Yingli, GCL-Poly sign cooperation agreement

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 14:47 (Solarserver)

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Ltd. (Baoding, China) and GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Company Ltd. (Hong Kong, China) have entered into an agreement to cooperate along the solar photovoltaic (PV) supply chain. Read more

Suntech?s manufacturing subsidiary in Wuxi forced into bankruptcy proceedings by banks

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 14:14 (PV-Tech)

Suntech Power Holdings said that a group of eight Chinese banks filed a petition for insolvency and restructuring of the company?s main manufacturing subsidiary, Wuxi Suntech. Read more

Order Focus: Sungrow and Aktor 30MWp JV in Greece

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 13:52 (PV-Tech)

Sungrow Power Supply, China?s largest PV inverter supplier in 2011 has partnered with EPC Aktor SA for the construction of PV power plants expected to exceed 30MWp in Greece. Read more

Conergy powers two more Spanish rooftop PV systems

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 12:42 (PV-Tech)

German PV developer Conergy has supplied modules to its partner Prosolia for two rooftop PV installations in Spain and the Canary Islands which have a combined capacity of 3.3MW. Read more

PowerOne passes 1 million PV inverters sold; global installed base exceeds 10 GW

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 12:27 (Solarserver)

Power-One, Inc. (Camarillo, CA) on March 19th, 2013, announced it has surpassed the one million mark for solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters sold worldwide. This milestone can be attributed to the significant growth Power-One has experienced over the past several years, the company emphasizes. In 2010, Power-One took over the number two spot in global market share for solar inverters, with an installed base of 3.2 GW. Today, the Company has an installed base of more than 10 GW, representing a better than three-fold increase in just over two years. Read more

Suntech appoints Philip Fan and Weiping Zhou to board of directors, Zhou appointed president

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 12:10 (Solarserver)

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (Wuxi, China) on March 19th, 2013, announced it has appointed two new directors to the Company's board of directors effective immediately. Mr. Philip Fan has been appointed as an independent director and Mr. Weiping Zhou has been appointed as an executive director of the board and President of Suntech. With the new appointments, Suntech's board of directors now has seven members including four independent directors. Read more

New Jersey surpasses 1 GW of installed PV, state now ranks #3 in the U.S.

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 9:09 (Solarserver)

The New Jersey solar market hit a new milestone in March 2013 when it eclipsed the 1 gigawatt (GW) mark for total installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity. This is enough solar electricity to power 139,000 homes. New Jersey now ranks third in the nation in solar energy installations, according to a new study released by released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research. Read more

Suntech's Solar Manufacturing Unit Pushed toward Bankruptcy

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 17:36 (Renewable Energy World)

In the latest twist in the solar industry's consolidation saga, eight Chinese banks have petitioned the local courts to initiate insolvency and restructuring for Suntech Power Holdings' main manufacturing subsidiary Wuxi Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.. The company says it will not object the filing, which the court could accept within the next few days. Read more

UPDATED: Suntech's Solar Manufacturing Unit Pushed toward Bankruptcy

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 17:36 (Renewable Energy World)

In the latest twist in the solar industry's consolidation saga, eight Chinese banks have petitioned the local courts to initiate insolvency and restructuring for Suntech Power Holdings' main manufacturing subsidiary Wuxi Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.. The company says it will not object the filing, which the court could accept within the next few days. Read more

S.A.G. Solarstrom receives ?40 million from Deutsche Bank

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 17:34 (PV-Tech)

Germany?s S.A.G. Solarstrom has received a solar financing commitment for EUR40 million (US$52 million) from Deutsche Bank. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: MEA region to generate 1GW of PV demand in 2013

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 15:29 (PV-Tech)

According to the latest report from NPD Solarbuzz the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is expected to generate 1GW of PV demand in 2013, a 625% increase from 2012 when installations totalled only 136MW. Read more

Insolvency petition filed for Suntech's solar PV manufacturing in Wuxi

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 14:16 (Solarserver)

Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) reports that a petition for the insolvency of its solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing division in Wuxi, China has been filed in the city. Read more

Solar PV Profit's Last Stand

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Globally, average module prices (ASPs) decreased by 42 percent in 2012 from a global ASP of $1.37/Wp in 2011 to $0.79/Wp in 2012. In early 2013, ASPs have already decreased by 18 percent to $0.65/Wp with inventory averages ~$-.58/Wp. Many will proclaim this as progress. Some will say that the ends justify the means. A few will devote a brief paragraph to the losses and failures of manufacturers before going on to write of the hugely successful 2013 to come. Some manufacturers may join the chorus lest they be drowned out by drumbeats broadcasting success. Read more

SwissINSO and Acomet Solar enter BIPV JV agreement

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 13:59 (PV-Tech)

SwissINSO Holding, a specialist in the development of new solar technologies and products which focus on enhancing the aesthetics and overall efficiency of BIPV and solar thermal solutions, and Acomet Solar, an integrator of solar façades, have teamed up and signed a joint venture agreement. Read more

Asia Report: Is Japan's Solar Market Overheating?

