Rhode Island Feed-in Tariff Schedule Announced for 2013

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

National Grid recently announced their 2013 enrollment schedule and pricing for Rhode Island?s feed-in tariff program, also known as Distributed Generation Standard Contracts. The program was created by an act of the same name in June 2011. In aggregate, it calls for a total of 40MW in new renewable energy procurement by 2014, with 10MW slated for Read more

Order Focus: Amtech wins solar cell diffusion equipment order worth US$5.3 million

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 14:58 (PV-Tech)

An unidentified top tier solar company based in Asia has placed a US$5.3 million order with Tempress Systems, a subsidiary of Amtech for its solar cell diffusion processing tools. Read more

Sunways adds two new members to supervisory board

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 14:08 (PV-Tech)

German PV manufacturer Sunways has announced it has appointed two new members to its supervisory board, namely Xiaofeng Peng and Dr. Yuepeng Wan. Read more

TRADE WAR: Canada appeals WTO local content ruling

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 14:01 (PV-Tech)

Canada has appealed against a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that a local content policy within the province of Ontario?s feed-in tariff (FiT) violates global trade rules. Read more

Conergy to build three PV plants totaling 31.5 MW in Thailand

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 9:46 (Solarserver)

Conergy (Hamburg, Germany) has received an order from a subsidiary of Thai Solar Energy Company Ltd. (Bangkok, Thailand) to build three solar photovoltaic (PV) plants totaling 31.5 MW in Thailand. Conergy will act as general contractor for the plants, including planning, engineering and design as well as supply of components and installation. Conergy will use its P-series modules and SolarLinea mounting systems, and will collaborate with partners Annex Power Ltd. (Bangkok, Thailand) and Ensys on construction of the plants. Read more

Canada appeals WTO ruling on Ontario's domestic content requirement

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 9:42 (Solarserver)

On February 5th, 2013 Canada filed an appeal to a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling finding that the domestic content policy in Ontario's feed-in tariff violates international trade rules. On December 19th, 2012 a WTO panel issued a ruling upholding claims by Japan and the EU that the policy violates Global Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) and Agreement on Trade Related Investment Measures rules. Read more

General Motors joins US Solar Energy Industries Association

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 18:52 (Solarserver)

On February 6th, 2013, General Motors (GM, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.) announced that it has joined the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.) to support the U.S. solar industry. "Part of our renewable energy goal as a company involves helping other organizations learn how to successfully implement renewable energy strategies. Joining SEIA enables us to reach a pool of like-minded companies committed to making solar energy a significant energy source," stated Rob Threlkeld, renewable energy manager for GM. Read more

Aleo Solar, Bosch to provide financings for residential, commercial PV projects in the US

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 12:43 (Solarserver)

Aleo Solar (Prenzlau, Germany) and Bosch Solar Energy North America (Mooresville, North Carolina, US) have made available USD 100 million of funding for commercial and residential solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the continental United States. The financing will support commercial projects 50 kW and larger, as well as residential projects valued at USD 50,000 or less. The financing will be available through the Aleo Power Network and Bosch Solar Energy PowerPro network. Read more

Quanta to build two 20 MW solar PV plants for Con Edison in California

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 12:39 (Solarserver)

Con Edison Development (Valhalla, New York, US) has chosen Quanta Power Generation Inc. (Greenwood Village, Colorado, US) to provide design, engineering, procurement and construction, and installation services for two solar photovoltaic (PV) plants totaling 40 MW-AC in California's Central Valley. Pre-construction activities on the two plants began in October 2012, and Quanta expects to complete the two 20 MW-AC projects in 2013. The two plants will comprise roughly 176,000 multicrystalline silicon PV modules mounted to single-axis tracking systems, covering more than 140 hectares in Kings and Tulare Counties. Read more

Spanish solar groups threaten government legal action

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 12:29 (PV-Tech)

Angry Spanish solar groups are threatening to take their government to court over retroactive cuts to PV incentives. Read more

T-Solar commissions 12.3 MW PV plant in Gujarat

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 9:38 (Solarserver)

T-Solar Group (Madrid, Spain) has commissioned a 12.3 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the Indian state of Gujarat. The plant in Nayaka, Gujarat comprises 96,900 PV modules on a 36.4 hectare site. This is T-Solar's second plant in the nation, following the commissioning of a 5 MW PV plant in Rajasthan, and together the two plants represent a EUR 34 million (USD 46 million) investment. Read more

USD 150 million in clean energy tax credits available for US manufacturers

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 18:55 (Solarserver)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Treasury have made available USD 150 million in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy and energy efficiency manufacturing projects across the United States, including solar technologies and energy storage. Tax credits will be awarded on a competitive basis, with projects assessed according to commercial viability, domestic job creation, technology innovation and other factors. Applications will be accepted February 7th through July 23rd, 2013. Read more

Tighter Emission Rules to Spur Clean Energy Innovation

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 17:13 (Renewable Energy World)

Rules to cut greenhouse-gas emissions from operating U.S. power plants will be a boon for companies willing to invest in clean energy, said Carol Browner, a former Environmental Protection Agency administrator. Read more

REC to expand module production in 2013; massive polysilicon asset write down

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 16:42 (PV-Tech)

Renewable Energy Corporation?s fourth quarter financial results were masked by a massive NOK 1.8 billion impairment on fixed assets related to its polysilicon operations (REC Silicon) in the US. REC Silicon recognized impairments of fixed assets of NOK 1,881 million for the full-year. Read more

Altmaier's Grand German Renewable Energy Bluff

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 15:52 (Renewable Energy World)

Germany?s environment minister Peter Altmaier has unexpectedly proposed cost-sharing measures to lower the consumer burden of the Energiewende. Yet as he's designed it, no one will line up behind the plan. Such politicking will likely backfire in the long run. After months of waffling, Altmaier unexpectedly opened the election year debate over the Read more

Energy Efficiency Prospects: What to Watch

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 14:57 (Renewable Energy World)

Events unfolding in two U.S. Northeast states ? New York and Massachusetts ? signal increased business opportunity for energy efficiency companies, green architects, lighting contractors, smart grid innovators and others in the business of saving energy. First, the energy efficiency world should keep an eye on debate over the possible shutdown of t Read more

Complaint lodged with EC over Greek renewables tax

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 13:30 (PV-Tech)

A group of Greek and foreign investors has filed a complaint with the European commission against a retroactive tax on income generated from renewable energy. Read more

Belgium?s PV capacity surpassed 2.6GW in 2012

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 13:26 (PV-Tech)

Belgium?s cumulative installed PV capacity surpassed 2.6GW at the end of 2012, according to provisional statistics released by Belgian renewable energy association Apere. Read more

Saibu Gas plans two PV plants in Fukuoka, Japan

Friday, 2.8.2013 - 13:00 (PV-Tech)

Saibu Gas, a Japanese gas provider, has announced plans to construct two PV facilities in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, with a combined capacity of 3.2MW.. Read more