SMA wins award for patent management

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 20:38 (Solarserver)

On March 6th, 2013, SMA Solar Technology AG (Niestetal, Germany) announced that it has received the first prize from the Fraunhofer Institute of Labor Economics and Organization (IAO) in the IP Management Award for sustained and targeted patent management. Read more

Suntech reaches forbearance agreement over convertible notes

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 20:00 (Solarserver)

Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) has signed a forbearance agreement with the holders of more than 60% of the company's 3% convertible notes, which it says will allow it to pursue a consensual restructuring. Read more

Energy storage named top requirement for inverter buyers

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 18:27 (Solarpowerportal)

Energy storage has been named as the top requirement for inverters over the next two years. Read more

Solar Photovoltaic Demand to Reach 31 Gigawatts in 2013

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 15:43 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar photovoltaic (PV) demand will increase two gigawatts (GW), from 29 GW to 31 GW during 2013, up 7 percent Y/Y according to the new NPD Solarbuzz Marketbuzz 2013. For the first time, China will outpace Germany to become the leading PV consumer, while the top 10 PV territories will still account for 83% of global PV demand. Read more

Suntech gets extension on bond payment deadline

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 15:26 (PV-Tech)

Suntech Power Holdings has struck a temporary deal with note holders on its US$541 million of bonds due on March 15 by delaying payment a further two months while more talks are undertaken. Read more

Japan feed-in tariff faces 10% cut

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 13:13 (PV-Tech)

A panel advising Japan?s government on changes to the country?s solar feed-in tariff have recommended it be cut by 10% from the end of this month. Read more

Greentech, Foresight to invest in PV projects in the United States

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 12:20 (Solarserver)

Greentech Energy Systems A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark) is forming a joint venture (JV) with Foresight Group Inc. (Lansing, Michigan, US) to invest in solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the United States, with a first round of up to 100 MW. The two companies have signed a term sheet outlining the details of the JV, which will be controlled 51% by Greentech and 49% by Foresight. Through the JV the two companies will jointly explore and assess the feasibility of individual PV projects both currently in operation and under development. Read more

Sunverge Energy receives UL certification for Solar Integration System

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 20:47 (Solarserver)

On March 6th, 2013, Sunverge Energy Inc. (San Francisco, California, U.S.) announced that it has received UL 1778 certification from Intertek Testing Services for its Solar Integration System (SIS). The SIS is breaking down preconceived industry barriers and changing the way the world looks at renewable energy, Sunverge emphasizes. Read more

SolarWorld becomes chief supplier of PV panels to Empower America

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 20:42 (Solarserver)

On March 7th, 2013, Empower America (Temecula, California, US) announced that it has formed a partnership with SolarWorld (Bonn, Germany, and Hillsboro, Oregon, US). Under the partnership, SolarWorld will serve as the primary solar photovoltaic (PV) panel and racking supplier for Empower-America-developed solar projects. SolarWorld will also provide technical and engineering assistance. Read more

Canadian Solar reports annual loss of US$195 million; shipments to increase in 2013

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 19:29 (PV-Tech)

Falling solar module prices continued to impact Canadian Solar?s financial results as the company more than doubled losses year on year. Read more

Canadian Solar reports increased loss on bad debts, arbitration in 4Q 2012

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 15:58 (Solarserver)

Canadian Solar Inc. (Guelph, Canada) has released results for the fourth quarter of 2012, reporting a 38% year-over-year fall in revenues to USD 295 million, a -31% operating margin and a net loss of USD 105 million. The company reported a provision for bad debts of USD 31.2 million, including USD 18.6 million to one customer in China, as well as a USD 30.0 million provision for an arbitration decision in the fourth quarter. Over the full year Canadian Solar's revenues fell 32% to USD 1.29 billion, with an operating loss of -11%. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: PV market to reach 31GW in 2013; 45% ground mounted

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 14:40 (PV-Tech)

PV demand in 2013 is expected to increase 7% year-on-year to approximately 31GW, according to the new NPD Solarbuzz Marketbuzz 2013 report. Read more

RMK Solar and Bosch Solar Energy partner to offer Bosch-powered PV systems

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 14:18 (PV-Tech)

Bosch Solar Energy, the solar arm of global technology specialist The Bosch Group, has selected EPC firm RMK Solar as one of its first PowerPro partners to offer PV systems using Bosch-manufactured PV modules. Read more

First Solar to become Desertec shareholder

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 13:34 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer First Solar has become a shareholder in the Desertec Industrial Initiative, the industry consortium looking to tap the renewable energy potential of desert regions. Read more

QSTec supplies modules for Passivhaus-Baytna test project in Qatar

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 12:49 (PV-Tech)

Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) will provide Barwa with 136 modules for installation at Barwa?s Passivhaus-Baytna sustainable housing project which is being developed in Qatar. Read more

India to use Viability Gap Funding for National Solar Mission Phase 2

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 12:29 (Solarserver)

