: Bill payers unwilling to support renewables in light of economic difficulties

Thursday, 8.30.2012 - 11:35 (Solarpowerportal)

Last year, every single on of the so-called ?Big Six? energy suppliers raised their energy prices to unprecedented levels. As a result, many households up and down the UK struggled with the ugly spectre of fuel poverty. Read more