Photovoltaic Production in China's Jiangsu Province Falls 30% in 2012

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 16:40 (Renewable Energy World)

Total output value of the PV industry in Jiangsu province, China amounted to 180 billion yuan (approx US$28.9 billion) for the first 10 months of 2012, a year-over-year decrease of 28 percent, according to recently released data. The industry's total exports reached US$6.89 billion for the same period, down 38 percent when compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. Insiders foresee the industry's total output value for the whole year of 2012 to decrease by up to 30 percent year over year. Read more

A Cooler Way to Protect Silicon Surfaces

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 16:29 (Renewable Energy World)

Silicon, the material of high-tech devices from computer chips to solar cells, requires a surface coating before use in these applications. The coating "passivates" the material, tying up loose atomic bonds to prevent oxidation that would ruin its electrical properties. But this passivation process consumes a lot of heat and energy, making it costly and limiting the kinds of materials that can be added to the devices. Read more

Oxford Photovoltaics secures £2 million for commercialisation of colourful solar cells

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 14:26 (Solarpowerportal)

Oxford Photovoltaics (OPV), a spin-out from Oxford University, has received an investment of £2 million from MTI Partners as part of its latest round of funding. Read more

Meyer Burger unveils new "SmartWire" solar cell connection technology

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 12:26 (Solarserver)

On February 11th, 2013, Meyer Burger Technology Ltd. (Gwatt, Switzerland) unveiled new technology for connecting solar photovoltaic (PV) cells into modules based on multiple thin copper wires on both sides of the cell, in the place of busbars. Meyer Burger states that its SmartWire Connection Technology (SWCT) provides up to 5% higher power output compared to best-in class three busbar technology, as well as 10% higher energy yield. The technology uses up to 30 "very fine" copper wires, which create up to 2,000 contact points per cell. Read more

355 MW of PV planned for Chile's Northern Grid in 2013

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 12:22 (Solarserver)

Chilean grid operator CDEC-SING (Santiago, Chile) reports that developers plan to connect eleven new solar photovoltaic (PV) plants totaling 355 MW to the nation's Northern Grid (SING) between March and December 2013. If completed, these projects will add nearly 8% new capacity to the system. Two wind farms totaling 345 MW are also expected, for a total of 700 MW of new "non-conventional" renewable energy. Read more

Scientists develop spray-on photovoltaic cells

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 11:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Scientists at the University of Sheffield and the University of Cambridge have developed a spray-coating technique for photovoltaic cells in a bid to reduce panel costs. Read more

Berkeley Lab: Labor costs a small portion of difference between US, German PV systems

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 8:30 (Solarserver)

The US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, California, US) has found that German labor costs are higher than it initially estimated, in its update to the report "Why are Residential PV Prices in Germany So Much Lower Than in the United States?". The report finds that installation labor represents only a USD 0.36 per watt difference in residential PV system prices between the two nations, with customer acquisition and design and other soft costs making up the bulk of the difference. Read more

France sets up task forces to meet solar PV target

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 17:58 (PV-Tech)

The French government has set up two new task forces to improve grid-connection procedures and develop criteria for the next call for tenders. Read more

New models for financing commercial solar, wind projects

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 16:26 (Renewable Energy World)

During a Feb. 12 webcast hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency?s (EPA?s) Green Power Partnership program Geronimo Energy discussed some new, unique ways to finance renewable energy purchases for commercial, municipal and other, large facilities. The company discussed a number of innovations, including ?virtual? and ?pre-paid? power purchase Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: Asia-Pacific PV demand to reach 13.5 GW in 2013

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 15:59 (Solarserver)

NPD Solarbuzz (Santa Clara, California, US) has released a new report which forecasts that solar photovoltaic (PV) demand in the Asia-Pacific region will increase to 13.5 GW in 2013, a roughly 50% growth over 2012. "Asia Pacific Major PV Markets Quarterly" predicts that China, Japan, India and Australia will account for 90% of this demand. It also notes that each of these markets has distinct characteristics, including timing and preferred PV suppliers and technologies, reflecting a range of factors. Read more

