Solar3D reveals working prototype of 3D silicon solar cell

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 23:59 (PV-Tech)

Solar3D has unveiled a working 3-dimensional silicon solar cell, which the company states produces at least 250% of the power of a basic silicon solar cell. Dr. Changwan Son, Solar3D?s director of technology, commented, ?When measured relative to a conventional solar cell design, our working prototype produces electricity beyond our previous expectations. First, we fabricated our working prototype. Then we created a simple cell based on the conventional design, using the same fabrication environment, to serve as a control sample.? Read more

Silevo reaches over 21% conversion efficiency on Triex technology

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 23:46 (PV-Tech)

Silevo announced that its Triex solar technology has reached greater than 21% conversion efficiency at the company?s high volume manufacturing facility. Triex is a hybrid solar module that combines crystalline silicon N-type substrates, thin-film passivation layers and a unique tunnelling oxide layer in a single module. Read more

Small-scale renewables incentive closes in Vermont

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 21:06 (Solarserver)

The Renewable Energy Resources Center (Burlington, Vermont) reported that Vermont's Small Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program is closed and funds have been fully allocated. The program, initiated in June 2003, provided funding for new solar water heating, solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and micro-hydro energy system installations. Read more

Silevo exceeds 21% cell efficiency in volume manufacturing

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 16:06 (Solarserver)

Silevo Inc. (Fremont, California) has achieved a greater than 21% cell efficiency with its Triex solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in volume production at its facility in Hangzhou, China. Silevo estimates that this translates to PV module efficiencies between 18.0% and 18.4%. Silevo has achieved IEC and UL certification for both its Triex R-Series and U-Series modules, and has begun shipping the first of the new modules to customers. Read more

Crowdfunding for Community Power?

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Back in April, President Obama signed the JOBS Act and one of the most-heralded elements was so-called crowdfunding. The law sought to solve a major problem: it?s hard to finance small-scale business ventures.  Wall Street only cares about multi-million dollar plays and securities regulations make small-dollar projects rather difficult (and costly) Read more

IMS Research: Microinverter and power optimiser market to grow by 70 percent in 2012

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 13:45 (Solarpowerportal)

According to a new report from IMS Research, microinverters and power optimisers continue to be the fastest growing segment of the solar PV inverter market after growing by 180 percent in 2011. Read more

Senior level speakers confirmed for EPIA events at the 27th EU PVSEC

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

With the 27th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (27th EU PVSEC) just around the corner on September 24-28, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has announced a string of high level speakers for its events at this year?s conference. Read more

Consumers Energy opens new phases of pilot feed-in tariff for PV generation in Michigan

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 10:18 (Solarserver)

Consumers Energy (Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.) has opened new phases of its pilot feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation for both residential and non-residential customers. Phases 8 and 9 of the Experimental Advanced Renewable Energy Program (EARP) will pay USD 0.219/kWh for electricity generated from non-residential PV and USD 0.249/kWh for electricity from residential PV. Program applications will be accepted through October 10th, 2012. Read more

RTI develops CQD PV cells with greater than 5% efficiency

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 9:32 (Solarserver)

RTI International (RTI, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, U.S.) has developed new solar photovoltaic (PV) cells based on colloidal quantum dot (CQD) technology, which have achieved greater than 5% efficiency in demonstration tests. RTI states it expects to achieve better efficiencies by using techniques to enhance light absorption, and notes that the cells were created using low-cost materials and processing techniques. The research behind the development of these cells was first published in journal "Applied Physics Letters". Read more

Proinso unveils new PV product catalog in print, online versions

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 8:40 (Solarserver)

Proinso has launched a catalog for solar photovoltaic (PV) installers, with over 500 products from 32 brands, which will be available in print as well as on the iPad, iPhone and Android platforms. The Proinso Solar Catalogue contains more than 440 pages of full technical information, including product comparisons, installations, configuration guides and installation manuals. The company also notes that it has expanded its offerings to include batteries, chargers, pumps, microinverters, vehicle charging stations and installation tools. Read more

Tioga Energy completes two solar systems in West Hartford, Connecticut

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Tioga Energy announced that it had completed its first PV projects in Connecticut. The company constructed two solar systems for the town of West Hartford, which total 160kW. The installations are serving the municipality-owned West Hartford Department of Public Works and the Bishops Corner Library. Aegis Solar managed the installation services for both projects. Read more

DuPont, Distributed Sun partner for progression of D-SUN Distributed Solar Network

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

DuPont PV Solutions and Distributed Sun announced a new collaboration that will focus on increasing the adoption of solar energy through the D-SUN Distributed Solar Network. The companies aim to promote data transparency and provide access to a comprehensive suite of analytical tools for the solar industry. Read more

Baker Renewable Energy installs Virginia's largest solar hot water system at New River jail

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 21:04 (Solarserver)

In August 2012, Baker Renewable Energy (Raleigh, North Carolina) has installed a solar thermal system comprising 138 individual solar thermal collectors which is equivalent to a 276 kW photovoltaic (PV) system. This solar heating system represents the largest solar hot water system in Virginia, Baker Renewable Energy emphasizes. The solar thermal system will offset about 30% of the jail's natural gas usage, and will provide 2.5 million gallons of hot water per year to the facility. Read more

