SPI 2012: The 300W module club expanding

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 16:29 (PV-Tech)

Bigger is always better when referring to the US and this is also becoming increasing applicable to solar modules. At Solar Power International 2012, a number of manufacturers have launched 300 watt (W) plus modules that are specifically catering for the booming utility-scale market. Read more

SPI 2012: The 300 watt module club expanding

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

Bigger is always better when referring to the US and this is also becoming increasing applicable to solar modules. At Solar Power International 2012, a number of manufacturers have launched 300 watt (W) plus modules that are specifically catering for the booming utility-scale market. Read more

Brazil Update: ANEEL Finalizes the Regulatory Framework for Smart Grid Deployment

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Approximately four months after passing regulation seeking to encourage the incorporation of distributed generation systems into Brazil's distribution planning process, on August 7, 2012, the Brazilian Federal Energy Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) issued new rules (Resolução Normativa (REN) No. 502/2012) governing the rollout of "smart" metering, which aim at making better use of digital information technology, interactive communications, and power flow optimization techniques (the "Smart Grid Regulation"). Read more

Hanwha reports increased shipments, continued losses in 2Q 2012

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 14:34 (Solarserver)

Hanwha SolarOne Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) has released unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2012, reporting a 40% year-over-year decline in revenues to USD 169 million, despite a 12% increase in solar photovoltaic (PV) module shipments to 231 MW. The company also reports a -7.7% operating margin and a net loss of USD 42.0 million. The German market continued to comprise the majority of Hanwha's sales at 57% of total shipments, with only 17% of shipments to the Asia-Pacific region and 7% of shipments to North America. Read more

Isofoton to open new PV factory in Ohio in November 2012

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 14:24 (Solarserver)

Isofoton SA (Málaga, Spain) has announced that it will open a new solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing facility in the U.S. state of Ohio in November 2012. The factory will initially be able to produce 50 MW of PV products annually, with plans to expand up 300 MW. The plant in Napoleon, Ohio will employ 120 workers when it opens and may reach 330 employees at full capacity, with hiring efforts focused on veterans of the U.S. military. The announcement of the plant opening was made at the Solar Power International (SPI) trade show in Orlando, Florida, United States September 11th, 2012. Read more

Agua Caliente becomes the largest PV plant in the world

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 8:38 (Solarserver)

First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) has announced that it has commissioned 250 MW-AC of capacity at its Agua Caliente solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, making the plant the largest operational solar plant in the world. The plant will have a total capacity of 290 MW-AC when complete, which is scheduled for 2014. First Solar states that the project has met all contractual milestones to date and exceeded targets for the speed and safety of the construction process. Read more

SPI 2012: Allied Building Products to distribute Siemens microinverters

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 0:15 (PV-Tech)

Allied Building Products, distributor of roofing materials, is now offering Siemens microinverters to solar contractors in the US, with stocking locations in Hawaii and New Jersey. Read more

Abound Solar?s CdTe thin film test equipment first to be auctioned off

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

The first and perhaps less interesting of two planned online auctions of equipment from bankrupt Abound Solar?s, CdTe is set to take place of September 18. The first auction is for its thin-film test equipment that was used at former Abound Solar test facilities located in Loveland, Fort Collins and Longmont, Colorado. Read more

JA Solar adds its voice to EU anti-dumping grievances against China

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 23:14 (PV-Tech)

Canadian Solar, Suntech Power, Trina Solar and Yingli Green?s almost immediate response to the EU anti-dumping complaints has triggered JA Solar?s rebuttal. Read more

SPI 2012: Hanwha SolarOne starts distribution agreement with AEE Solar

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 22:51 (PV-Tech)

Continuing its efforts to re-group and capitalize on the financial balance-sheet problems of its rivals, Hanwha SolarOne has struck a deal with one of the largest PV distributors in the US, AEE Solar to supply its HSL60 Poly modules to its distribution network from October, 2012 onwards. Shipments to North America, including the US, represented only 7% of Hanwha Solar?s second quarter shipments. Read more

SPI 2012: RevoluSun Solar showcases RiSE software suite

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 19:09 (PV-Tech)

Hawaiian solar company RevoluSun Solar Corporation is showcasing its RiSE Software Suite at North America?s largest solar event, Solar Power International, which is currently underway until September 13, in Orlando, Florida, US. Read more

Hanergy partners with IKEA to launch its thin film solar systems in the UK

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 17:56 (Solarpowerportal)