MEMC maintains return to profitability in 4Q 2012 results

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 15:56 (Solarserver)

MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (St. Peters, Missouri, US) has released fourth quarter and full year 2012 results, reporting a 24% year-over-year fall in revenues in its Solar Energy division to USD 372 million. However, the division has improved its operating margin to 25%, due to previously deferred revenues on the Rovigo solar project and gains on a contract settlement. These results contributed to MEMC's third profitable quarter after many quarters of heavy losses. Read more

Solar PV accounts for 1.7% electricity in Spain

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 15:55 (PV-Tech)

Spain?s National Energy Commission (CNE) has announced that electricity generated by solar PV accounted for 1.7% of the country?s energy demand in December 2012. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: Asia Pacific solar demand to grow 50% in 2013

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 14:59 (PV-Tech)

The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is forecast to grow to 13.5GW in 2013, representing a 50% year-on-year growth rate, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz Q1?13 Asia Pacific Major PV Markets Quarterly report. Read more

Verengo Solar names Rob Shneer VP of human resources

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 14:51 (Solarserver)

On February 11th, 2013, Verengo Solar (Torrance, California, U.S.) announced that it has named Rob Shneer as vice president of human resources. Shneer and his team will oversee the recruitment, professional development and retention of the company's workforce. Read more

Vote Solar Initiative executive David Russell Hochschild appointed to California Energy Commission

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 14:48 (Solarserver)

California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. has appointed David Russell Hochschild to the California Energy Commission (CEC). Hochschild was vice president of external relations at Solaria Corp. from 2007 to 2012. He served as a San Francisco public utilities commissioner from 2007 to 2008. Read more

groSolar's PV projects receive awards

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 14:26 (Solarserver)

On February 8th, 2013, groSolar (White River Junction, Virginia, U.S.) announced that its three solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling about 10 megawatts (MW) have received awards from industry-leading associations for outstanding project results. The projects, completed in 2012, are located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, an include Longwood Gardens, Keystone Solar and Camden Solar Center. Read more

KiloWattsol introduces monthly solar irradiation report for PV efficiency analysis

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 14:01 (PV-Tech)

KiloWattsol, an independent French technical advisor for renewable energy, has introduced a new service whereby it provides PV system owners in Germany, France and Spain with a new monthly solar irradiation report on their PV installation. Read more

meeco Group reports African solar PV activities in 2012

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 13:39 (Solarserver)

On February 12th, 2013, meeco Group (Zug, Switzerland) has released a report outlining the company's solar deployment activities in Africa in 2012. The company has developed projects and partnerships in South Africa, Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, Jordan, Nigeria, Yemen, Tanzania and Gambia. meeco Group has been particularly involved in Angola, Mauritius, South Africa and Kenya, working on portable solutions and medium-scale projects in remote areas, which provide electricity for both business and residential use. Read more

SolarWorld launches financing programme for US-made solar products

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 13:04 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer SolarWorld has introduced its SolarWorld Freedom Plan, a financing programme specifically for solar products manufactured in the US. Read more

SolarWorld launches solar financing programme for US-made solar products

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 13:04 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer SolarWorld has introduced its SolarWorld Freedom Plan, a financing programme specifically for solar products manufactured in the US. Read more

PG&E accused of declaring war on solar

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 12:52 (PV-Tech)

Californian utility company Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has accused solar net metering users of increasing energy rates for its customers. Read more

Bluefield acquisition of Toyota PV plant marks growing solar interest

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 12:02 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar investment firm Bluefield Partners has acquired the 4.1MW ground-mounted PV array at Toyota?s car manufacturing plant in Derbyshire from Centrica. Read more

China's Solar Dragon Year 2012

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 12:00 (Renewable Energy World)

