Sungrow PV inverters used on 2MW rooftop project in Chicago

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Billed as the largest rooftop PV project in the US to date, Sungrow said its 500kW PV inverters were used for a 2MW PV power plant in Chicago. Read more

Philippines calls for donations of PV inverters and batteries to aid typhoon relief

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 16:59 (PV-Tech)

Energy authorities in the Philippines have called on the international community to donate inverters and batteries to help set up solar energy supplies, as the country struggles to get back on its feet in the wake of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan. Read more

Australia’s Astounding PV Contribution — Now Live!

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 14:56 (Renewable Energy World)

Sometimes, I stumble onto web sites and just end up siting there, staring at the screen, gob-smacked at the innovation and cleverness of people in the Australian PV industry. While I was doing some fact checking today, I went to the Australian PV Institute’s flash new web site (formerly the Australian PV Association) and blow me down, those clever Read more

Conergy’s wafer production equipment being sold in online auction

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 13:48 (PV-Tech)

Wafer production equipment from Conergy’s integrated module manufacturing plant in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany is being sold in an online auction. Read more

IHS predicts CPV market set for ‘explosive growth’

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 13:13 (PV-Tech)

The market for concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) is entering a phase of “explosive growth”, according to market research firm IHS. Read more

Suntech Wuxi sale to Shunfeng faces legal probe

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 12:53 (PV-Tech)

The liquidators of Suntech Power Holdings are to investigate the planned sale of the company’s main Chinese manufacturing unit to Shunfeng Photovoltaic International for possible legal breaches. Read more

Why UK Cleantech Start-ups Are Looking to Colorado

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 11:02 (Renewable Energy World)

As the Clean and Cool mission to Colorado comes to a close it’s interesting to reflect on what we are trying to achieve here and what we have learnt. The Technology Strategy Board funds entrepreneur missions like this as part of its support for small businesses in the U.K. — companies we consider the growth engine of the U.K. economy. While we also Read more

Concentrating photovoltaics: IHS predicts global solar CPV capacity to rise by 750% by the end of 2020

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 9:02 (Solarserver)

IHS Inc. (Englewood, Colorado, U.S.) has released a new report which predicts that the capacity of global concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) installations will increase by 750% from 2013 to the end of 2020. “Concentrated PV (CPV) Report – 2013” predicts 1.36 GW of installed CPV systems in 2020, up from 160 MW in 2013, and expand at double-digit percentages through 2020. IHS notes the role of technological advances to reduce costs. Read more

U.S. Solar Industry Records Explosive Growth in Third Quarter

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 21:29 (Renewable Energy World)

When it comes to renewable energy, you could call it the “shot heard round the world.” According to a new report by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the U.S. installed 930 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics (PV) in Q3 2013, up 20 percent over Q2 2013 and 35 percent over Q3 2012. This represents the second largest quarte Read more

US Solar Industry Records Explosive Growth in Third Quarter

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 21:29 (Renewable Energy World)

When it comes to renewable energy, you could call it the “shot heard round the world.” According to a new report by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the U.S. installed 930 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics (PV) in Q3 2013, up 20 percent over Q2 2013 and 35 percent over Q3 2012. This represents the second largest quarte Read more

Asia Report: Revisiting Japan's Solar Demand, and Nuclear Comeback

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 21:07 (Renewable Energy World)

Japan's solar market continues to race ahead: domestic solar demand is surging, to the point where it's bottlenecked behind expectations. And what's that sound of tiny footsteps approaching? Read more

Order Focus: Strata Solar secures major PV module and battery supply deal from BYD

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 21:05 (PV-Tech)

PV project developer, Strata Solar has secured a 160MW module supply deal with China-based BYD that includes the supply of batteries that will be used with some its utility-scale projects planned for 2014. Read more

Mainstream Renewable Power to securitise future wind and solar projects

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 20:20 (PV-Tech)

Renewable energy project developer, Mainstream Renewable Power has created Mainstream Capital to facilitate new low-cost financial structures for future projects said to be in excess of 1.7GW over the next three-years. Read more

Mainstream Renewable Power to securitize future wind and solar projects

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 20:20 (PV-Tech)

Renewable energy project developer, Mainstream Renewable Power has created Mainstream Capital to facilitate new low-cost financial structures for future projects said to be in excess of 1.7GW over the next three-years. Read more

Mainstream Renewable Power to securitize future wind and solar project

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

Renewable energy project developer, Mainstream Renewable Power has created Mainstream Capital to facilitate new low-cost financial structures for future projects said to be in excess of 1.7GW over the next three-years. Read more

