NexPower 160W thin-film modules UL and CEC registered

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Taiwan-based thin film manufacturer, NexPower Technology, has had its 160W thin-film modules both UL and CEC registered. According to the company, its a-Si thin-film modules were used in its first project in Kansai, Japan, which has started construction. Read more

British retailer Sainsbury's reaches 16 MW of installed PV

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 17:45 (Solarserver)

J Sainsbury plc (London, U.K.) has announced that it has reached 16 MW of installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity at 169 of its stores. The PV plants comprise a total of 69,500 modules. In addition to the PV plants, Sainsbury's has installed over 40 biomass boilers and has announced the roll out of a geothermal heat pump technology at up to 100 stores. Read more

Natcore to use cheaper nanoparticles for ?Black Silicon? solar cells

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Even before ?Black Silicon? technology, based on IP developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and licensed to Natcore Technology has reached commercialization, the technology will undergo a major material shift to reduce costs. Read more

MC10 wins contract to provide wearable PV to U.S. soldiers

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 15:36 (Solarserver)

MC10 (Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.) has signed a contract with the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center (NSRDEC, Natick, Massachusetts, U.S.) to develop solar photovoltaic (PV) cells integrated into the fabric of combat helmets and backpacks. MC10 states that the goal of this effort is to provide soldiers with a discrete, reliable power source, and that its conformal electronics platform is ideally suited to the application as it is ultra-thin, lightweight and can be integrated into fabrics and other materials. Read more

Dye sensitized solar cells: Dyesol achieves high efficiency in low-light conditions

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 15:31 (Solarserver)

Dyesol Ltd. (Queanbeyan, Australia) has announced the strong performance of its dye sensitized solar photovoltaic cell (DSC) technology in external performance testing, including under low-light conditions. Newport Corporation's (Irvine, California, U.S.) Technology & Applications Center Photovoltaic Laboratory has confirmed a 7.48% efficiency for Dyesol's DSC 'strip cell' at one-third sun, which Dyesol states is a typical lower-light, real-world condition. Next steps for the technology are the completion of the proof-of-concept phase, testing-validation and prototype development. Read more

Nick Clegg promises UK will not be ?left behind? in renewables revolution

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 13:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Nick Clegg has reiterated the Coalition?s commitment to driving the uptake of renewables in the UK during his opening speech at Government?s British Business Embassy on Energy at Lancaster House. Read more

Massachusetts increases net metering cap, creates bidding program for renewables

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 12:20 (Solarserver)

Governor Deval Patrick of the U.S. state of Massachusetts has signed into law legislation that includes an increase in the cap for the state's net metering policy, which allows small solar photovoltaic (PV) plants to feed electricity into the grid in an equal exchange for retail power. Among other changes to utility law, the bill also establishes a competitive solicitation process for renewable energy procurement. The bill was supported by both the U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.) and the VoteSolar Initiative (San Francisco, California, U.S.). Read more

NREL expands Natcore license to develop "black silicon" PV cells

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 9:04 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL, Golden, Colorado, U.S.) has added new patents to the license under which Natcore Technology Inc. (Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.) will develop and commercialize a line of "black silicon" solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. In the black silicon process, wafers are etched with nanoscale pores, resulting in lower light reflection, a black color, and superior PV device outputs. Natcore states that the most meaningful new black silicon patent relates to the use of copper nanoparticles in the etching process instead of gold or silver. Read more

GTM Research: PV monitoring market to reach 50 GW in 2016

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 8:54 (Solarserver)

Greentech Media Research (GTM, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) and SoliChamba Consulting (San Francisco, California, U.S.) have released a new report which predicts that the global market for solar photovoltaic (PV) monitoring solutions will reach 23 GW in 2012, and 50 GW in 2016. "Global PV monitoring: Technologies markets and leading players, 2012-2016" indicates that Solar-Log (Geislingen, Germany) and meteocontrol GmbH (Augsburg, Germany) are the current market leaders by installed capacity, but states that market growth offers significant opportunity for emerging players. Read more

Asia Report: World Takes Hard Look at India Grid, Promises of Solar

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 19:42 (Renewable Energy World)

Suddenly, the world is intrigued by India's unstable grid and the role solar can play in providing solutions for a country desperately in need of a new energy strategy. Read more

Dow commences polyolefin encapsulant films production in Thailand

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Dow Chemical Company?s plans for expansion, announced last year, have come to fruition with the production of its Enlight Polyolefin Encapsulant Films for use in PV solar panels in Thailand. Having commenced production in Ohio, US, in 2010, the company is also constructing a third manufacturing site for this film in Schkopau, Germany. Read more

aleo solar expects surge in sales from Germany

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 18:34 (PV-Tech)

Module manufacturer, aleo solar said it experienced weaker demand and continued price erosion in the first-half of the year due to changes in the German FiT and continued price erosion. Revenue reached ?232 million, a decline of 28.3%, compared to the prior year period. Read more

Chinese producer ReneSola to supply 8 MW PV modules to Australian True Value Solar

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 18:10 (Solarserver)

On August 2nd, 2012, ReneSola Ltd. (Jiashan, China) announced that it has signed a solar module sales agreement with True Value Solar, an Australia-based solar photovoltaic (PV) installations company. Under the terms of the agreement, ReneSola will ship a total of 8 MW of its mono-crystalline solar modules directly to True Value Solar's distribution sites in Australia by the end of this month. Read more

Connecticut launches second round of solar water heating subsidy program

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 18:05 (Solarserver)

On July 26th, 2012, the Connecticut Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) announced that it has launched the second round of project solicitations for the Commercial Solar Hot Water Program. The program, which has a USD 2,000,000 budget, will support about 45 solar hot water projects on schools, restaurants, apartment houses, hospitals and other establishments that use a significant amount of hot water. Read more

Solar Energy Savings Ltd shut down after Insolvency Service investigation

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 17:51 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar Energy Savings Ltd has been wound-up by the High Court in Manchester following a petition presented by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills following an investigation by Company Investigations of The Insolvency Service. Read more

Why I Donate Every Year to These Solar Organizations ? What Are Your Favorites?