According to the lunar calendar the year of the dragon came to an end on February 9, 2013. A "dragon year" which only takes place every 12 years is characterized by numerous significant events usually initiating/causing profound fundamental changes for the society, economy, and politics. This general belief or superstition certainly holds true as far as the deployment of solar in China in the coming years is concerned, because 2012 was indeed very eventful, since nearly almost every month an official announcement was made, designed to shape the future course of China's solar development in the short, medium, and long term. Read more

GM boosts support for solar by joining SEIA

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 11:04 (PV-Tech)

General Motors became the first automaker to join the Solar Energy Industries Association at last week?s PV America East in Philadelphia. Read more

Lux Research: Emerging solar PV markets to drive growth, led by China and India

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 8:37 (Solarserver)

Lux Research Inc. (Boston, Massachusetts, US) has released a new report which finds China and India to be the most promising high-growth solar photovoltaic (PV) markets. "Past is Prologue: Market Selection Strategy in a New Solar Policy Environment" states that global policy changes and the collapse in prices have forced changes in the PV industry. The report found that while Europe will retain a strong distributed generation market, the largest growth in utility-scale PV will be in emerging markets. Read more

Why Did Finavera Wind Energy's Stock Crash?

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

A month ago, I was convinced that Finavera Wind Energy's (TSX-V:FVR, OTC:FNVRF) stock was only temporarily trading at depressed levels in the low 20 cent range because investors were disappointed at the deal with Pattern Energy. Many shareholders had been hoping for an outright sale, and were selling into the thinly traded holiday markets. I predicted that Finavera stock would "quickly rebound to at least the C$0.30 range over the next few days or weeks, as liquidity returns to the market, and investors revalue the stock based on the agreement with Pattern." (My valuation based on the Pattern deal put the present value of a Finavera share at C$0.375, and its value at the Read more

If America Wants Energy Innovation, It Will Have to Help Fund It

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 17:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Despite overwhelming evidence that the growth of the clean tech industry benefits workers in red and blue states alike ? Texas alone employs more clean tech workers than there are coal workers in the entire country ? some in Washington still argue that clean tech subsidies are a market distortion that America cannot afford. Read more

Obama Reinforces Support for Renewable Energy

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 16:30 (Renewable Energy World)

US president Barack Obama maintained his commitment to renewable energy in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night. Read more

Residential PV installations in Germany cost less than in the US

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 16:30 (PV-Tech)

The installation price of residential PV systems in Germany is lower than the price in the US, according to the results of a survey conducted by researchers at the US Department of Energy?s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Read more

Astonfield Renewables appoints B.K. Halder as Vice Chairman

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 12:26 (PV-Tech)

Indian renewable energy business Astonfield Renewables has appointed B.K. Halder as the company?s Vice Chairman. Read more

Virgin seeks proposals for renewable energy project on Sir Richard Branson?s Necker Island

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 12:10 (PV-Tech)

The Carbon War Room (CWR), Homer Energy and Reznick Think Energy have launched a request for proposals (RFP) on behalf of Virgin Limited Edition to provide renewable energy and energy services on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. Read more

Obama reaffirms support for renewable energy

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 10:49 (PV-Tech)

President Barack Obama last night restated a renewed commitment to clean energy and pledged to return manufacturing jobs to the US in his state of the union address. Read more

US President Obama stresses jobs, climate benefits of solar in State of the Union

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 8:22 (Solarserver)

US President Barack Obama directly addressed climate change as a grave danger to future generations, stressing the role of solar and wind as a solution and a job creator in his State of the Union address on February 12th, 2013. In his most aggressive statements on these issues in years, President Obama stated that he would take federal action on climate if Congress does not act. However, besides calling for greater investment in science and research, he offered few specifics for advancing renewable energy. Read more

California's CEC Adds Renewable Energy Expertise

Wednesday, 2.13.2013 - 0:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In his State of the State address a few weeks ago, Gov. Jerry Brown indicated his intention to "make California again a leader" in, among other things, renewable energy and state-of-the-art efficiency. Read more