Edwards Group promotes board member Jim Gentilcore to CEO

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 17:18 (PV-Tech)

Edwards Group, a manufacturer of solar cells, has promoted Jim Gentilcore to Chief Executive Officer, effective from 1 March 2013. Read more

Coronal Management names Edwin F. Feo COO

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 16:53 (Solarserver)

On February 25th, 2013, Coronal Management LLC (Seacaucus, New Jersey, U.S.) announced that Edwin F. Feo has joined its team as chief operating officer (COO) and managing director. Prior Panasonic Eco Solutions North America (Seacaucus, New Jersey, U.S.) had signed a multi-year agreement with Coronal Management to build solar photovoltaic (PV) projects from 250 kW to 20 MW in capacity in the United States and Puerto Rico. Read more

EuPD: Germany to install 3.9 GW of PV in 2013, incentives for storage unclear

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 16:01 (Solarserver)

In its latest market briefing, EuPD Research (Bonn, Germany) has predicted that Germany will install only 3.9 GW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2013, roughly half 2012 levels. The company expects peak installations to occur in June and July 2013, and warned of impacts to Germany installers from reduced demand. EuPD Research Chief Analyst Markus Lohr also discussed energy storage subsidies at the February 21st, 0213 briefing, noting that nothing concrete has been confirmed at this time. Read more

Consortium to build multi-MW PV plants in Pakistan

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 15:58 (Solarserver)

AEG Power Solutions BV (Zwanenburg, the Netherlands) has confirmed that at the end of 2012 it signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Pakistan for solar photovoltaic (PV) plants as part of a development consortium. AEG states that discussions are undergoing with the consortium for utility-scale PV equipment, but did not supply further details. Pakistani and Indian press have reported that the consortium will build two PV plants, 400 MW and 50 MW in size, in Punjab Province. Read more

PV inverter maker Enphase reports continued growth, improved margins in 4Q 2012

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 11:51 (Solarserver)

Enphase Energy Inc. (Petaluma, California, U.S.) has gained the largest market share of any inverter maker in California's residential solar photovoltaic (PV) market, as reported in its fourth quarter and full year 2012 results. In the fourth quarter Enphase reported a very slight year-over-year increase in revenues to USD 57.6 million and an operating margin of -11%. The company's earnings release comes six days after Enphase reported the commissioning of its largest project to date at 902 kW. Read more

First Solar Retakes CdTe Crown, Promises April Roadmap Update

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 19:23 (Renewable Energy World)

Roughly one month ago GE leapfrogged First Solar in thin-film cadmium-telluride (CdTe) solar photovoltaic (PV) conversion efficiency, with an 18.3 percent efficient champion cell -- a full percentage point higher than First Solar's 17.3 percent mark set last year. Read more

First Solar delays 2013 guidance despite strong quarter

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 18:51 (PV-Tech)

Record quarterly revenue and new record cell efficiency were overshadowed by First Solar delaying 2013 financial guidance until early Q2 2013. Read more

Mosaic hires Howard Solovei as Vice President of Finance

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 18:51 (PV-Tech)

Mosaic, a California-based start-up which operates an online platform that seeks investors to finance solar projects, has appointed Howard Solovei as its Vice President of Finance. Read more

Solar America to provide PV, lighting solutions for 700-home community in Guadalajara, Mexico

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 16:58 (Solarserver)

On February 25th, 2013, Solar America Corp. (Gulfport, Mississippi, U.S.) announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Valdez Cueva Constructores Asosiados S.A. de C.V. Under the terms of the memorandum, Solar America will provide solar photovoltaic (PV) power stations and solar lighting solutions for the Los Conejos housing project, the planned community of 700 homes in Tonola, a suburb of Guadalajara, Mexico. Read more

JA Solar's PV modules pass salt mist corrosion and sulfur dioxide corrosion tests

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 16:48 (Solarserver)

On February 25th, 2013, JA Solar Holdings Co. (Shanghai, China) announced that all of its solar photovoltaic (PV) module series have passed salt mist corrosion and sulfur dioxide corrosion tests. The independent tests, conducted by TÜV NORD AG, confirm that JA Solar's products offer exceptional reliability even in severe environments, the company states. Read more

Canadian Solar supplies more modules for off-grid PV projects in Tanzania

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 15:54 (PV-Tech)

Module manufacturer Canadian Solar has announced it has signed another module supply agreement with Zara Solar, a provider of PV systems based in Tanzania. Read more

Singulus expands solar business activities in South Korea, partners with DKSH

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 15:54 (Solarserver)

On February 25th, 2013, Singulus Technologies (Kahl am Main, Germany) announced that it has signed an exclusive representation contract with DKSH Korea for Singulus' photovoltaic (PV) production technology in Korea. Singulus has selected DKSH as partner to help the company strengthen its presence in Korea's PV industry. Singulus will benefit from DKSH's value-added market expansion services such as market research, structured sales and marketing. Read more

