Development consortium secures USD 260 million in financing for South African PV project

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 13:15 (Solarserver)

The development consortium consisting of SolarReserve, a U.S. developer of utility-scale solar power projects; the Kensani Group, an empowerment investment, and Intikon Energy, a South African developer of renewable energy projects, has successfully closed project financing for the Jasper Solar Energy Project, a 96 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project. Upon completion, the Jasper Project, located in the Northern Cape of South Africa near the town of Kimberly, will be one of the largest solar installations on the continent and will power more than 30,000 South African homes. The project also marks Google's first renewable energy investment in Africa. Read more

IHS: Japan to be the world's largest PV market by revenue as installations boom

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 10:13 (Solarserver)

Japan’s solar photovoltaic (PV) installations surged by a stunning 270 percent (in GW)) in the first quarter of 2013, positioning the country to surpass Germany to become the world’s largest photovoltaics (PV) market in terms of revenue this year, IHS Inc. (Englewood, Colorado, US) reports in a press release. Although Japan is forecast to install fewer GW than China (which is forecast to be the largest market in GW installation terms) in 2013, high prices of PV systems in Japan will drive it to become the world’s largest market in revenue terms, the market research company emphasizes. Read more

SunEdison founder Jigar Shah joins Empower Energies board

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 16:50 (PV-Tech)

SunEdison founder Jigar Shah has joined the board of Empower Energies, the solar provider formerly known as Visole Energy. Read more

Ontario to amend solar domestic content legislation

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 16:41 (PV-Tech)

Ontario government sources have revealed Ontario is preparing amendments to its solar domestic content legislation to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling by early next year. Read more

Order Focus: Yingli Green supplies 96MW of modules to SolarReserve’s South African project

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 16:39 (PV-Tech)

One of the last and largest PV power plant projects to announce module supplier details under the South Africa Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) Phase 2 bidding has gone to Yingli Green Energy. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne at full capacity: expects profitability in 2014

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 16:23 (PV-Tech)

Citing the first quarter of 2013 as an inflection point for the company, PV module manufacturer, Hanwha SolarOne reported an increase in revenue, shipments and ASPs, with promise of returning to profitability in 2014. Read more

Is Solar at Risk of Becoming as Trusted as a Used Car Salesman?

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 16:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Just when I think we’re over negative Solyndra press, several bad solar marketing and business stories have come to my attention within the same week. If this trend continues, the entire solar industry will suffer both politically and financially…again.   Incident #1. Last week, my friend Deep Patel, CEO of Go Green Solar, called me and told me tha Read more

JCM Capital targets 100MW of utility-scale solar in Mexico

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 14:54 (PV-Tech)

Canadian private investment firm JCM Capital has set up a company in Mexico to invest in utility-scale solar PV projects. Read more

Japanese domestic solar shipments soar

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 14:11 (PV-Tech)

A massive rise in demand from businesses and power companies has seen Japanese domestic shipments of solar energy units and modules rocket in the wake of the country’s 2011 earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster. Read more

Ontario to replace solar, wind feed-in tariff with competitive solicitation

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 13:12 (Solarserver)

Ontario is increasing local control over future renewable energy projects to support municipalities and secure the province's clean energy future, the Canadian province’s Ministry of Energy announced on May 30th, 2013. Working with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and municipalities, the province will develop a competitive procurement process for renewable energy projects (wind and solar photovoltaics) over 500 kilowatts (kW). Read more

Introducing the Solar Power Portal Awards

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 13:07 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar Power Portal is delighted to announce the launch of the Solar Power Portal Awards. Read more

Survey: 82% of EU oppose trade duties

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 12:33 (PV-Tech)

A survey conducted by solar products supplier Solar Traders has revealed 82% of the European solar industry is against the imposition of duties against Chinese module manufacturers. Read more

Bluefield launches £150 million solar fund

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 12:25 (Solarpowerportal)

