Bonfiglioli supplies power management solutions to Centinela PV plant

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 22:16 (Solarserver)

The US subsidiary of Bonfiglioli Group (Bologna, Italy) has announced that it is supplying its RPS Station power management solutions to the 170 MW-AC Centinela solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Southern California. Each 2 MVA RPS Station includes two 1 MVA inverters and a 2 MVA medium-voltage step-up transformer in a cast concrete container. Fluor Corporation (Houston, Texas, US) has already begun construction on the first 125 MW phase of the project, and Bonfiglioli began installing the systems at the end of March 2013. Read more

Power-One revenues fall slightly, but bookings strong in 1Q 2013

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 12:42 (Solarserver)

Power-One Inc. (Camarillo, California, US) has released results for the first quarter of 2013, reporting a 9.3% year-over-year fall in revenues to USD 205 million, a -1.9% operating margin and a net loss of USD 7.2 million. The company shipped 765 MW of inverters during the quarter, reporting a 2% year-over-year decline to USD 146 million in its Renewable Energy Solutions Business, at an operating margin of 4.0%. Power-One states that profit has improved sequentially due to both cost reduction actions and improved factory utilization rates. Read more

Power-One sales in Q1 boosted by rush to beat end of Italian PV incentives

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 11:15 (PV-Tech)

PV inverter manufacturer, Power-One reported a small increase in sales in the first quarter of 2012 on the back of a rush to complete commercial project in Italy. Read more

First Solar reports strong results in Q1 2013

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 23:38 (Solarserver)

First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, US) has released results for the first quarter of 2013, reporting a 52% year-over-year growth in revenues to USD 755 million, an 8.1% operating margin and a net income of USD 59.1 million. Read more

First Solar beats Q1 guidance: sold out till Q3 while project pipeline still replenishing

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 22:52 (PV-Tech)

Leading PV energy provider (PVEP), First Solar reported first quarter revenue of US$755 million in the quarter, a decrease of US$320 million from the fourth quarter of 2012 but exceeded slightly the top range of guidance. Read more

Intersolar Europe 2013 presents new business models for the PV Industry

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 22:28 (Solarserver)

The German solar photovoltaics (PV) market is undergoing a rapid transformation. Legislation and price developments in the field of photovoltaic systems are changing the conditions faced by the industry, with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) especially reaping the rewards. While reasonable rates of return were once predominantly guaranteed by feed-in tariffs (FiTs), new business models are now emerging, with on-site consumption and direct marketing becoming increasingly attractive. New possibilities are even being created for plant financing in the form of plant leasing schemes and community energy cooperatives. Read more

Bosch presents intelligent PV storage systems and high-performance solar PV modules at Solarexpo 2013 in Italy

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 21:49 (Solarserver)

Bosch presents its high-performance storage system solutions from Bosch Power Tec as well as innovative solar photovoltaic (PV) products from Bosch Solar Energy at this year’s Solarexpo from May 8th to 10th in Milan, Italy. The Solarexpo is an international trade fair for renewable energies and efficient environmental technology. Read more

ASOLA Automotive Solar Deutschland GmbH files for insolvency

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 21:41 (Solarserver)

Volker Reinhardt, provisional insolvency administrator appointed at Erfurt Local Court, is continuing one of the most important manufacturers of solar photovoltaic (PV) roofs for the automotive industry in order to secure the long-term preservation of the company. ASOLA Automotive (Erfurt, Germany) develops, markets and produces special spherically curved solar PV modules for the roofs and surfaces of vehicles, for automotive manufacturers as well as for manufacturers of roof systems for the automotive industry. Read more

Foresight issues USD 93 million solar PV bond

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 15:59 (Solarserver)

Foresight Group (Sevenoaks, UK) has issued a USD 93 million bond to finance its portfolio of UK solar photovoltaic (PV) assets. Read more

AFASE warns that tariffs will destroy European solar PV demand

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 15:35 (Solarserver)

The Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy (AFASE) has issued a statement warning that European duties on imports of Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) modules above 15% will destroy 85% of European PV demand. Read more

Report Anticipates 220 New Gigawatts of Distributed Solar Generation by 2018

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

A recent Navigant Research report anticipates that the world will add 220 new gigawatts of distributed solar photovoltaics by 2018 as solar comes into parity with other energy sources, creating $540.3 billion in revenue in the process. That’s a significant jump in the amount of solar that is currently installed throughout world, which the European Read more

Centrotherm sells GP Solar, completes restructuring

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 12:39 (Solarserver)

