Chinese delegation travels to Europe to consult with EU over anti-dumping proceedings

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 18:12 (PV-Tech)

China has expressed its deep regret at the European Commission?s decision to start its investigations, a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has said. MOFCOM has sent a delegation to Europe to negotiate China?s position and to safeguard the interest of Chinese enterprises. Read more

SPI 2012: Q-Cells North America completes 108MW PV projects in North America

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)

Q-Cells North America has recently completed a total of 108MW PV projects in North America. It built a 69MW PV project in Ontario, Canada and several PV projects in California, US, which have a total capacity of 39MW. Read more

Thin film PV manufacturing: Heraeus exhibits CIGS solar cell sputter targets at EU-PVSEC 2012

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 9:14 (Solarserver)

At this year?s EU-PVSEC solar show (September 25-28) in Frankfurt, Germany, Heraeus Materials Technology GmbH & Co. KG (Hanau, Germany) will highlight sputter targets for CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) solar cell production at booth no. G16 in Hall 3.0. The company reports that it will showcase a range of high quality sputter targets that provide cost and competitive advantages to thin film solar cell manufacturers when compared to crystalline solar cells. Read more

Canadian Solar unveils new residential AC solar module at SPI

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 9:05 (Solarserver)

Canadian Solar Inc. (Guelph, Canada) has introduced its new ResidentialAC solar photovoltaic (PV) module at Solar Power International (SPI) 2012 in Orlando, Florida. The ResidentialAC module, which is the latest addition to the Intelligrated Power product family, is designed for home and business PV installations. It increases system performance with advanced technology, shade tolerance and no module mismatch, delivering higher energy production than standard micro inverters, the company states. Read more

SoloPower obtains 50th patent, prepares to open PV factory in Oregon

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 0:36 (Solarserver)

On September 6th, 2012, SoloPower (San Jose, California, U.S.), a manufacturer of high efficiency, lightweight, and flexible thin-film solar cells and modules, announced that it has received its 50th patent allowance. SoloPower on own account has received allowances for 41 patents in the United States and nine patents internationally. The company has an additional 69 pending patent applications in the U.S. and 76 pending internationally. Read more

Suntech?s Dr. Shi argues against the ?shackles of myopic protectionism?

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 0:07 (PV-Tech)

Dr. Zhengrong Shi, executive chairman and chief strategy officer of the largest global PV manufacturer, Suntech Power Holdings, wrote an impassioned guest post for the Financial Times that the global solar industry needs freeing from the ?shackles of myopic protectionism?. Read more

GE helps bring Chile?s La Huayca solar plant into operation

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 22:09 (PV-Tech)

The La Huayca power plant in Chile?s Atacama Desert has plans to start delivering 1.4MW of solar electricity to the region?s mining and other industries. Owned and operated through a joint venture by Saferay and Seltec Ingeniería, the plant is scalable up to 25MW with planned expansions over the next few years. Read more

Valos Solar signs 20-year PPA with PG&E for 20MW SKIC Solar 1 project

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Valos Solar Ventures continue to tie up the loose ends for its 20MW SKIC Solar 1 project; most recently with the signing of a 20-year PPA with Pacific Gas & Electric. The solar project, located near Bakersfield, California, is expected to receive approval from the California Public Utility Commission in October, with construction starting no later than August 2013. Read more

SPI 2012: Eoplly and SolarBridge Technologies partner on ACPV rooftop kits

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Eoplly New Energy Technology and SolarBridge Technologies launched their new partnership for the production of an ACPV rooftop system that aims to increase energy output of residential and commercial rooftop systems by up to 25%. The EP-156M/60-250AC module will incorporate Eoplly?s 250W monosiliocon solar modules with SolarBridge?s Pantheon II microinverter and be available in the US market starting in Q4 2012. Read more

SunEdison, Firelight Infrastructure Partners close long-term financing deal for 10MW Ontario project

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

SunEdison announced that, along with Firelight Infrastructure Partners, it has attained financial close for a 10MW solar project being built in Ontario. Completed through a construction and term debt credit facility, the project is owned by SunEdison and Firelight as equity partners. Deutsche Bank worked as the private placement agent for the transaction, which was supported by a consortium of lenders. Read more

Versolsolar, Astronergy work together on 170MW PV power station project

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 21:10 (PV-Tech)

Astronergy collaborated on the development of its western PV power station project, which was activated in July, with Versolsolar. Versolsolar won the bid for the 170MW ground-mounted PV power station project mounting system supply contract, beating several other companies. Read more

