LBL report: Most favorable city-level permitting practices can significantly reduce average PV system prices; development time

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 20:47 (Solarserver)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL, Berkeley, California, US) has released the new report: “The Impact of City-level Permitting Processes on Residential Photovoltaic Installation Prices and Development Times”. The report assesses the effect of city-level permitting processes on the price of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems and on the time required to develop and install those systems. Results indicate that permitting processes have a substantial and statistically significant effect on average installation prices and project development times. The reports suggest that cities with the most favorable permitting practices can reduce average residential PV prices Read more

Why ABB Wants to Buy an Inverter Maker

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

ABB's plan to buy Power-One reflects the growing importance of the inverter as the brain to help integrate solar energy into the U.S. electric grid. Read more

ReneSola to supply 44 MW of PV modules to Enerparc, 2 MW to Japanese PV plant

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 12:52 (Solarserver)

ReneSola Ltd. (Jiashan, China) has announced that it will provide Enerparc AG (Hamburg, Germany) with 43.6 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, 35 MW of which will be delivered through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Poland and India. ReneSola and its OEMs will deliver these PV modules to Enerparc between April and June 2013. The company has also announced that it will supply 2 MW of its 260 watt, high-efficiency “Virtus II” PV modules to a project in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Read more

Monarch Power to buy Suntech’s Arizona manufacturing plant

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 11:26 (PV-Tech)

Scottsdale-based Monarch Power, a global renewable energy research and development firm, has submitted an offer to purchase Suntech’s solar manufacturing plant in Arizona. Read more

ABB plans purchase of Power-One

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 10:43 (Solarpowerportal)

Major power and automation conglomerate, ABB has made its move to become the dominant PV inverter specialist with the planned acquisition of number two market leader, Power-One in an all cash transaction of approximately £675 million. Read more

ABB acquires Power-One for over US$1 billion as consolidation continues

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 9:23 (PV-Tech)

Major power and automation conglomerate, ABB has made its move to become the dominant PV inverter specialist with the planned acquisition of number two market leader, Power-One in an all cash transaction of approximately US$1,028 million. Read more

GTM Research predicts difficulties for incumbent inverter manufacturers

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 8:34 (Solarserver)

GTM Research (Boston, Massachusetts, US) has released a new report which predicts that geographic and market shifts will push solar photovoltaic (PV) inverter prices down from USD 0.22 per watt in 2012 to USD 0.14 per watt in 2016. “The Global PV Inverter Landscape 2013” names SMA Solar Technology AG (Niestetal, Germany), Power-One Inc. (Camarillo, California, US) and Schneider Electric SA (Rueil-Malmaison, France) as the top three “competitively positioned” inverter companies. However, it also predicts that low-cost inverter makers from Asia will gain market share. Read more

Navigant predicts “grid parity” in the US in 2017

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 8:30 (Solarserver)

Navigant Research (Boulder, Colorado, US) has released a new report which predicts that 220 GW of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity will be installed between 2013 and 2018, representing USD 540 billion in revenue. “Distributed Solar Energy Generation” also estimates that in 2017 PV systems smaller than 1 MW will be cost-competitive in the United States without the need for subsidies. Read more

Solar PV inverter consolidation: ABB to acquire Power-One

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 22:00 (Solarserver)

ABB (Zürich) has announced that it will acquire Power-One (Camarillo, California, US) for USD 6.35 per share, or roughly USD 1.02 billion in equity value. The company says this will create a “global leader” in the solar photovoltaic (PV) inverter business. Read more

AEG Power Solutions unveils new 880 kVA solar PV inverter

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 20:59 (Solarserver)

On April 18th, 2013, AEG Power Solutions (Zwanenburg, The Netherlands) announced that it has introduced the 880 kVA central solar photovoltaic (PV) inverter “Protect PV.800”. The central inverter is designed to support up to 1,300 kilowatts (kW), which extends AEG Power Solutions’ existing range of products for multi-megawatt utility scale PV systems. Read more

CSP and PV in Latin America: SolarReserve opens office in Chile

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 20:44 (Solarserver)

On April 18th, 2013, SolarReserve LLC (Santa Monica, California, US) announced that it has opened a new office in Santiago (Chile) to better serve the Latin American region. SolarReserve states it will pursue both large-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) projects, with a special emphasis towards opportunities in the mining sector. Read more