Bluefield Solar Income Fund, a new investment fund, has announced a £150 million share offering aimed at investing in large-scale solar schemes. Read more

Bluefield launches £150 million solar trust

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 12:25 (Solarpowerportal)

Bluefield Solar Income Fund, a new investment fund, has announced a £150 million share offering aimed at investing in large-scale solar schemes. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: US market to hit new 4.3GW record in 2013

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 11:52 (PV-Tech)

The growth in utility-scale PV power plant projects is expected to support another year of record PV installations in the US. Read more

Japan Domestic Solar Shipments Leap by Most in 30 Years

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 11:41 (Renewable Energy World)

Domestic shipments of solar cells and modules in Japan leapt by their most in at least 30 years last fiscal year as government efforts to spur clean energy after the 2011 Fukushima disaster began to pay off. Read more

On the Waterfront: A Solar Pitch Session by DOE's SunShot and SfunCube

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 9:17 (Renewable Energy World)

Is Oakland becoming the nexus of solar technology development? It would appear that way on Thursday as a solar incubator program co-hosted a meet and pitch for startups from the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot program. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne revenues, shipments grow significantly in Q1, 2013

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 8:18 (Solarserver)

On May 30th, 2013 Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) released its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2013, reporting an increase in revenues by 33% and shipments growth by 45%. Q1 2013 net revenues reached USD 179.2 million (Q4, 2012: USD 134.3 million). Operating margin improved from -74.8% in Q 4, 2012 to -11.50% in Q1 2012, and net loss narrowed to USD 36.4 million (Q4, 2012: USD 107.6 million). During the quarter Hanwha SolarOne returned to a positive gross profit of USD 4.7 million (Q4, 2012: USD 42 million gross loss). Read more

Google and SolarReserve complete US$260 million financing for South Africa project

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 0:12 (PV-Tech)

Google and SolarReserve today announced completion of US$260 million in financing for one of Africa’s largest solar projects. Read more

Google and SolarReserve announce completion of $260m in financing for South Africa project

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 0:12 (PV-Tech)

Google and SolarReserve today announced completion of $260m in financing for one of Africa’s largest solar projects. Read more

First US Offshore Wind Turbine Launches in Maine

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 19:12 (Renewable Energy World)

Today marks a milestone for offshore wind energy in the U.S. with the official launch of a prototype floating turbine off the Maine coast, the first grid-connected offshore wind turbine deployed off the coast of North America. Maine Senator Susan M. Collins did the honors, with a (scored) bottle of Madeira. Read more

Wind Power in Africa to Increase Ten Times Over

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 15:51 (Renewable Energy World)

Wind power in Africa is likely to experience a huge boost in installed capacity over the next few years, according to an African Development Bank (AfDB) study. While wind power on the continent currently makes up only 1 percent of total electricity, or 1 GW, there is an additional 10.5 GW in the pipeline, the study, Development of Wind Energy in Af Read more

US Now Most Attractive Market for Renewable Energy, Finds Ernst & Young

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 14:52 (Renewable Energy World)

Ernst & Young’s (EY’s) 10th annual Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index finds that the US is again the most attractive place in world for renewable energy, supplanting China, which held the top spot in the previous index. The annual report ranks 40 of the most active countries for renewables based on a number of factors, including incentiv Read more

Finding the Green Lining when Disaster Strikes

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

America finds itself again rebuilding from disaster, this time from tornados in the middle states, last fall from Superstorm Sandy in the Northeast. If this is the new normal, as some weather experts say, should policymakers treat it as an opportunity for renewables? Read more

Tesla Adding Chargers for U.S. Coast-to-Coast Electric Vehicle Range

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 13:27 (Renewable Energy World)

Tesla Motors Inc. is expanding a network of fast-charging stations, letting owners of its luxury electric cars drive coast-to-coast this year with devices able to repower them in 20 to 30 minutes. Read more