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It?s that time of year again. For the last three years, I?ve consistently made a summer donation to The Vote Solar Initiative, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), and Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). This year, I?ve also added SolarPAC, the political action committee set up by SEIA. The amount I donate to each is not so much an obl Read more

Sainsbury?s solar efforts help it to become UK?s and Europe?s largest rooftop PV operator

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 13:54 (PV-Tech)

UK supermarket chain Sainsbury?s has claimed the title of the largest rooftop PV operator in the UK and Europe with a total output of 16MW. Read more

Sainsbury?s solar efforts help it to become UK?s largest commercial rooftop PV operator

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 13:54 (PV-Tech)

UK supermarket chain Sainsbury?s has claimed the title of the largest rooftop PV operator in the UK with a total output of 16MW. Read more

Lloyd Sargeant becomes Verengo Solar?s vice president of sales and development

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)

Verengo Solar, a US solar company, has named Lloyd Sargeant as the company?s vice president of sales and development. In this role, Sargeant will manage the company?s growing national sales division with a particular focus on expanding into new markets on the east coast of the US. Read more

LDK Solar announces passing of Professor Cui

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 11:52 (PV-Tech)

LDK Solar, a vertically integrated manufacturer of PV products, has regretfully announced the passing of Professor Rongqiang Cui, the director of the company?s laboratory at Shanghai Jiatong University. Professor Cui died at the age of 71. Read more

Centrosolar launches international version of Centrocheck PV system planning tool

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 8:58 (Solarserver)

Stating that its services are now available to installers in any nation from Austria to Vietnam, Centrosolar AG (Munich, Germany) has launched an English-language version of its Centrocheck planning tool for the international market. Centrosolar notes that each country version includes the solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, inverters and nation-specific calculation basis. The company also states that this complements an established tool for clients in North America, where installers use an online portal customized for that market. Read more

GMI Energy announces partnership with ITM-Power

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 19:05 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar specialists, GMI Energy, developer of Urban Exchange?s 50kWp array in Manchester, has announced a partnership with energy storage and clean fuel company, ITM Power. The agreement will see the companies join forces to offer an integrated renewable power generation and hydrogen production solution. Read more

Enevis completes Powerwall takeover

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 18:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Dartford-based renewable energy expert Enevis has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Scottish construction company Powerwall.  Read more

Sierra Club publishes report highlighting fossil fuel funding as attacks on U.S. renewable energy policies continue

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 17:58 (Solarserver)

The Sierra Club (San Francisco, California, U.S.) has released a new report highlighting fossil fuel industry funding of attacks on U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency policies at both the federal and state levels. ?Clean energy under siege" was published the same day that members of the Republican Party in the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee released a report detailing their 18-month investigation of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Guarantee program. It also comes a day after the same committee approved legislation to limit the program. Read more

U.K. Pledges 100 Million Pounds for Energy Investment Funds

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 17:31 (Renewable Energy World)

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will pledge 100 million pounds ($156 million) for two investment funds that seek to back renewable and energy efficient projects. Read more

Can Clean Energy Strike Back Against the Growing Smear Campaign?

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 17:02 (Renewable Energy World)

There has been a noticeable shift within the clean energy industry over the last few months as the election season brings a fresh round of attacks. Read more

11 Clean Energy Stocks for 2012: August Update

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 16:45 (Renewable Energy World)

July was a good month for my Clean Energy model portfolio. Since the last update, these 11 stocks are up an average of 3.3%, with a year to date return total return a tiny loss of -0.5%. While it's never pleasant to be down for the year, it's helpful to compare this performance to that of the most widely held clean energy ETF, the Powershares Wilderhill Clean Energy ETF (PBW), which was down 8.7% for the month, and down 21% year to date. All in all, it has been a miserable year so far for most clean energy investors, and I'm happy to say that my model portfolio has managed to avoid almost all of that misery. Read more

New "Clean Energy Under Siege" Report Details Dirty Energy Misinformation Tactics

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

A new report by the Sierra Club follows the money trail behind the "attack on renewable energy." A few of the key points are as follows: The tremendous growth in clean energy in recent years has made it a threat, and therefore a target from "oil, coal, and gas interests." Those interests have launched a coordinated, well-funded, multi-pronged assau Read more

New Zealand starts renewable energy initiative in Afghanistan, supports 1.05 MW PV plant in Bamyan province

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 12:34 (Solarserver)

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully in August 2012 announced, the nation will provide USD 18.6 million for a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system in the Bamyan province of Afghanistan. The 1.05 MW solar plant will be the largest in Afghanistan. Two New Zealand companies, NetCon Ltd. and Sustainable Energy Services International, have been awarded the contract, with construction expected to be completed at the end of 2013. Read more

Pike Research: Future market for advanced batteries uncertain

Monday, 8.6.2012 - 12:26 (Solarserver)

Pike Research LLC (Boulder, Colorado, U.S.) has released a report noting that while advanced battery technologies offer unique benefits for grid operation, it is unclear what role these technologies will play in future utility strategies. "Advanced Batteries for Utility-Scale Energy Storage Applications" states that the market opportunity for advanced batteries is tied to rising demand for electricity and the increasing penetration of variable renewable energy sources. However, the report also notes that battery technologies are not the only way to meet technical challenges. Read more