MiaSolé restructuring to preserve cash: strategic partnership expected within 90 days

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 20:11 (PV-Tech)

MiaSolé is cutting its workforce dedicated to manufacturing and operations to preserve cash as a ?strategic partnership? deal is expected within the next 60-90 days, according to a statement from the CIGS thin-film module start-up. Jobs are being retained in the technology and commercial areas as well as in its flexible thin film product areas. Read more

Poland Moving to Feed-in Tariffs

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 16:41 (Renewable Energy World)

Poland, a country that produces 90% of its electricity with coal and once a seemingly impregnable bastion of neoliberalism in the heart of Europe, has announced that it will introduce a new law on renewable energy. The new law will introduce feed-in tariffs for the first time. Read more

Enphase revenues increase to USD 55.7 million in 2Q 2012

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 9:39 (Solarserver)

Enphase Energy Inc. (Petaluma, California, U.S.) has released its second quarter 2012 results, reporting an 88% year-over-year increase in revenues to USD 55.7 million, a -13% operating margin, and a net loss of USD 11.4 million. Enphase was the first microinverter company to go public in March 2012, and even as margins improve it has yet to turn a profit. The company additionally announced that Chief Financial Officer Sanjeev Kumar will leave Enphase during the fourth quarter of 2012. Read more

U.S. President Obama orders expedited review of 1.5 GW of PV, CSP

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 9:25 (Solarserver)

U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered an expedited permitting and review process for five large solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) projects on public lands, totaling 1.5 GW. The projects include NextEra Energy Resource's (Juno Beach, Florida, U.S.) McCoy Solar Energy project, which at 750 MW is not only the largest of these projects, but the largest PV project planned to date for a single site in the United States. Over the past three years, the U.S. Department of the Interior has approved 31 utility-scale renewable energy projects on public lands. Read more

Ascent Solar selected to provide BIPV modules for new Foxconn plant

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 23:55 (Solarserver)

On August 6th, 2012, Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. (Thornton, Colorado, U.S.) announced that it entered into a solar photovoltaic (PV) modules agreement with Chinese electronics giant Foxconn. Under the agreement, Ascent Solar will supply its building integrated PV (BIPV) modules for Foxconn's new factory in Zhenzhou City, Henan Province, China. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne debuts new North American unit for utility and commercial customers

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Hanwha SolarOne has officially launched its new North American unit, Hanwha SolarEnergy America (HSEA), which will serve customers in the utility and commercial sectors. The company noted that its new North American arm completes the integration of Solar Monkey, a California developer Hanwha SolarOne bought with an initial stake in January 2011. HSEA has developed a project pipeline of 1GW. Read more

Arizona Public Service issues RFP for 32MW solar plant in Gila Bend

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Arizona Public Service has issued a request for proposal from solar developers and installers for the construction of a 32MW solar farm in Gila Bend, Arizona. The project will be financed by APS through its AZ Sun Program. Read more

Soitec?s CPV technology to be used in up to 8 PV projects by French CRE

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Soitec?s CPV technology has been chosen to be used in most of the eight projects under the ?concentrator solar plants with installed capacity of less than 12MW? sub-category; part of the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) call for tenders for ?large solar power plants?, which was announced last September. Read more

White House announces accelerated approval of 7 solar and wind projects in 4 US states

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

The United States government announced plans to accelerate the approval of seven solar and wind projects in four western states as part of President Obama?s aim to promote wider use of renewable energy on federal land. Bloomberg advised that the US Office of Management and Budget will oversee ?a government-wide effort to make the permitting and review process for infrastructure projects more efficient and effective.? Read more

SunPower responds to residential solar lease competitors with US$325 million new finance deal

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 17:11 (PV-Tech)

The US residential solar lease market remains highly competitive with a new deal struck by SunPower to access US$325 million in new finance from 2-major investment banks, Citi and Credit Suisse. The new financing comes soon after major competitors in the third party leasing market, SunCity and Sunrun received significant new funding from Credit Suisse to the tune of a combined US$300 million in late July, 2012. Read more

Uttar Pradesh introduces draft solar policy, goal of 1 GW by 2017

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 15:58 (Solarserver)

The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has published a draft solar policy with a goal to install 1 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) plants by 2017. An initial goal of 150 MW by 2014 has also been set. The draft document does not specify a breakdown by technology between PV and CSP, but does include incentives, the removal of wheeling charges and establishment of eligibility criteria for investors. Bridge to India (New Delhi, India) notes that the policy has been introduced to fulfill Uttar Pradesh's Solar Renewable Purchase Obligation of 2.8 GW by 2020. Read more

Los Angeles California's Incentive Programs for Large and Small Solar Systems

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

For those of you who may not know, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has developed a Solar Incentive Program (SIP) to support solar energy in Los Angeles. This Solar Incentive Program can help you with the cost of installing a new solar system.  The Solar Feed-in Tariff Program, which allows owners of large-scale on-grid solar systems t Read more

US$2.2 billion Ivanpah SEGS project hits halfway mark

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Installation of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (Ivanpah SEGS) worth US$2.2 billion is 50% complete, according to an announcement by NRG Energy, Google, BrightSource Energy and construction partner Bechtel. Read more

Sharp posts US$58 million loss for solar division: Katsuragi thin-film plant to ramp down

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 13:43 (PV-Tech)

Tough times across Sharp Corporation?s electronics sectors filtered down into its solar manufacturing arm in its first quarter sales for the current financial year. Overall, Sharp posted quarterly losses of ¥138.4 billion (US$1.76 billion) on net sales of ¥458.6 billion. Sales within its solar cells segment were down 18.2%, compared to the same period in the previous year at ¥41.9 billion (US$534 million), generating an operating loss of ¥6.9 billion (US$57.5 million). Read more