China Solar: Big Get Better, Smaller Suffer

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 15:17 (Renewable Energy World)

A couple of new items from the battered solar sector hint that the situation may be improving for the largest companies, even as smaller players continue to struggle and face the very real danger of collapse. Of course I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that I've predicted a rebound for this embattled sector once or twice before based on optimisti Read more

Project rights sold for 5.5MW solar park

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 14:27 (Solarpowerportal)

The Solar Building Company (SBC) has agreed to sell the project rights for a 5.5MW solar park in the south of England to S.A.G. Solarstorm AG, a European EPC contractor and service provider. Read more

TGC Renewables plans 13MW solar park in Cambridgeshire

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 14:02 (Solarpowerportal)

TGC Renewables has applied for planning permission for a 13MW solar park in Cambridgeshire. Read more

Activ Solar commissions 29MW PV plant in Ukraine

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 13:48 (PV-Tech)

Austrian PV project developer Activ Solar has commissioned its 29.3MW Voznesensk Solar Power Station located in the Mykolaiv region in Ukraine. Read more

NREL verifies First Solar?s big leap in CdTe cell efficiency

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 13:25 (PV-Tech)

New R&D test cells produced at First Solar?s Perrysburg, Ohio factory and R&D centre have reached a new record cell conversion efficiency of 18.7%, verified by the US Department of Energy?s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Read more

US DOE opens solar manufacturing funding opportunity

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 11:58 (Solarserver)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has made available up to USD 15 million to support innovations in solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) manufacturing technology through its SunShot Initiative. DOE will accept applications for the Solar Manufacturing Technology (SolarMat) program through April 26th, 2013. Funding will be limited to technologies that can achieve market or manufacturing impact within 1-4 years. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: c-Si solar PV module prices fell 50% in 2012

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 9:33 (Solarserver)

NPD Solarbuzz (Santa Clara, California, US) reports that crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar photovoltaic (PV) average selling prices fell an average of 50% year-over-year in 2012, the steepest decline in four years of annual declines. NPD Solarbuzz analyst Michael Barker reported this figure in a blog entry, noting that this has put intense pressure on manufacturer margins and caused many PV makers to move into the more lucrative project development business. He also sees little sign of a change in 2013 to date. Read more

AEG to supply inverters for 30 MW solar PV project in Madhya Pradesh

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 9:27 (Solarserver)

M and B Switchgears Ltd. (Indore, India) has chosen AEG Power Solutions BV (Zwanenburg, the Netherlands) to supply inverters for a 30 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. AEG's Indian subsidiary will supply the inverters in the first quarter of 2013. The company has been producing inverters in its Bangalore factory since October 2011. Read more

First Solar reports record sales in 4Q 2012, unveils 18.7% efficient solar PV cell

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 0:33 (Solarserver)

First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, US) has released financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2012, reporting record revenues of USD 1.08 billion at a 16% operating margin in the fourth quarter. Read more

Profitability to dog Trina Solar in 2013

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 0:26 (PV-Tech)

Losses were the theme at tier 1 solar module manufacturer, Trina Solar in 2012 and will prove a similar story this year after the company released fourth quarter and full-year financial results. Read more

EIA's Year-End Electrical Generation Report Reveals Significant Renewable Growth

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 15:31 (Renewable Energy World)

According to the latest issue of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) "Electric Power Monthly," with preliminary data through to December 31, 2012, non-hydro renewable sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, wind) increased by 12.8 percent last year compared to 2011 and provided 5.4 percent of net U.S. electrical generation. Read more

The Gradual Growth of Geothermal Power in the U.S.

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 6:01 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. geothermal energy industry ended 2012 with a growth of 5 percent, which is modest but nevertheless a good progress for an industry that feels a bit left out of the renewable energy boom. Read more

Forecasting Finance in a Turbulent Renewables Industry

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Renewables funding has a bright future, according to analysis firm Frost & Sullivan. Its latest report estimates that the venture capital funding market for renewable energy will triple by 2020 due to positive regulatory policies, public support for lowering carbon footprints and technological innovation. Read more

Seven Green Stocks I Told My Sister to Buy

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Yesterday, I wrote about how my annual green stock trading advice had worked out for my sister and readers (well) and the two stocks where I thought she should take profits: LSB Industries (NYSE:LXU) and Potlatch Corp (NYSE:PCH). Read more

Vestas Says Japan Needs to Improve Access to Electricity Grid to Boost Renewables

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the market leader for wind turbines in Japan, said the country needs to improve access to the electricity grid and allow power sales across regions to boost renewable energy use, including wind. Read more

DECC unveils updated RHI scheme

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 13:08 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced updates to the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme following a consultation in July 2012. Read more

Isofotón and Lancaster Group ink PV deal in Kazakhstan

Wednesday, 2.27.2013 - 12:34 (PV-Tech)

Spanish PV developer Isofotón and Lancaster Group, a Kazakhstan-based private company operating in several industries including energy, have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop PV projects in Kazakhstan. Read more