Hanergy has partnered with IKEA to offer members of the Swedish furniture giant?s loyalty programme discounted solar PV systems. The partnership marks the first time that Hanergy?s thin-film offering is being marketed in the UK, after acquiring Q-Cells? subsidiary Solibro following Q-Cells SE entering insolvency proceedings earlier this year. Read more

Solar Frontier and Yano Industry plan 3.3MW Japanese PV projects

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 16:49 (PV-Tech)

As expected, following the recent introduction of Japan?s new feed-in-tariff, there has been a surge of interest in the Japanese PV market. Jumping on the bandwagon are China?s Solar Frontier and Japanese PV manufacturer Yano Industry who have announced plans to develop two PV power plants in Kunitomi, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, which have a total capacity of 3.3MW. Read more

Solar: The Best of Times; The Worst of Times

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 16:22 (Renewable Energy World)

The opening session on Solar Power International 2012 kicked off on Monday with a "Newlywed Game"-style "gameshow" among six industry leaders, as well as inspiring presentations from Julia Hamm, president and CEO of the Solar Electric Power Association and Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Read more

Watch Live Coverage of SPI! 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.solarpowerinternational.com/2012/public/Content.aspx?ID=1361 Read more

Testing PV Module Reliability

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Reliability of PV and CPV modules is a key requirement for sustainable consumption of solar energy. To ensure their reliability and safety, PV modules must be tested to and comply with a universally accepted set of standards. Additionally, several initiatives are currently underway to enhance product reliability, some of which are likely to become industry-enforced standards in the near future. Read more

SPI 2012: Canadian Solar offers new financing deal for commercial project developers in US

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 14:50 (PV-Tech)

A third-party financing deal has been struck between De Lage Landen Financial Services, Inc. (DLL), a global provider of financing solutions with Canadian Solar for the US commercial PV market. With the US utility-scale PV market as well as the US residential market booming, component suppliers such as Enphase Energy are already attempting to revitalise the commercial sector after recent reports from the SEIA and GTM research identified that the market segment was floundering. Read more

Highland Solar and Trina Solar (Canada) finalize distribution agreement

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 14:49 (PV-Tech)

Trina Solar?s Canadian subsidiary is celebrating its first distribution agreement with Highland Solar, wholesaler of PV solar products based in Ontario. Furthermore, Highland Solar has a ?special? financing arrangement with a major Canadian bank that their dealer network receive. The company?s dealer network stretches from Thunder Bay and Hearst to Ottawa and as far south as Niagara Falls and Windsor; but as far afield as British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick. In bid to bypass US anti-dumping and countervailing measures, Trina Solar will be able to take advantage of Ontario?s domestic content feed-in tariff. Read more

World?s largest PV project comes online with 250MW of PV capacity

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

US solar giant First Solar has announced that its US$1.8 billion Agua Caliente solar project ? the largest operating PV plant in the world ? has had 250MW of peak generating capacity connected to the grid. The project, which is currently under construction in Yuma Country, Arizona, US, will have a generating capacity of 290MW when completed in 2014. Read more

Enphase Energy partners with Dynamic Solar for UK roll-out

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 13:39 (Solarpowerportal)

American microinverter manufacturer, Enphase Energy, has partnered with Cambridge-based photovoltaic distributor, Dynamic Solar, to become the first authorised distributor of the Californian company?s microinverter systems in the UK. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne shipments increase 43.6% in Q2

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Cost reductions better than solar module price declines, coupled with higher shipments enabled Hanwha SolarOne to produce better than expected second quarter financial results. However, the company still posted a net loss for the quarter of US$39.0 million. Total net revenues were US$168.7 million, an increase of 33.3% from the prior quarter. PV module shipments, including module processing services, were 230.7MW, an increase of 43.6% from 160.7MW in the first quarter of 2012. Read more

Meyer Burger consolidates manufacturing and technology operations

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)

Dealing with the acute lack of capital spending across the PV supply chain, major equipment supplier, Meyer Burger is consolidating its production and technology operations after several years of leading an acquisition trail. The company said it would focus operations at four main production locations and two solar technology centres worldwide. Read more

SolarWorld to build 25 MW of PV in Southern California, unveils 270 watt PV module

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 11:55 (Solarserver)