SPI 2012: Tucson Electric Power plans 6MW SunPower C7 Tracker system

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

Arizona-based utility firm Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has modified an existing agreement with SunPower Corp to incorporate 6MW of SunPower?s C7 Tracker system into a proposed facility which will also be equipped with 2MW of SunPower?s T5 Solar Roof Tile technology. Read more

Nanosolar?s CEO departs while executive positions shuffled

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

Being a CEO at Nanosolar has proved to be a short-lived affair on numerous occasions since the departure of its co-founder and first CEO, Martin Roscheisen. The company said that Eugenia Corrales, who joined the company in January, 2012 had departed the company to pursue other ventures. Corrales had replaced Geoff Tate who was said to have retired after barely two years at the company. Read more

Improving Solar's Image Post-Solyndra

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It?s been a year since Solyndra filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and laid off 1,100 employees, but the company?s name still appears in headlines and political speeches frequently. Solyndra is the story that just won?t die, much to the chagrin of the solar industry. As Gigaom writer Katie Fehrenbacher put it: ?The Solyndra story is like a zombie in a low Read more

Watch Live Coverage of SPI! 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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

Trina Solar to separate PV module, systems business units

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 14:35 (Solarserver)

Trina Solar Ltd. (Changzhou, China) has announced that it will make fundamental changes to its organizational structure by separating its PV module production and systems businesses, as well as reducing its workforce. The company did not say how many workers it will lay off, and describes these changes as "streamlining" its operations. Trina Solar reported significant losses in the second quarter of 2012, including a fall in operating margin to -23% and a net loss of USD 92.1 million. Read more

Meyer Burger to merge locations, divisions

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 14:28 (Solarserver)

Meyer Burger Technology Ltd. (Gwatt, Switzerland) has announced that it will merge its individual production locations as part of structural changes, which it says will optimize existing production capacities within the group. The company will move its operations from Lyss, Switzerland to its location in Thun, where it will create a solar technology center focused on wafering and modules. The company will also merge Meyer Burger Ltd. and 3S Swiss Solar Systems, and expects to complete these changes by the end of March 2013. Read more

SPI 2012: First Solar and PG&E ink 72MW PPA

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

US solar behemoth First Solar has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with utility firm Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). The agreement relates to solar power generated by two PV power plants which will be developed in central California, US, by First Solar. When complete, the plants will have a combined capacity of 72MW. Read more

bSolar introduces new bifacial PV cells and modules at SPI

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 13:21 (Solarserver)

On September 10th, 2012 bSolar, headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, announced that it has launched its bifacial crystalline silicon solar cells and modules at the Solar Power International (SPI) 2012 Orlando, Florida, U.S. The PV bifacial modules are designed to collect sunlight on both front and rear surfaces to generate 10%-30% additional electricity, the company notes. By utilizing both sides of the module, bSolar's cells and modules generate significantly more power per installed area, compared to mono-facial standard modules. Read more

Aion Renewables sells 30MW PV plants to Avelos

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Italian solar firm Aion Renewables has signed a preliminary agreement to sell 30MW of PV projects to Luxembourg-based Avelos. Aion Renewables is a specialist in the design, engineering, manufacturing and installation of PV systems. Read more

Wales set for solar park boom

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 12:33 (Solarpowerportal)

Despite the Department of Energy and Climate Change?s (DECC) controversial proposals to slash down the Renewable Obligation (RO) support for solar PV from 2ROCs to just 1.5ROCs, the large-scale solar renaissance is continuing to gather steam, nowhere more so than in Wales. Read more

Martifer Solar USA Colorado 460kW installation performing above expectations

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)

With plans to achieve a 100MW pipeline in 2012, Martifer Solar USA has reported a success at its 460kW system in Breckenridge, Colorado. The company claims the arrays have been consistently performing at an average of 10% above expectations since their commissioning in January. Read more

PG&E signs PPAs with First Solar for 72MW PV plants in central California

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 9:00 (Solarserver)

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E, San Francisco, California, U.S.) has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 72MW-AC of electricity from two solar photovoltaic (PV) plants under development by First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) in central California. PG&E will buy electricity from the 32 MW Lost Hills PV project in Kern County and the 40 MW Cuyama project in Santa Barbara County. First Solar plans to begin construction on these projects in 2013. Read more

Interstate Renewable Energy Council notes rise of distributed generation, solar requirements in U.S. state policies

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 8:55 (Solarserver)

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC, Latham, New York, U.S.) has released its 2012 annual report on renewable energy policies in the United States, including its list of the 10 most important state-level policy trends. "2012 Annual Updates & Trends Report" notes that 16 states have now incorporated solar and distributed generation (DG) targets in their renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policies. The report also finds that as solar markets have boomed, total installed costs have fallen 14% for residential systems and 20% for non-residential systems. Read more