Centrotherm (Blaubeuren, Germany) reports that it has completed its restructuring with the sale of GP Solar GmbH (Konstanz, Germany) to Isra Vision AG (Darmstadt, Germany). Following this move, the company expects its insolvency proceeding to be terminated from the end of May 2013, after confirmation by German courts. Isra Vision will pay roughly EUR 1.5 million (USD 2.0 million), equal to roughly 50% of GP Solar's forecast 2013 revenue, as well as a unit-based earn-out component. Centrotherm states that this will allow it to focus on its core business areas of crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) and semiconductor technology, including microelectronics. Read more

Solar Impulse completes first leg of US tour

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 12:36 (Solarserver)

The Solar Impulse solar-powered plane has completed the first leg of its trip across the United States with a landing in the state of Arizona on May 4th, 2013. The Solar Impulse HB-SIA plane landed at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport after an 18-hour, 18-minute flight from San Francisco, California. The Solar Impulse team is using the flight to launch its “Clean Generation” movement to promote sustainable energy. Read more

Canadian Solar sees sharp increase in Q1 module shipments

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 11:25 (PV-Tech)

PV energy provider (PVEP), Canadian Solar expects module shipments in the first quarter of 2013 to be much higher than previously guided. Read more

ABB to supply electrical, control systems for 75 MW solar PV plant in South Africa

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 8:55 (Solarserver)

ABB (Zürich, Switzerland) has won a USD 25 million order to supply turnkey electrical and control systems for a 75 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in South Africa's Northern Cape region. The Kathu PV plant is owned by WBHO (Sandton, South Africa) and Building Energy (Italy), and was awarded during the first tranche of South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Program. The plant is located in the Kalahari Desert near the town of Kathu and one of the largest open-pit iron ore mines in the world. Read more

Jordan to add 300 MW of solar PV by the end of 2017

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 8:52 (Solarserver)

ClearSky Advisors (Toronto, Canada) has released a report which predicts that Jordan will install 300 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity by the end of 2017, spurred by the nation's 2007 National Energy Strategy and a 2010 renewable energy law. ClearSky notes that electricity demand in the nation has been growing 6% annually, while imports of both fuel for generation and electricity have increased. The company expects installations to be driven by both a direct proposal framework for large-scale projects and net metering for distributed generation projects. Read more

Chile reaches 68.3 MW of solar electric plants under construction

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 8:48 (Solarserver)

Chile's Center for Renewable Energy (CER) reports a 67 MW increase in the capacity of solar electric plants under construction in the nation during the month of March 2013. This is a dramatic growth for a nation that has 3.06 GW of solar plants approved, but only 3.5 MW of installed solar electric capacity. In its previous monthly report, CER had observed only 1.3 MW under construction. Read more

Makeover Puts CHARMM Back in Biofuels Business

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Biofuels scientists are asking more complex questions about how molecules spin, bond, and break when enzymes attack plants — all in the name of quickening the process of turning biomass into fuels for the sake of cleaner air and better energy security. Read more

GE Contracts 1 GW of Wind Turbines Post-PTC Extension

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 16:44 (Renewable Energy World)

After the extension of the Production Tax Credit on January 1, 2013, GE (NYSE: GE)'s renewable energy unit said it has signed 1 GW of U.S. wind turbine orders as of May 6. GE also debuted its newest wind turbine product during the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)'s Windpower 2013 conference and exhibition in Chicago. Read more

EU Debate Over Climate Change Policy Could Dampen Renewable Energy Growth

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 15:39 (Renewable Energy World)

Europe's program to halt climate change is in disarray with lawmakers in the region expressing concern the drift is undermining the planet's most significant effort to combat global warming. Read more

US, Australian Companies Taking Giant Steps for Global EGS Geothermal

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The 1-MW Habanero pilot plant now producing electricity in South Australia near Innamincka is a big step for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The company operating it, Geodynamics, has made some remarkable discoveries at the site that contribute to its value for the EGS world. Read more

Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2013: April Update

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 15:31 (Renewable Energy World)

While the sun was shining on most clean energy stocks in April, my ten clean energy picks for 2013 (introduced here) got relative showers. The Powershares Wilderhill Clean Energy Index (PBW) was up a sunny 14.1% for April to 19.6% for the year, rising quickly past my picks, which inched up a relatively meager 0.7% to 7.5% for the year so far. Meanwhile, the broad universe of small stocks gained 2.6% for a year to date gain of 15.1%, as measured by my benchmark the iShares Russell 2000 Index (IWM). Read more

Nigeria: Renewable Energy Opportunities Blossoming

Monday, 5.6.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Just like any country, Nigeria in the 21st century faces enormous challenges, and one of its most crucial is power. Nigeria has been confronted with incessant electricity problems ranging from power generation to its transmission and distribution. The main sources of its electricity are gas and hydropower, but for many decades, homes, businesses an Read more