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 13:31 (Renewable Energy World)

Most of the projections we've seen for 2013's biggest solar markets (Solarbuzz, IHS iSuppli, Deutsche Bank) put Japan as #4 behind China, the US, and Germany, and ahead of a number of countries led by Italy. Maxim Group and Lux Research have Japan squeaking into third place. But now, one analyst sees Japan's solar market surging in 2013 to an eye-popping 5 GW -- raising questions whether the nation, like others before it (think Spain) is overheating. Read more

Operations, Maintenance, and Solar Sheep

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

As gigawatts of commercial- and utility-scale PV power plants spring up around the world on a monthly basis, one critical industry sector that's growing in tandem is operations and maintenance, usually referred to simply as O&M. Whether the service is provided by the engineering, procurement, and construction firm or (sub)contracted to an outside vendor, the upkeep, performance, and ultimate profitability of a large solar installation depends in no small way on the competence and experience of the O&M team. Read more

Florida's Broward County Encourages Solar Energy with Easier Permits

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Making energy from the sun seems a no-brainer for the Sunshine State, but cost has proven to be a hurdle. Broward County has taken a big step to cut costs for solar-panel systems on rooftops and homeowners, businesses and other counties are taking notice, a Go Solar conference showed Friday. Read more

Ready or Not: Arizona Takes Steps Toward Incentive Free Solar

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Over the past several years Arizona has become one of the fastest growing solar markets in the United States due in large part to a strong policy framework coupled with excellent market fundamentals. However, as of February 2013 Arizona's solar incentive program was severely curtailed and uncertainty now surrounds the future prospects of the state's solar industry, leaving many wondering what the impact of these cuts will be. Read more

Italy expects 1 GW of new ?grid parity? solar PV annually

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 12:04 (Solarserver)

Italy's Ministry of Economic Development (SEN) has released a draft National Energy Policy for the nation, in which it predicts 1 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations every year outside of incentive programs through 2020. SEN estimates that this will translate to roughly 8 TWh of additional solar power production from PV by 2020, along with another 3 TWh anticipated through the feed-in tariff from August 2012 through 2013. Read more

Borrego Solar Systems buys 8MW of PV in California

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 11:58 (PV-Tech)

Borrego Solar Systems, a developer and installer of grid-connected PV systems, has acquired a portfolio of solar power systems in California which have a combined capacity of 8MW. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne reports falling revenue, heavy loss in Q4 2012

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 8:59 (Solarserver)

Hanwha SolarOne Company Ltd. (Shanghai, China) released financial results for the fourth quarter of 2012, reporting a 14% year-over-year decline in revenues to USD 134 million, a -75% operating margin, and a net loss of USD 104 million. Hanwha's PV module shipments, excluding module processing services, increased 5.2% year-over-year. However, the company's average selling price fell 40% to USD 0.60 per watt, well below its blended cost of goods sold of USD 0.81 per watt, which includes USD 0.17 per watt of inventory write-downs and provisions for advanced payments on long-term contracts. Read more

EnergyTrend: Taiwanese solar PV makers see steady orders as prices increase

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 8:54 (Solarserver)

TrendForce's (Taipei City, Taiwan) EnergyTrend division reports that Taiwanese solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers have continued to maintain a strong volume of orders, and that this has allowed order visibility to extend into the second quarter. For the increased demand, EnergyTrend credits continued strong demand in the Japanese market as well as an increase in orders to the European market in order to beat the deadline for potential retroactive tariffs on Chinese PV products. The company also reports a boom in spot market sales and increases in polysilicon and solar photovoltaic (PV) prices. Read more

GCL-Poly reports loss on falling polysilicon, solar wafer prices in 2012

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 8:45 (Solarserver)

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd. (Hong Kong, China) has released its 2012 financial results, reporting a 12% decline in revenue TO USD 2.87 billion, a -13% operating margin, and a net loss of USD 454 million. The company reported a 1% operating margin on its Overseas Solar Power Plant business unit, but a -24% operating margin from its much larger Solar business unit, which includes the sale of polysilicon and silicon wafers. Read more

Relief for India's Wind Industry as GBI Returns

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 12:37 (Renewable Energy World)

India's generation-based incentive (GBI) for wind energy was reinstated in late February. The government had repealed the subsidy in April 2012, causing dire consequences for the wind sector. A headline in the Hindu Business Line newspaper said it all: "Wind power heaves a sigh of relief". Some INR8 billion (US$147 million) will now be allocated for the incentive in the 2013-2014 budget. Read more

Budget 2013: Osborne shuns renewables in favour of shale gas

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 17:10 (Solarpowerportal)

Green groups have expressed their disappointment at George Osborne?s commitment to shale gas as part of the 2013 Budget. Read more

Clean Energy Trends: The Future Is all About Deployment

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 13:53 (Renewable Energy World)

2012 proved to be an unsettling and difficult year for clean energy. High-profile bankruptcies and layoffs plagued many clean-tech companies, overall venture investments retreated in the face of increasingly elusive returns, and the industry was begrudgingly transformed into a partisan wedge issue during the U.S. presidential campaign. But as we highlight in our just-released Clean Energy Trends 2013 report, the fundamental global market drivers for clean technology remain largely intact. Read more

Report: Feed-in tariffs could bring renewable energy to Africa

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 12:51 (PV-Tech)

Renewable energy feed-in tariffs in Africa could boost its economy whilst combating climate change, finds a new study developed for the World Future Council. Read more

Major new pact signed between GCL-Poly and Yingli Green

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 12:38 (PV-Tech)

GCL-Poly will use Yingli Green?s PV modules for its project pipeline that stands at around 1GW in a major new pact between the two companies. Read more

Budget 2013: REA sets out renewable wish list

Wednesday, 3.20.2013 - 11:42 (Solarpowerportal)

Ahead of the 2013 Budget announcement today, the Renewable Energy Association (REA) has set out the key areas that the chancellor should tackle to kick start the UK?s low-carbon economy. Read more