Enphase supplies micro-inverters for 302 kW PV carport in Tempe, Arizona

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 21:39 (Solarserver)

On February 12th, 2013, Enphase Energy Inc. (Petaluma, California, U.S.) announced it has supplied its Enphase Microinverter System for a 302 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) array in Tempe, Arizona. The PV system, built by Cambio Energy (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) at Tempe Plaza, uses 1,211 micro-inverters installed on four rows of carport parking. The PV installations will provide solar power to the retail and office strip mall tenants and shade for shoppers as well. Read more

Antaris finalises 1MW contract

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 18:01 (PV-Tech)

Module supplier Antaris Solar is celebrating almost a year in Japan with the conclusion of a 1MW deal with Clean Energy Japan. Read more

Flisom raises funding to ramp up 15 MW flexible CIGS production plant

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 14:18 (PV-Tech)

Flisom, a Swiss company which develops technologies for manufacturing of flexible thin film CIGS solar modules (copper-indium-gallium-(di)selenide), reports that it has raised an unspecified but ?substantially large? investment to further develop its technology and build a production plant with an annual capacity of 15MW in Switzerland. Read more

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology achieves record conversion efficiency

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 13:35 (PV-Tech)

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology yesterday announced it has achieved a conversion efficiency of 10.7% for a single-junction microcrystalline silicon thin-film solar cell. Read more

Emerging PV Markets: Learning from the German Model

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Germany is the pioneer market of the PV-industry due to a very early ecological movement with its first political representatives ("Die Gruenen") back as early as 1980. Currently, in terms of installed capacity, Germany is second-to-none with approx. 35 GW installed. New installations in 2013 may reach up to five GW, which further establishes Germany's role as the leading market. As a result, many of the so-called pioneering companies in the PV-market are of German origin. However, their survival seems to be questionable as the market struggles with overcapacity in production and system integration. The demand for PV systems is starting to shift from established markets Read more

Swiss EPFL announces new 10.7% world record efficiency for thin film silicon PV cells

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 12:56 (Solarserver)

EPFL?s Institute of Microengineering (Neuchâtel, Switzerland) has produced a 10.7% conversion efficiency single-junction microcrystalline silicon solar cell (TF-Si PV), clearly surpassing the previous world record of 10.1% held by the Japanese company Kaneka Corporation since 1998. The record efficiency, independently certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE CalLab PV Cells), was achieved in addition with less than 2 micrometers of photovoltaic active material, EPFL emphasizes. Read more

Japan and EU lodge counter appeal with WTO

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 12:26 (PV-Tech)

On 11 February 2013, Japan and the European Union filed a cross appeal in the dispute against Ontario?s domestic content feed-in tariff programme with the World Trade Organization (WTO). Read more

Swiss technology developer Flisom AG raises funding to ramp up 15 MW flexible CIGS PV production plant

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 11:42 (Solarserver)

Flisom (Duebendorf, Switzerland) a developer of manufacturing technologies for flexible thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) module based on copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) has raised a substantially large investment to further develop its technology and build a production plant with an annual capacity of 15MW in Switzerland. Besides securing financial backing, Flisom also signed an agreement with Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, to provide research and development support on high-efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell technology, the company notes. Read more

RTE: France reaches 3.5 GW of installed PV

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 11:26 (Solarserver)

French grid operator RTE SA (Paris, France) has released official statistics for the nation's electricity system in 2012, reporting that France added 1.01 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity to reach 3.51 GW during the year. This is a 37% decline in new PV capacity from 2011, but still much more than any year prior. French PV plants produced 4.0 TWh during the year, enough to supply 0.8% of total electricity demand. Read more

Swiss EPFL?s announces new 10.7% world record efficiency for thin film silicon PV cells

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 9:46 (Solarserver)

EPFL?s Institute of Microengineering (Neuchâtel, Switzerland) has produced a 10.7% conversion efficiency single-junction microcrystalline silicon solar cell (TF-Si PV), clearly surpassing the previous world record of 10.1% held by the Japanese company Kaneka Corporation since 1998. The record efficiency, independently certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE CalLab PV Cells), was achieved in addition with less than 2 micrometers of photovoltaic active material, EPFL emphasizes. Read more