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) subsidiary of SolarWorld AG (Bonn, Germany) has begun construction on a series of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling 25 MW in California's Mojave Desert. The company plans to complete these plants by the end of 2012. Additionally, SolarWorld is debuting its new 270 watt, 60-cell Sunmodule PV module during the Solar Power International trade show in Orlando, Florida, U.S., September 10th-13th, 2012. Read more

JinkoSolar: Anti-dumping allegations are unfair and unfounded

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 11:43 (Solarserver)

Responding to the anti-dumping allegations initiated by European solar photovoltaic (PV) companies, JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China) on September 7th, 2012, states that these allegations are both unfair and unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the highly-competitive global solar industry. JinkoSolar further states that it believes trade protectionism will only harm fair competition in the market, hinder the development of the entire photovoltaic (PV) industry, and hurt PV consumers. Read more

SPI 2012: HDPV Alliance launched to reduce BOS costs

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 1:10 (PV-Tech)

In response to the solar industry?s ever-increasing pressure to drive down system costs, companies Ampt, KACO New Energy, LTi REEnergy and REFUsol have announced the launch of the HDPV (High Definition PV) Alliance. The HDPV Alliance will leverage open technology standards to optimize the design and deployment of inverters, cabling, combiners and associated labour costs to deliver a lower total system cost and higher performance. Companies that join the Alliance are able to offer differentiated value and make it easy for their customers to identify and source products featuring the HDPV advantage. Read more

Hanergy and IKEA to launch thin-film systems in UK

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 0:15 (PV-Tech)

Hanergy is to launch thin-film systems at IKEA stores in the UK following its recent partnership with Q-Cells? subsidiary Solibro. Hanergy will be conducting three workshops at the IKEA Milton Keynes store this Sunday. IKEA has already distributed nearly 70,000 messages to its British members in order to recommend Hanergy solar systems for homeowners. Read more

Automating Biogas Plants: Diagnostics and Monitoring Increase Yields

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Germany has 7,100 biogas plants, according to Fachverband Biogas e.V., the country's biogas association. In 2011 they had a combined capacity of about 2780 MW and contributed about 3.1 per cent of the nation's energy mix. But the sector must adopt new production methods to meet its baseload potential, claims Biogas Pirates, a firm active in Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany which specialises in the construction and servicing of biogas plants. Read more

Ming Yang, Guangdong Nuclear to Work on Offshore Wind in China

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 14:48 (Renewable Energy World)

China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Ltd. signed an agreement with China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Corp. to develop offshore wind as the nation's third- largest turbine maker seeks to boost installations at home. Read more

Is Ormat Technologies Misunderstood?

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 16:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Shares of geothermal power developer and utility Ormat Technologies (ORA: NYSE) are trading at 24.7 times the consensus estimate for 2013. That seems pricey on the surface, but the stock is down from a 52-week high of $22.24. The stock gaps up and down with regularity, suggesting ORA is a battle ground for bulls and bears. The fact that the 50-day moving average price continues to descend toward the longer-term 200-day average, hints that maybe the bears are now holding sway. Read more

Industrial strategy for energy expected in ?early 2013?

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 17:02 (Solarpowerportal)

Vince Cable has provided more details over Government?s industrial strategy to breathe life back into the faltering UK economy, which includes the launch of new industrial strategy for energy in early 2013. Read more

Can PACE Local Energy Financing Come Back?

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It can with your help; submit a comment to the FHFA by Thursday, Sept. 13! After effectively suspending residential PACE energy efficiency and renewable energy municipal financing programs in 2010 and then being taken to federal court and required to do a revised rule making, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released its revised ruling on Read more

The Carlyle Group to acquire Cogentrix power generation assets from Goldman Sachs

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 11:49 (Solarserver)

On September 7th, 2012, The Carlyle Group (Washington, DC, U.S.), a global alternative asset manager, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Under the agreement, Carlyle Group's infrastructure fund will acquire Goldman Sachs Group's power generation assets in North America. These assets are held by Cogentrix Energy LLC (Charlotte, North Carolina). Read more

U.K. Department of Energy to cut rates for PV under Renewables Obligation to 1.5 ROCs

Tuesday, 9.11.2012 - 8:32 (Solarserver)

The U.K.'s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has proposed cutting rates for solar photovoltaics (PV) under the nation's Renewables Obligation to 1.5 Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs), as well as removing plants smaller than 5 MW from the program. The Solar Trade Association (STA) has condemned these proposals, noting that very little PV had been installed until 2012 under the RO as it had not been financially viable, and also cites the cuts to the nation's feed-in tariff. Read more