On March 6th, 2013 India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced plans to use the model of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to support grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) projects through phase 2 of the nation's National Solar Mission (NSM). This would replace the reverse auction mechanism used in phase 1. VGF was already proposed in the draft of NSM Phase 2. The policy has been criticized by Indian solar market analysts, with Mercom Capital (Austin, Texas, US) calling it a ?risky? approach. Read more

Expansion of eligible technologies in CSI-Thermal program, changes to incentive structure

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 12:25 (Solarserver)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has expanded the California Solar Initiative (CSI)-Thermal program to provide incentives for process heat applications, solar cooling technologies, space heating technologies and systems that combine multiple applications. The February 28th, 2013 CPUC decision also modifies the incentive structure for systems, moving some system types to a performance-based incentive (PBI) based on metered energy delivered for end use. Participating utilities have 120 days to make program changes. Read more

Project Focus: ?Largest? solar farm on Oahu begins generating power

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 12:09 (PV-Tech)

Bright Plain Renewable Energy (BPRE) and SunPower Corporation have completed the 5MW Kalaeloa Solar Farm in West Oahu, Hawaii. Read more

Caplor Energy launches solar finance package

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 12:03 (Solarpowerportal)

Herefordshire-based solar installer Caplor Energy has partnered with Shawbrook Bank to launch a new solar finance package. Read more

AIC Projects completes three German solar parks

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 11:26 (PV-Tech)

German PV developer AIC Projects has completed three solar parks in Germany with a combined capacity of 9MW for unnamed private investors. Read more

India supplies USD 55 million in off-grid solar, solar thermal subsidies in FY 2012-2013

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 10:08 (Solarserver)

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) reports supplying INR 301 crore (USD 55.4 million) in subsidies for solar lights, water pumping systems, off-grid solar plants and solar water heaters the first ten months of fiscal year (FY) 2012-2013. This is roughly half the INR 590 crore (USD 109 million) spent in fiscal year 2011-2012, and slightly more than the INR 287 crore spent in 2010-2011. MNRE plans to continue the subsidies through the nation's National Solar Mission in FY 2013-2014. Read more

EnergyTrend: Japanese solar PV market developing specific product preferences

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 10:00 (Solarserver)

TrendForce's (Taipei City, Taiwan) EnergyTrend division reports that the Japanese solar photovoltaic (PV) market is developing a unique set of preferences for product qualities, as seen at the recent PV Expo in Tokyo. EnergyTrend notes that PID resistance is the most emphasized quality, and that the ability to bear heavy snow loads is also a strong selling point. Furthermore, the company notes that common product specifications are being adopted in the Japanese market, with additional specifications for the local market becoming more common. Read more

Nuclear Industry Withers in U.S. as Wind Pummels Prices

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 15:09 (Renewable Energy World)

A glut of government-subsidized wind power may help accomplish a goal some environmentalists have sought for decades: kill off U.S. nuclear power plants while reducing reliance on electricity from burning coal. Read more

S. African Power Pact With Congo May Boost $80 Billion Hydropower Plan

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 18:01 (Renewable Energy World)

South Africa's agreement to buy more than half the power from the first stage of a planned $80 billion hydropower project in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be the catalyst for expansion of the power industry throughout southern Africa, a government official said. Read more

In Iceland, Geothermal Energy is "Use It or Lose It"

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 12:59 (Renewable Energy World)

If a country has an overabundance of a globally coveted product, should it export it or keep the product for its own use? That is the question that Icelanders are grappling with regarding to the country's vast and overabundant supply of clean energy. Read more

Is Japan Squandering Opportunity for Renewables after Fukushima Crisis?

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 15:14 (Renewable Energy World)

Japan is wasting the opportunity of the Fukushima disaster by failing to use the crisis and public opposition toward nuclear reactors to form an energy mix more reliant on renewable energy, Canadian author, environmentalist and geneticist David Suzuki says. Read more

GreenTop installs Deger tracking systems at 500kW Greek PV project

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 13:33 (PV-Tech)

Greek PV installer GreenTop has completed a 500kW PV project located near the city of Vagia Viotias in Greece. Read more

CPI looks at barriers to institutional investment in renewable energy

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 10:04 (Solarserver)

Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) has released a new report which notes that there are significant barriers to an increase in institutional investment in renewable energy projects, and proposes means to overcome these barriers. ?The Challenge of Institutional Investment in Renewable Energy? looks at both policy and investment practice barriers to increasing investment by insurance companies, pension funds and similar investors. The report notes that these investors manage USD 71 trillion in assets globally, and could supply between one quarter and one half the investment required by renewable energy projects through 2035 if barriers are removed. Read more

HECO solicits renewable energy projects in Oahu

Monday, 3.11.2013 - 9:56 (Solarserver)

Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO, Honolulu, Hawaii) has issued a solicitation for renewable energy projects at least 5 MW in size on the island of Oahu, which it will exempt from its competitive bidding procedures. HECO states that the primary purpose of this solicitation is to reduce customer bills. As such, projects should have a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of USD 0.17 per kWh or less to be considered, as well as a scheduled completion date by the end of 2015. Read more