Sharp posts US$58 million loss for solar division: Katsuragi thin film plant to ramp down

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Tough times across Sharp Corporation?s electronics sectors filtered down into its solar manufacturing arm in its first quarter sales for its current financial year. Overall, Sharp posted quarterly losses of 138.4 billion yen ($1.76 billion) on net sales of 458.6 billion yen. Sales within its ?Solar Cells? segment were down 18.2%, compared to the same period in the previous year at 41.9 billion yen (US$534 million), generating an operating loss of 6.9 billion yen (US$57.5 million). Read more

Trinity Solar reaches 4000 installed PV systems

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 12:18 (Solarserver)

Trinity Solar (Wall Township, New Jersey, U.S.) has announced that it has completed its 4000th solar photovoltaic (PV) installation for residential and commercial customers on the U.S. East Coast in the summer of 2012. Trinity Solar entered the market in 2004 after 10 years of experience in the U.S. heating, ventilation and air conditioning market. The company notes that it has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the nation's fastest-growing companies, as well as by NJBIZ as the U.S. state of New Jersey's top renewable energy company. Read more

Natural Group calls for more decentralized and off-grid solar in response to Indian blackout

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 12:13 (Solarserver)

Following the massive blackouts in India for two days in late July 2012, Natural Group has released a list of recommended remedial actions for the nation's power grid. These include decentralizing power generation and consumption as well as increasing subsidies for both on- and off-grid solar systems and appliances. Ritesh Pothan of Natural Group describes the blackout as the result of "systemic issues" and the "consistent failure of the government to apply best practices to the (utility) industry". Recommendations by Pothan include privatization of India's electricity system, as well as heavily promoting power saving and energy efficiency practices and technologies. Read more

Australian Renewable Energy Agency considers funding stalled Solar Flagships projects

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 9:31 (Solarserver)

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has released a draft of its funding strategy to 2015, which states that it will consider funding unsuccessful projects under the nation's Solar Flagships program and the 250 MW Solar Dawn concentrating solar power (CSP) project. ARENA also proposed a new program for the support of CSP projects, continued support for solar research and development (R&D) and working to devise a new program to support solar photovoltaic (PV) project development. The agency holds USD 3.4 billion in funding, and each financial year it is required to develop a funding strategy for the next three years. Read more

Assessing the Nova Scotia RFP and the Future of Wind Power in Atlantic Canada

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 18:45 (Renewable Energy World)

Nova Scotia announced three winning bids for wind projects totalling 116 MW last week completing the province?s request for 300/GWh per year of electricity derived from renewable energy. The winning bids include two phases of the South Canoe Wind Project totalling 102 MW, which is being led by a partnership between Nova Scotia-based companies Oxfor Read more

Offshore Use of Vertical-axis Wind Turbines Gets Closer Look

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Sandia National Laboratories' wind energy researchers are re-evaluating vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) to help solve some of the problems of generating energy from offshore breezes. Read more

Concentrating solar power project Genesis damaged by winds, flooding

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 16:02 (Solarserver)

Heavy winds and flooding at the site of NextEra Resources LLC's (Juno Beach, Florida, U.S.) Genesis Solar Energy Project in Southern California on July 31st, 2012 broke mirrors and temporarily prevented access to the project site. NextEra does not have a full estimate of the damage at this time, but reports that site access has been restored and work is ongoing on the 250 MW concentrating solar power (CSP) plant. Read more

US Army Corps of Engineers issues RFP for renewable energy projects

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 22:06 (PV-Tech)

Through its Engineering and Support Centre, Huntsville, the US Army Corps of Engineers has issued a multiple-award task order contract (MATOC) RFP for US$7 billion in total contract capacity for the acquisition of locally generated, renewable and alternative energy through PPAs. Read more

US Ex-Im Bank to help finance US$2B worth of US technologies to South Africa energy sector

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 21:13 (PV-Tech)

The US Export-Import Bank signed a declaration of intent (DOI) with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa. The DOI aims to progress the South African government?s Integrated Resource Plan and the South African Renewable Initiative. The agreement will see the Ex-Im Bank provide financing up to US$2 billion worth of US technologies, products and services to South Africa?s energy sector, with a focus on clean-energy development. Read more

DECC re-opens renewable heat competition for social landlords

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 16:47 (Solarpowerportal)

As part of Government?s plans to improve the energy efficiency of UK housing stock the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will re-open the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) social landlords competition. During the first funding round, which was open from 28 May 2012 to 4 July 2012, 72 projects were allocated money. Read more

A Shade Greener signs 47MW supply deal

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 16:18 (Solarpowerportal)

Rent-a-roof solar installer A Shade Greener has signed an agreement with manufacturer JA Solar Holdings for the supply of 47MW of solar panels. The deal reinforces the company?s commitment to the UK solar market after months of feed-in tariff uncertainty. Read more

Sanjeev Kumar resigns as Enphase Energy?s chief financial officer

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

Enphase Energy, a US-based provider of microinverter technology for the solar industry, has announced that its chief financial officer Sanjeev Kumar will be leaving the company later this year. The company revealed that Kumar was keen to ?focus more on family? and cited it as the reason for his departure. Read more

DECC will ?scrap or improve? 134 regulations

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 15:34 (Solarpowerportal)

In a bid to improve operations within the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) the Minister of State for Energy, Charles Hendry, has announced his intention to scrap 86 of the Department?s regulations while improving 48 regulatory regimes. Read more

DECC approves £7m loan to The Green Deal Finance Company

Wednesday, 8.8.2012 - 13:49 (Solarpowerportal)

A £7m loan from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to The Green Deal Finance Company (TGDFC) has been agreed today, coinciding with the opening of the register for Green Deal Providers, Assessors and Installers. Read more