SolarCity to install 1 MW of PV at select U.S. Bank branches in Southern California

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 20:29 (Solarserver)

On April 18th, 2013, SolarCity (San Mateo, California, US) announced that it will install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems totaling 1 megawatt (MW) on the roofs and canopies over parking areas at a select number of U.S. Bank locations in Southern California. The PV systems will be installed at a select number of U.S. Bank locations in Los Angeles, San Diego, Inland Empire and Orange County. The new solar carports and rooftop systems will generate solar electricity for the branches while providing shaded parking for customers. Read more

Solar PV Inverter Market Shakeout Continues With ABB and Power-One Deal

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 18:25 (Renewable Energy World)

A pair of analyst reports issued last week came to roughly the same conclusion about the market for solar PV inverters: It's getting crowded and complicated, with top incumbents facing challenges in maintaining near-term growth in an increasingly fragmented market. Read more

TCG Renewables plots 100MW of UK solar in 2013

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 17:53 (Solarpowerportal)

TGC Renewables has secured planning permission for a new 4.8MW solar park in Devon ahead of a major push for new UK solar developments. Read more

BIJ, finergia and meeco form Japanese solar JV

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 16:57 (PV-Tech)

Japanese BIJ Corporation, Italian financial firm Finergia and the Swiss MEECO Invest Group have formalised a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year by forming a joint venture company, Oursun Japan Holding. Read more

Belectric completes 128 MW solar PV plant in Brandenburg

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 15:44 (Solarserver)

Belectric Solarkraftwerke GmbH (Kolitzheim, Germany) has completed a 128 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the German state of Brandenburg, as the largest thin-film PV plant in Europe. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: Solar PV module revenues to fall in 2013, rebound to USD 32 billion by 2017

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 15:30 (Solarserver)

NPD Solarbuzz (Santa Clara, California, US) has predicted that solar photovoltaic (PV) module revenues will fall 20% in 2013 to USD 20.5 billion, but rebound to USD 32 billion by 2017. Read more

Westinghouse Solar merger with CBD Energy still not completed

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 15:09 (PV-Tech)

Micro-cap PV module manufacturer Westinghouse Solar does not expect to complete its merger with Australian renewable energy company CBD Energy until the third quarter of 2013. Read more

Solar planning requirements relaxed in Northern Ireland

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:46 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar installations for schools, businesses and farm buildings in Northern Ireland will no longer require planning permission. Read more

Reports: SolarWorld in survival talks with Qatar investor

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:42 (PV-Tech)

Struggling SolarWorld is rumoured to be in talks with a Qatar-based investor to rescue the company from possible bankruptcy. Read more

Scientists to develop economical concentrating PV system

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:34 (PV-Tech)

A three-year, US$2.4 million grant is to aid scientists to develop an affordable PV system capable of concentrating solar radiation 2,000 times and converting 80% of the incoming radiation into useful energy. Read more

Bidding system revealed for phase II of India’s solar mission

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:23 (PV-Tech)

The second phase of India’s national solar policy will offer a new form of reverse bidding to install 750MW of solar capacity, the government has revealed in a draft policy. Read more

A Solar Fred/"Spinal Tap" Solar Guerrilla Marketing Tip: 11

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Perhaps the funniest moment of the classic mockumentary/rockumentary film This is Spinal Tap is when Nigel Tufnel, one of the band members, shows off the band’s amplifier. He explains how his amp is “special” because it goes to 11. If you don’t remember that scene, here it is again: Let’s forget for a moment that Nigel has banged his head on one to Read more

Saudi Arabia Looks to NREL for Solar Monitoring Expertise

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Saudi Arabia is jumping headlong into renewable energy, with plans to install more solar and wind power in the next 20 years than the rest of the world has installed to date. Read more

Solar PV Module Revenues to Rebound to $32 Billion by 2017

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar photovoltaic (PV) industry module revenues are forecast to decline 20 percent in 2013 to $20.5 billion from $25.5 billion in 2012. While revenues will remain below 2012 levels during 2013 and 2014, they are set to increase from 2015 onward. According to the NPD Solarbuzz Marketbuzz 2013 report, PV module revenue is expected to reach $32 billion by 2017. Read more