Schott to quit thin-film solar PV production in Jena, Germany

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 18:30 (Solarserver)

Schott AG's (Mainz, Germany) thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) subsidiary will end its production of amorphous silicon PV modules at its factory in Jena, Germany at the end of 2013. The company cites difficult market conditions for PV. Read more

Community loan to fund free solar for 25 Bristol roofs

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 18:12 (Solarpowerportal)

Bristol Power Co-op has announced that it has received a £100,000 community loan from Pure Leapfrog to help continue its work to install free solar arrays for Bristol residents Read more

RES Canada to build 20MW of PV plants for Canadian Solar

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 18:00 (PV-Tech)

Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Canada will build 20MW of solar power plants for Canadian Solar. Read more

Global solar resource data freely available through IRENA’s Global Atlas

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 17:58 (PV-Tech)

3TIER and IRENA have worked together to provide wind and solar datasets that have a resolution three to 30 times higher than any other publicly available data source. Read more

Solarion producing flexible CIGS thin-film modules

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 17:39 (PV-Tech)

CIGS thin-film specialist, Solarion has started production of a foil-backed flexible thin-film module with ratings of between 65 and 80 Watt. Read more

Solar Boom Boosts South Africa Salaries

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 16:39 (Renewable Energy World)

Ramone van Wyk’s wage more than quadrupled when he gave up working on sheep farms in South Africa’s arid Northern Cape province and got a job assembling a solar-thermal power plant for Abengoa SA. Read more

Hanergy appoints two CTOs from CIGS solar PV makers Solibro and MiaSolé

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 15:45 (Solarserver)

Hanergy Holding (Beijing) has appointed technology executives from copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar photovoltaic (PV) companies Solibro Research AB (Upsalla, Sweden) and MiaSolé (Santa Clara, California, U.S.) as joint chief technology officers (CTOs) for its solar photovoltaic (PV) subsidiary. Read more

JinkoSolar earns JPEC certification for Japanese solar PV market

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 15:03 (Solarserver)

The Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) has awarded JPEC certification to JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd.'s (Shanghai) solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, which will allow small rooftop PV plants comprised of these modules to receive subsidies from the Japanese government. Read more

Etrion and Total secure project financing for 70MWp Chile project through OPIC

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 14:23 (PV-Tech)

Independent power producer Etrion and Total have secured project financing for the construction of Project Salvador, a 70MWp solar PV plant in the Atacama Desert region of Chile. Read more

Schott Solar to exit thin-film module production in Germany

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Weak market demand and pricing pressure on a-Si thin-film modules were cited by Schott Solar for the permanent closure of its manufacturing facility in Jena, Germany with the potential loss of around 150 jobs. Read more

Trina Solar CFO resigns

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 13:24 (PV-Tech)

Major tier one PV manufacturer, Trina Solar, has accepted the resignation of its chief financial officer (CFO), Terry Wang, effective January 10, 2014 . Read more

Only five pitched roof mounting systems MCS 012 compliant

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 13:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar Power Portal has learnt that just five pitched roof mounting systems for solar PV are currently listed on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme’s (MCS) register, ahead of MCS 012’s introduction in March 2014. Read more

Management reshuffle at JA Solar

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 13:13 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer JA Solar has announced a top-level management reshuffle. Read more

China Encourages Utility Purchase of Solar to Boost Manufacturing Capacity

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 13:07 (Renewable Energy World)

China’s government asked power grid companies to buy all the solar energy produced in their coverage areas, providing a possible boost to solar panel makers. Read more

London’s Science Museum wins planning consent for UK’s largest solar farm

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 11:34 (PV-Tech)

Proposals to build the UK’s largest solar farm have moved one step closer to realisation after a local planning committee authorised planning consent for the proposed 40MW solar farm in Wiltshire. Read more

Science Museum and Swindon Council arm win planning consent for UK’s largest solar farm

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 11:07 (Solarpowerportal)

Swindon Council’s planning committee has announced the authorisation of planning consent for a 40MW solar farm due to be installed at the Science Museum’s big object store in Wroughton, Wiltshire. Read more

Science Museum and Swindon Council win planning consent for UK’s largest solar farm

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 11:07 (Solarpowerportal)

Swindon Council’s planning committee has announced the authorisation of planning consent for a 40MW solar farm due to be installed at the Science Museum’s big object store in Wroughton, Wiltshire. Read more

Canadian Solar supplies PV modules for Mexico's second-largest solar PV project

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 9:51 (Solarserver)