Trina Solar to cut operating costs via business streamlining and headcount reduction

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 0:59 (PV-Tech)

Increased losses posted only a few weeks ago has forced Trina Solar to streamline is business operations to reduce operating costs that include job losses, according to a statement posted on its website. The restructuring comes after reporting a catalogue of woes in its second quarter financial results as well as a management reshuffle and the exit of its CCO. Management said that the key action was to separate its PV module operations from its PV systems business operations. Read more

Hanergy Holding Group to launch thin-film solar PV systems in U.K. IKEA stores

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 0:38 (Solarserver)

On September 7th, 2012, Hanergy Holding Group Ltd. (Beijing, China) announced that it will provide IKEA stores in the U.K. with thin film solar systems and a comprehensive homeowner service package that includes a full site survey, installation, fitting and a guarantee. Hanergy also will conduct three workshops at the IKEA UK Milton Keynes store as part of its partnership. Read more

Reliant donates solar-powered splash pad to Houston's Fifth Ward

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 0:30 (Solarserver)

On September 4th, 2012, Reliant (Houston, Texas, U.S.), a unit of NRG Energy, announced that it will donate the solar-powered splash pad water play to Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corp. in Houston, Texas. The 2,340 square-foot structure will include 18 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that are expected to generate about 6,600 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually. Read more

Stefan Quandt to take control of bankrupt Solarwatt

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 0:13 (PV-Tech)

Stefan Quandt, BMW board member and one of the richest people in the world, according to the Forbes list of billionaires, will become the majority owner of German-based PV module manufacturer, Solarwatt which is currently insolvency proceedings since mid-June. Read more

Wind Market Moves to Maturity

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

When can a new industry like wind power be considered mature? One sign is surely when it rises and falls in line with the global economy, indicating that it has left the shelter of state support and is starting to make its way in a less-regulated global market. BTM Consult's recently released 17th annual World Wind Market Update picks this transformation as a headline trend. Read more

Low-carbon Projects Demand a New Transmission and Distribution Model

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

So much for German efficiency. The country may have made a bold attempt at promoting offshore wind power, with a slew of spectacular projects taking shape off the coast and an ambitious target to install up to 26 GW of power by 2030. Read more

Geothermal Roundup: California Bills, Consumer Reports, and Japan Development Plans

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 18:52 (Renewable Energy World)

Players in the geothermal industry have revealed interesting news in the past few weeks, with many areas releasing reports and initiatives that they hope will drive geothermal growth. Read more

The Truth about Germany's Coal

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

One downside of Germany?s switch to renewables while weaning itself off of nuclear power is that it must rely on coal ? the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive fossil fuel ? as the main back-up for its renewable energy supply, which is intermittent given the weather-linked nature of solar and wind sources. As it happens, soft lignite coal in particular Read more

Greg Barker faces pressure over relationship with his advisor

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 13:56 (Solarpowerportal)

The Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker, is facing increasing pressure over his relationship with Energy Consultant, Miriam Maes, after the Minister attended several meetings with clients from Maes? private consultancy firm, Forsee. Read more

E.ON Climate & Renewables relocates global solar headquarters to San Francisco

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 13:19 (Solarserver)

On September 10th, 2012, E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R, San Francisco, California, U.S.) announced that it will relocate its global solar headquarters to San Francisco, California. The relocation is needed to accommodate the staff expansion, the company states. Read more

AEG Power Solutions announces new VP of energy efficiency solutions strategic business unit

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Vice president and general manager of energy efficiency solutions strategic business unit?s (SBU) Dietmar Papenfort?s exit from AEG Power Solutions has opened the doors to business strategy director Susanne Wibbe. Papenfort is leaving the company to follow new professional objectives after a significant career within AEG Power Solutions, started in 1992. Susanne Wibbe will drive the organization of the SBU and its business plans aiming at achieving further performance improvements for this strategic business segment. Read more

Lord Deben confirmed as Chair of Committee on Climate Change

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 11:38 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has confirmed the appointment of Lord Deben as the new Chair of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Read more

Swinerton Renewable Energy launches SOLV PV monitoring solution

Wednesday, 9.12.2012 - 0:42 (Solarserver)

On September 6th, 2012, Swinerton Renewable Energy (San Diego, California, U.S) announced that it has officially launched SOLV, an innovative monitoring platform to manage all the operational needs of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. SOLV provides critical automation of service management, plant controls, advanced diagnostics, trend analysis, and custom reporting functions, which are not available in traditional industry monitoring offerings, the company states. Read more