Solar Apps Improving Process, Customer Engagement

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Henry David Thoreau once exclaimed, “Men have become the tools of their tools.” Today, Thoreau’s pronouncement seems dead on—he was just a couple of centuries early. People have now become tools of their web and mobile applications. Recognizing a business opportunity, the solar industry has jumped right in with an influx of innovative new online te Read more

Belectric completes German mega thin-film plant

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 13:35 (PV-Tech)

Solar project developer Belectric has connected what it is said to be Europe’s largest thin-film solar PV plant to the grid in Templin, Germany. Read more

India: 290 MW of solar PV commissioned through NSM phase 1, batch 2

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 13:01 (Solarserver)

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) reports that as of April 15th, 2013, 290 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants have been commissioned through phase 1, batch 2 of the nation's National Solar Mission (NSM). Three plants totaling 50 MW in phase 1, batch 2 have yet to be commissioned. MNRE also reports that 88.8 MW of PV plants have been commissioned through the nation's Rooftop PV and Small Solar Generation Program (RPSSGP), and 48 MW through the Migration Scheme. Read more

Renewables Investment Seen Tripling Amid Supply Glut

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The plunge in the cost of wind and solar power that bankrupted more than two dozen manufacturers is forecast to spur a tripling of investment in renewables by 2030 and to reduce the grip fossil fuels have on world energy supply. Read more

Ontario stops challenge to solar, wind feed-in tariff

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 12:56 (Solarserver)

On April 18th, 2013 the Ontario legislature voted down a bill 40-33 that would have limited the Canadian province's feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind generation. Lisa Thompson, the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party's energy critic, introduced bill 39 on March 26th, 2013. The legislation would have prohibited the Ontario Power Authority (Toronto, Canada) from contracting renewable generation unless the price was at or below the price for electricity from non-renewable sources. Read more

aleo solar reports losses but increased market share in Q1 2013

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 12:50 (Solarserver)

aleo solar AG (Prenzlau, Germany) has released selected preliminary results for the first quarter of 2013, reporting a 58% fall in revenues to roughly EUR 31.1 million (USD 40.6 million) and a -52% operating margin. aleo notes that the overall market size fell 60% year-over-year to 776 MW. However, it says that it is benefiting from a shift to smaller solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and estimates that it increased its share in the German market from 1.4% to 1.6%. Read more

Dorset solar company fined for worker fall

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 12:25 (Solarpowerportal)

A solar company has been fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for safety failings after an installer fell from a roof in Hampshire. Read more

SolarWorld builds, sells 46 MW of PV plants

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 8:26 (Solarserver)

SolarWorld AG (Bonn, Germany) has built and sold three solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling 46 MW in Germany and the United States, under terms which were not disclosed. SolarWorld sold a 21.3 MW plant in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany to White Owl Group (Germany). The company's US subsidiary sold two other PV projects totaling 25 MW in California's San Bernardino County to Duke Energy Renewables (Charlotte, North Carolina, US). Read more

PPA deal unlocks £70 million in renewable investment

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 15:54 (Solarpowerportal)

Two UK-based independent energy companies have struck a long term deal for UK renewable generation projects worth £70 million. Read more

Three Unequal Choices for a Local (Renewable) Energy Future

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Earth Day highlights the need for a sustainable energy future, and experience suggests that there are only three meaningful choices for communities trying to increase local control of a greener energy future.  But the three policies – deregulation (“customer choice”), municipal aggregation (“city choice”), and municipal utilities (“city ownership”) Read more

As Cities Fill with Smog, China Embraces Stable and Regulated Renewable Development in 2013

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

China's renewable energy sector is expected to adopt a more stable and regulated development pace in 2013 as many favorable policies to drive the development of the sector have been established, along with increased awareness of environmental protection and benefits of renewable energy. This comes after increased reports of cities around the country have found themselves blanketed by severe smog and haze in recent months. Read more

Google Calls for More Renewable Energy Purchasing Options, Supports Duke Energy Proposal

Monday, 4.22.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Google Inc., which has invested more than $1 billion in renewable energy projects and buys wind- generated electricity, said utilities should offer large customers more options for using clean power. Read more