Martifer Solar completes its first PV plant in Romania

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

Martifer Solar, part of Portugal-based Martifer SGPS SA, has announced that it has completed the construction of a 1.5MW PV plant for in Pufesti, Vrancea County, Romania for Danish company Eurowind Energy. The plant represents the company?s first PV plant in the country. Read more

Canadian Solar breaks ground on 2.5MW PV plant in North Carolina

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Canadian Solar, a PV module manufacturer and PV project developer, and its EPC partner Mortenson Construction have started to build a 2.5MW PV solar project in Laurinburg, North Carolina, US. The project is scheduled to complete in December 2012. Read more

California reaches more than 1 GW of solar generation

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 15:50 (Solarserver)

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) reports that the state has reached more than 1 GW of solar generation. California remains the United States' leading solar market, installing 148 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in the first quarter of 2012 and 542 MW in 2011, according to figures from GTM Research (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.). The ISO will celebrate this achievement on September 5th, 2012 with an event at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, California, where it will inform the public about progress in solar development and the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard policy. Read more

China Speeding U.S. Solar-dumping Case as Election Nears

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 15:20 (Renewable Energy World)

China is accelerating a dispute with the U.S. over solar-energy taxes, moving forward its next salvo to hit as President Barack Obama faces re-election. Read more

Dow Corning makes two new appointments

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 15:11 (PV-Tech)

Dow Corning, a specialist in silicon-based solar products based in the US, has named Eric Peeters as vice president of its electronic solutions business taking over from James Helwick, who has led Dow Corning?s electronics business since 2010. His appointment became effective on September 1. Read more

Off-Grid Solar Powers Remote Cabin

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Gus Gomez is a retired university professor who lives with his wife in Tacoma, Washington.  The two spend several days out of the month at their remote cabin located on a 40-acre plot of farm land in Moses Lake, Washington. To power this stand-alone home, Gus Gomez recently purchased and installed an off-grid system. Distant from the basic amenitie Read more

Panasonic Solar launches UK Facebook page

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 12:48 (Solarpowerportal)

Japanese electronics giant, Panasonic Solar, has launched a Facebook page in the UK in order to reach a new demographic of solar customers. Panasonic Solar is the first solar manufacturer to turn to the ubiquitous social networking site to help foster greater contact with end users in the UK. Read more

BISOL Group supplies Solarcentury with 3.5MW of modules

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 12:05 (Solarpowerportal)

European solar PV manufacturer, BISOL Group, has announced that it will be providing British solar company, Solarcentury, with more than 3.5MW of its PV modules. Read more

Navigant warns of ongoing trouble in the solar industry, backlash against PV

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 10:12 (Solarserver)

Describing the current state of the solar industry as a "significant correction" following seven years of capacity building, aggressive pricing and striving for grid parity, Navigant (Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) has released its latest annual report on global solar markets. The 7th annual "Analysis of Worldwide Markets for Solar Products and Five-Year Application Forecast" warns that while low prices for solar photovoltaic (PV) products have led to a boom in installed capacities, these cut-rate prices are likely to lead to lower quality technology and plants, which could result in a backlash against PV. Read more

Trina Solar expands to Latin American PV markets

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 9:19 (Solarserver)

Trina Solar Ltd. (Changzhou, China) has established a sales and business development office in Santiago, Chile to serve Latin American solar photovoltaic (PV) markets, with a focus on Chile, Mexico, Brazil and neighboring nations. Trina says that its Latin American operations will benefit from more than 30 years of local experience, dating back to the 1980's. The company also presented at the Chilean International Renewable Energy Congress in Santiago, Chile on September 4th and 5th, 2012. Read more

Oil Company Inpex to build 2 MW PV plant in Japan

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 20:56 (Solarserver)

On August 29th, 2012, Inpex Corp. (Tokyo, Japan) announced that it will build a 2 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The PV array, INPEX Mega Solar Joetsu, will be installed on the premises of the Teiseki Topping Plant (TTP). The PV plant will have a maximum solar power generating capacity of about 2,000 kilowatts (kW), equivalent to the annual electricity demand of some 750 households. Read more

Morgan Stanley Group Invests $150 Million in Zhaoheng Hydropower

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 14:38 (Renewable Energy World)

Morgan Stanley and a pair of private equity funds boosted their investment in Zhaoheng Hydropower Holdings Ltd., buying a $150 million stake as China pushes utilities to adopt non-fossil fuel sources of energy. Read more

John Hayes replaces Charles Hendry as Energy Minister

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 18:04 (Solarpowerportal)

As part of the ongoing cabinet reshuffle, Charles Hendry has lost his position as the Department of Energy and Climate Change?s Energy Minister. Hendry will be replaced by John Hayes, a notorious anti-wind lobbyist.  Read more

Will New UK Government Initiative Calm Fears Over Rising Energy Prices?

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It is a turbulent time for the UK?s energy industry. Rising energy prices make the argument for solar PV more persuasive than ever, and the stage has been swept clear for a new financing initiative to improve the nation?s homes. It?s called the Green Deal. The British people are not impressed by the Big Six energy companies? pricing. 92% of people Read more

CSP Gains a Foothold on US East Coast

Wednesday, 9.5.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

When people think of ideal locations for concentrating solar power, they generally envision remote and dry deserts, like the Southwest. But with its Martin Solar Energy Center, Florida Power & Light (FPL) has shown that CSP can work in a humid and cloudy climate. Will that success bring more of the technology to the Southeast? Read more