Canadian Solar Inc. (Guelph, Canada) has supplied 8.7 MW of its MaxPower CS6X solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Eosol Energy's (Orcoyen, Spain) Mexican subsidiary for a ground-mounted PV project in the Mexican state of Durango. Canadian Solar expects the TAI-I PV project to be completed in the first quarter of 2014, at which time it will be Mexico's second-largest PV plant. It will also be the first phase of a 200 MW PV project in Durango. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne supplies solar PV modules for 50 MW of Chinese projects

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 9:46 (Solarserver)

Hanwha SolarOne Co. Ltd. (Shanghai) has supplied solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to state-owned China Huaneng Group (Beijing) for two utility-scale projects totaling 50 MW in Northwestern China. The two are a 30 MW PV project in Qingtongxia in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and a 20 MW PV project in Wuchuan in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Read more

U.S. company Bandgap Engineering demonstrates higher efficiencies with nanowire solar PV technology

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 8:43 (Solarserver)

Bandgap Engineering Inc. (Woburn, Massachusetts, U.S.) reports that it can increase the average efficiency of standard crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) cells by 0.4% from 17.2% to 17.6% by replacing the standard surface texture with nanowire technology. Bandgap says that it has demonstrated this achievement through a test conducted by a PV manufacturer of 84 cells made using different processes. The results of the test showed a 17.76% efficiency with the best nanowire PV cell versus 17.32% for the best standard PV cell. Read more

Suntech announces update on subsidiary share transfers, restructuring process; subsidiary Power Solar System to be liquidated

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 8:38 (Solarserver)

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (Wuxi, China) on December 10th, 2013 announced that the Joint Provisional Liquidators (JPLs) of the Company on November 14th, 2013, passed a sole shareholder's resolution placing Power Solar System Co., Ltd. (PSS), an immediate subsidiary of the Company, into liquidation pursuant to the Insolvency Act of the British Virgin Islands ("BVI"), the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Liquidators have since been appointed over PSS, Suntech notes in a press release. Read more

Postcard from the Future: 122% Wind Power in Denmark

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 15:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Renewable electricity records are falling every day. In early October, Germany recently hit a 59 percent renewable peak, Colorado utility Xcel Energy peaked at 60 percent wind at the beginning of the year, and Spain got its top power supply from wind for three months leading into 2013. But that’s chump change compared with Denmark. According to dat Read more

Can Certain Geothermal Technologies Better Withstand Climate Change than Others?

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Nearly one month after Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines, affecting more than 12 million people and killing almost 6,000, many residents are still sitting in the dark. The Superstorm not only decimated the islands’ transmission systems, it knocked out one of its main power sources — geothermal. Read more

UK organisations urge government to “uphold ambition” of the Fourth Carbon Budget

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 17:29 (Solarpowerportal)

A coalition of over 100 organisations from some of the UK’s biggest companies, investors and trade associations have united to call on government to stay the course and not reduce emission objectives under the Fourth Carbon Budget. Read more

Armstrong’s SE Asia renewables fund could top US$1.2 billion

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 17:21 (PV-Tech)

Independent clean energy asset manager, Armstrong Asset Management, has said its South East Asia Clean Energy Fund could top US$1.2 billion, according to Bloomberg. Read more

Photon Energy offering secured financing for commercial rooftop PV market in Australia

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 17:06 (PV-Tech)

Photon Energy Investments (PEI), a division of PV solutions and services company Photon Energy has launched a standardised financing model through its fully-owned subsidiary, Photon Energy Generation Australia (PEGA). Read more

Beatles Songs Illustrate the SunZia Southwest US Transmission Project's ‘Long and Winding Road’

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 15:53 (Renewable Energy World)

The current status of the proposed SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, designed to enable the development and export of renewable energy from eastern New Mexico to markets in the West, could be described with a series of The Beatles’ song titles. Read more

Central Appalachia’s Emerging Transition: 'Integrated Energy is the Key'

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 13:44 (Renewable Energy World)

Upon completing my graduate research at Appalachian State University concerning central Appalachia's two major transitions (industrialization and the War on Poverty), I am hopeful that this research may provide some important strategies for regional stakeholders as they begin navigating through what comes close to being virtual chaos in an otherwis Read more

Dutch Photon Energy launches financing for commercial PV plants in Australia

Wednesday, 12.11.2013 - 9:57 (Solarserver)

Photon Energy NV's (Amsterdam) investment division has launched a standardized financing model for Australian commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) installations through subsidiary Photon Energy Generation Australia (PEGA, Sydney). Photon says that this model will allow it to deliver electricity to customers with immediate cost savings and without up-front investment. Photon will offer customers either a commercial hire purchase (CHP) agreement for an average of 10 years or a power purchase agreement (PPA) for up to 30 years, with the option to acquire the PV system later. Read more