Trina Solar becomes No. 1 brand in Australia?s PV market

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 21:35 (Solarserver)

On February 12th, 2013, Trina Solar Ltd. (Changzhou, China) announced that it has achieved the No. 1 position in Australia's solar photovoltaic (PV) market. According to the new Solar Business Services' report ?Australian PV - Technology and Brands 2013?, Trina Solar was the most popular solar panel brand in Australia during 2012, accounting for 100 megawatts (MW) of installations. Read more

AS Solar strengthens sales team with appointment of Mathias Heinrich

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 17:31 (PV-Tech)

AS Solar, a distributor of PV systems, has strengthened its sales team by announcing the appointment of Mathias Heinrich as its new sales manager in a newly created position. Read more

South Korea and Morocco cooperate on thin-film solar research

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 17:03 (PV-Tech)

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Morocco?s Research Institute of Solar Energy and New Energy (IRESEN) have announced a collaboration on thin-film research. Read more

Third-party-owned systems reach 74% of California's home solar PV market

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 15:46 (Solarserver)

Sunrun (San Francisco, California, US) and PV Solar Report (Oakland, California, US) have released a report which places the value of third-party-owned solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in California in 2012 at more than USD 938 million, representing 74% of the state's small residential market. This is roughly the same value as the previous five years combined. The top California cities for third-party-owned PV systems in 2012 by value were San Diego, San Jose and Bakersfield. Read more

Mexican solar PV market doubled, reached 14 MW in 2012

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 15:41 (Solarserver)

Mexico has roughly doubled its solar photovoltaic (PV) market in 2012 to 14 MW, according to figures released by the nation's National Solar Energy Association (ANES). This means that roughly 60,000 PV modules are installed in the nation, which it says is a huge step forward for a market less than five years old. The organization expects similar growth in 2013. Read more

Applied Materials makes further cuts to solar business operations

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 14:47 (PV-Tech)

Applied Materials is scaling back spending in its solar business operations beyond those previously planned. Read more

Solectria and SolarOne Financial completes 1.2MW Florida installation

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Manufacturer Solectria has provided inverters for a 1.2MW solar PV installation by US-based SolarOne Financial in Florida. Read more

MEMC installed over 400MW in 2012; project backlog stands at 827MW

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 13:06 (PV-Tech)

Solar Energy segment revenue continues to dominate sales at MEMC, predominantly from its PV project development arm, SunEdison. Read more

Californian third party-owned solar generated a record US$938 million in 2012

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 12:42 (PV-Tech)

Third party-owned solar in California generated US$938 million in 2012, according to a report by PV Solar Report, a research company specialising in solar market data, and residential solar firm Sunrun. Read more

IHS Solar: Decline in polysilicon spot market volume means prices will stabilize

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 11:31 (Solarserver)

IHS Solar (El Segundo, California, U.S.) has released a new analysis which finds that polysilicon spot market activity in December 2012 accounted for only 20% of total sales, which it says supports its prediction that the ongoing fall in polysilicon prices will soon end. "IHS Solar Polysilicon Price Index" finds that the share of spot market sales peaked at 47% in May 2012, which the company associates with an "acute state of oversupply". Polysilicon prices fell to an average of USD 20 per kg at the end of 2012, from USD 31 per kg in February 2012, but IHS predicts that prices will begin increasing in February 2013. Read more

BSW-Solar: 145,000 solar thermal systems installed in Germany in 2012

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 9:33 (Solarserver)

The German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) has estimated that 145,000 solar thermal systems were installed in Germany in 2012, to bring the nation to 1.8 million solar heating systems, nearly double the 2006 level of 0.94 million. The organization further states that it expects an increase in demand in 2013 due to the financial advantages of the technology, and the nation's aging stock of heaters. 2012 installations represented 1.15 million square meters of collector area, with flat-plate systems making up 90% of collector area. Read more

Sol Systems seeks medium-sized US solar PV plants for financing solution

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 9:26 (Solarserver)

Sol Systems (Washington DC, US) has launched a financing solution for medium-sized solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, and states that it is seeking to acquire PV projects between 50 kW and 2 MW. The company is currently seeking rooftop, ground-mounted or carport PV projects in eight states and Washington DC for its "Mid-Market Solution". These should be plants with commissioning dates prior to September 1st, 2013. Read more

Fuels America Sends Snarky Valentine to Big Oil

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 19:40 (Renewable Energy World)

"We love how oil companies want to keep us dependent on a dirty, climate warming, expensive fuel in short supply. Isn't that just great?" Read more

Weighing Obama's SOTUS Proposal: More Oil Drilling to Fund Clean Energy?

