Cencorp produces first conductive back sheet PV module

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 13:18 (Solarserver)

Cencorp (Virkkala, Finland) has manufactured its first solar photovoltaic (PV) module under its “conductive back sheet” (CBS) design, using its flexible circuit and laser drilling technologies. The module will be used for testing and development purposes. The company plans to introduce its first PV products to market this year, beginning with its conductive back sheet and other components, and moving to a new PV module family and fully automated production line. Read more

ABB to produce PV inverters in South Africa

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 8:23 (Solarserver)

ABB has announced that it plans to open a new inverter production line at its facility in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2014 to support the nation's solar photovoltaic (PV) market. The new line will be able to manufacture 500 MW of its PVS800 central inverters annually. The line will produce 630 kW, 875 kW and 1,000 kW central inverters, which will meet South Africa's local content requirements. Read more

China Sunergy ramps up solar cell, PV module production in Istanbul

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 8:19 (Solarserver)

On May 23rd, 2013 China Sunergy (Nanjing, China) celebrated the grand opening of its solar photovoltaic (PV) cell and module factory in Istanbul, Turkey, in a ceremony attended by Turkish Minister of Energy Taner Yildiz. The CSUN Eurasia factory currently has an annual PV module production capacity of 175 MW, which is increasing to 300 MW by the end of June, as well as a cell manufacturing capacity of 100 MW. China Sunergy began operations at the factory with partner Seul Energy Investment Corp. (Istanbul, Turkey) in January 2013. Read more

Massachusetts adds 47.9 MW of PV, solar thermal capacity in April 2013

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 22:37 (Solarserver)

The US state of Massachusetts added 47.9 MW of solar renewable energy credit (SREC) eligible solar capacity in April 2013, more than all the SREC markets in the PJM Interconnect region combined. This was also more than double the 21.8 MW registered in the US state of New Jersey during the month, and brings Massachusetts to 287 MW of registered solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal projects, 218 MW of which is currently operational. The vast majority of these projects are PV projects. Read more

German ZSW produces Lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, solar power storage systems with 10,000 charge cycles

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 22:31 (Solarserver)

Scientists at the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg, ZSW (Germany) have developed top-class lithium-ion batteries. In terms of the cycle stability - an important parameter for the lifetime - the high-performance cells now exceed the current international state of technology: more than 10,000 full cycles have been achieved so far, ZSW reports in a press release. Read more

Exosun partners with Schneider Electric on solar PV tracker technology

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 15:44 (Solarserver)

Exosun SAS (Martillac, France) has signed a partnership agreement with Schneider Electric SA (Reuil-Malmaison, France), including the integration of Schneider Electric's motorized solutions into its horizontal single-axis trackers. Read more

Solar Trade War update: No formal negotiations yet, Germany, China united against duties

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 15:44 (Solarserver)

The European Commission (EC) has denied claims by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) that talks between the EU and China have broken down, stating that no formal talks have yet taken place. Read more

A Transition to a Securitized Market: Can Credit Enhancements Leverage Solar Investment?

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

How does the solar industry transition from the current project-based financing structure to one where more capital is available at faster speed and lower cost? That was the question discussed by various industry stakeholders in a recent meeting of the Solar Access to Public Capital (SAPC) working group convened by NREL. Read more

The Calm Before the Solar Storm

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

If I told you that a New York Times article described growing homeowner interest in solar power, spurred in part by declining solar module prices, interest in clean energy, and a (somewhat uncertain) landscape of incentives, that would probably sound pretty familiar. It wouldn’t exactly be surprising news. But here’s what would: the article published more than 20 years ago, in 1991. Read more

Brazil Prepares for the 2014 World Cup With 7 Solar Stadiums

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

It’s a Goooooooooaaaaaaaaal! And it’s happening. As Brazil preps for hosting FIFA’s World Cup in 2014, at least seven of its stadiums are incorporating solar arrays to provide on-site power generation for one of the world’s largest sporting events. At least two of the installations were recently completed, one in the capitol city Brasilia — which m Read more

Yingli to supply 10 MW of PV modules for Malaysia's largest solar PV plant

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 13:23 (Solarserver)

Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (Baoding, China) has announced that its Singapore subsidiary will supply 10.3 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to a subsidiary of Amcorp Group Berhad (Selangor, Malaysia) for a PV plant in Malaysia. Yingli Singapore will supply 41,100 250 watt YGE 60 Cell Series multicrystalline silicon PV modules for the plant in Gemas, Negri Sembilan, which will be the largest single site PV plant in Malaysia when complete. Amcorp Power Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) will own and manage the plant. Read more

Gehrlicher Solar expands to Mexico

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 13:10 (Solarserver)

Gehrlicher Solar AG (Neustadt B. Coburg, Germany) has announced that it has opened a new office in Mexico City to serve the Mexican solar photovoltaic (PV) market. The company intends to work closely with local developers, commercial customers, government agencies and public utility Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to build new PV projects, as well as assisting its developer partners to reduce upfront investment, mitigate risk and shorten project time lines. Read more

Solarbuzz: Mid-size US solar PV market growing rapidly

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 8:27 (Solarserver)

NPD Solarbuzz (Santa Clara, California, US) has published a new analysis which finds that the number of solar projects between 100 kW and 2 MW has been growing rapidly in the United States, and now represents more than 60% of the US project pipeline. NPD Solarbuzz finds that this growth is driven in part by the increasing popularity of third-party financing models. The company also notes that such projects have been moving from individual installations to multi-site projects, which in many cases supply energy to an entire town, county or school district. Read more

First-class Biofuel from the Depths of the Forest

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Tops and branches from tree-felling sites are reborn in the laboratory as compact pellets. However, the energy industry will not act until the price is right. Read more

New Zealand: Geothermal Expertise Tapped for Chile

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 17:22 (Renewable Energy World)

New Zealand and Chile are engaging in a strategic partnership in geothermal energy, according to several sources. The New Zealand Embassy in Santiago, Chile offers a Joint Statement from Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key and the Chilean President, Sebastian Piñera, issued in March 2013 from Chile. The purpose of the statement was to set out the framework for the relationship between the two countries, which are also linked by the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) signed in 2005 between Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. Read more

The Importance of Understanding our Renewable Energy Worldview: Why Fossil Fuels Are our Friends

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 21:28 (Renewable Energy World)

"Energy will be the immediate test of our ability to unite as a nation, and it can also be the standard around which we rally. On the battle field of energy we can win for our nation a new confidence, and we can seize control again of our common destiny." - Jimmy Carter To better understand what I hope is considered by Renewable Energy World reader Read more

Not Just Blowing in the Wind: Compressing Air for Renewable Energy Storage

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Enough Northwest wind energy to power about 85,000 homes each month could be stored in porous rocks deep underground for later use, according to a new, comprehensive study. Researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Bonneville Power Administration identified two unique methods for this energy storage approach and two eastern Washington locations to put them into practice. Read more