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 16:04 (Renewable Energy World)

President Barack Obama's proposal to fund clean-energy research with fees paid by oil and gas producers is renewing a debate over whether the promise of innovation tomorrow is worth expanding drilling today. Read more

Onshore Wind Drives Germany's Renewables Revolution, but Is It Too Much of a Good Thing?

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Onshore wind power is the wunderkind of Germany's path-breaking clean energy transition. Stretching from the gusty coasts of the North and Baltic Seas all the way now to the Alps, the nation's land-based wind turbines (23,000 as of 2012) account for virtually all of Germany's 30-plus GW of wind-generated green electrical capacity. This generates nearly 40 percent of the country's entire carbon-free electricity production, roughly equal to 40 nuclear reactors. By expanding its supply ten-fold since 1998, it has exceeded the rosiest forecasts of green-thinking optimists -- and costs have plummeted, too. It is no exaggeration to say that onshore wind has turbocharged Germany's Read more

Poll: Voters in the rural west of the US want more renewables

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 21:31 (Solarserver)

Westerners support renewable energy development on public lands due to a Colorado College survey. They vastly prefer renewable energy development to be encouraged in their state, rather than nuclear power or fossil fuels. Westerners place a strong value on public lands, saying they are "essential" to their state's economy and quality of life, according to the study. Read more

Swinerton Renewable Energy to build 5 MW PV park in Hawaii

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 21:27 (Solarserver)

Construction has begun on the 5 megawatt (MW) utility-scale Kalaeloa Renewable Energy Park in Hawaii, Swinerton Renewable Energy (San Diego, California, U.S.) reports. The solar park on 20 acres of leased U.S. Navy land near Ewa Field will comprise 21,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and generate enough energy to power 1,000 homes. Read more

Billionaire Moguls Fighting for and Against Renewable Energy

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 19:06 (Renewable Energy World)

Two of the most recognizable wealthy businessmen in the Western World appear to have very different opinions on the viability of renewable energy. Read more

Net Metering Debate Rages On Despite Calls For Calm

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Net metering is one of the most emotionally charged issues in renewable energy, and now it's back in the spotlight. A panel discussion at PV America East in Philadelphia last week explored ways that utilities and ratepayers can agree on how to quantify net metering's benefit. Almost simultaneously, a major utility exec's public criticism of net metering is fanning the flames once again. Read more

Obama and the reinvention of energy efficiency

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 10:18 (Renewable Energy World)

The energy efficiency industry received a nice boost this week during President Barack Obama?s State of the Union address. Obama called for cutting energy use by half over the next 20 years. Such attention comes at a significant point in the history of the energy efficiency movement. It appears to be re-inventing itself again, and in a way that is Read more

Obama and the Reinvention of Energy Efficiency

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 10:18 (Renewable Energy World)

The energy efficiency industry received a nice boost this week during President Barack Obama?s State of the Union address. Obama called for cutting energy use by half over the next 20 years. Such attention comes at a significant point in the history of the energy efficiency movement. It appears to be re-inventing itself again, and in a way that is Read more

Applied EES revenues fall to USD 46 million, new orders increase

Thursday, 2.14.2013 - 9:29 (Solarserver)

Applied Materials Inc. (Santa Clara, California, US) has published results for its most recent financial quarter, reporting a 26% sequential decline in revenues in its Energy and Environmental Services (EES) division to USD 46 million, with an operating loss of USD 54 million. However, the division also reported a 4.6% increase in new orders to USD 68 million during its first quarter of fiscal year 2013, which ended January 27th, 2013. Overall, Applied Materials saw a sequential 4.8% decrease in sales to USD 1.57 billion during the quarter, but a return to profitability with a 2.5% operating margin. Read more