SunWize to build 500 kW PV plants in Samoa

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 11:51 (Solarserver)

SunWize Technologies, Inc. (San Jose, Calif.) is designing and installing what will be the Independent State of Samoa’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) system. With an expected completion date in late 2013, the 546kW project with Samoan power utility Electric Power Corporation (EPC) is expected to generate 700,000 kWh of solar power annually. The PV plant will span three separate sites on two Samoan islands - Savai’i and Upolu. Read more

European governments, banks to support Uganda's feed-in tariff through new program

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 8:48 (Solarserver)

The government of Uganda, KfW Development Bank (Frankfurt, Germany) and Deutsche Bank AG (Frankfurt) have launched a new program to leverage greater financial investment into renewable energy projects in Uganda. The GET FiT Program will fast-track a portfolio of up to 15 renewable energy projects 1 – 20 MW in size that participate in Uganda's feed-in tariff. GET FiT is expected to leverage EUR 300 million (USD 400 million) and add roughly 125 MW of renewable generation to the nation's grid within the next 3 – 5 years. Read more

Solar firms join utilities in distributed generation initiative

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 20:38 (PV-Tech)

Leading solar industry companies have joined a group of US electric power industry leaders established by the Rocky Mountain Institute, a leading energy and environmental think-tank. Read more

European CSP, Solar Water Heating Face Difficulties

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 19:51 (Renewable Energy World)

Europe’s concentrated solar power (CSP) plants have a total installed capacity of 1957.7 MWe as of the end 2012, finds the latest edition of EurObserv’ER’s annual Solar Thermal and Concentrated Solar Power Barometer, while 3.4 million m2 of solar thermal collectors were installed in the EU over the year, for an installed base of 29.6 GWth. Read more

Residential Demand Spurs US Solar Installations in 1Q13

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 18:13 (Renewable Energy World)

Big growth in residential solar demand, bucking broader market volatility and seasonal trends, set the pace for yet another record quarterly performance for U.S. solar installations during the first three months of 2013, according to just-released analysis from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research. Read more

15MW Lightsource solar farm set to be rejected

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 18:02 (Solarpowerportal)

Lightsource Renewable Energy faces an uphill battle to win permission to build a 15MW solar farm in Essex in the face of local opposition. Read more

US solar installations boom to 729 MW in Q1 2013

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 15:57 (Solarserver)

US solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) installations increased 33% year-over-year to 729 MW in the first quarter of 2013, according to a report released by Greentech Media Research (GTM, Boston, Massachusetts, US) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington DC, US). Read more

Aleo solar management strategy endorsed

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 15:31 (PV-Tech)

Shareholders in struggling German solar manufacturer aleo solar have endorsed the management’s strategy for steering the company out of its current difficulties. Read more

LDK Solar navigates yet another quarter of heavy losses

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 15:15 (Solarserver)

LDK Solar Company Ltd. (Xinyu, China) has released first quarter 2013 results, reporting net sales of USD 104 million, a -89% operating margin, and a net loss of USD 187 million. This is the company's eighth consecutive quarter of heavy losses. Read more

Fortum acquires 5.4MW solar plant in India

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 14:04 (PV-Tech)

Finland-based Fortum has acquired a 5.4MW solar power plant in the state of Rajasthan, north-western India. Read more

The Coming Solar Electricity Transformation

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:54 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar cells are unusual in that they were cost-competitive from the get-go. From the Apollo space program to highway signs to lighting for buoys, solar could replace highly expensive power from batteries or other sources and eliminate the need for the construction of electric distribution lines.  When the Institute for Local Self-Reliance was found Read more

Solargiga becomes Sharp’s largest PV products supplier in new deal

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:41 (PV-Tech)

Having been a long-term supplier of ingots and solar wafers to Sharp Corporation, China-based Solargiga Energy Holdings has signed a new deal to include 370MW of PV modules in 2013, making Solargiga, Sharps largest PV product supplier, according to the company. Read more

Chile approves 265MW of PV projects

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:17 (PV-Tech)

Italian energy utility Enel has been approved for two solar PV projects totalling 265MW in the Antofagasta region of Chile. Read more

Full Scholarships for Solar Energy Training Offered to Military Personnel

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Veterans who've spent long days under the sweltering sun to protect our freedom can now learn to harness the sun's rays for their benefit — at no cost. Servicemen and servicewomen of the U.S. military who are interested in solar energy can receive 100 percent tuition assistance for renewable energy career training from Solar Energy International (S Read more

Heavy losses continue at LDK Solar as sales flatline

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 12:42 (PV-Tech)

LDK Solar actually beat revenue guidance for the first quarter of 2013 but the struggling PV manufacturer reported losses of US$187.1 million and exited the quarter with US$174.1 million in cash and US$168.4 million in short-term pledged bank deposits. Read more

Bosch Solar Energy showcases new switch-off concept for PV systems at Intersolar Europe

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 11:17 (Solarserver)

This year's Intersolar Europe sees Bosch Solar Energy (Arnstadt, Germany) showcasing a new automatic switch-off concept for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. The system consists of module electronics in specially optimized module junction boxes and control units for commercial and residential PV applications. The solution due to Bosch allows a disconnection of the solar modules during hazardous situations. Besides, the modules are delivered in a voltage-free state, so that they can be transported and installed with no risk of electric shocks for installers. Read more

Yeo steps down during investigation into solar power sting

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 11:16 (Solarpowerportal)

Tory MP Tim Yeo has stepped down as chairman of Parliament’s energy and climate change committee following a sting operation involving Sunday Times reporters posing as representatives of a solar power firm. Read more

California breaks 2 GW threshold for solar generation

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 8:55 (Solarserver)

California's electricity production from utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) plants peaked at 2.07 GW at 12:59 PM on June 7th, 2013, according to data released by the California Independent System Operator (Folsom, California, US). This is the first time that the state has exceeded 2 GW. However, it represented only 5 – 6% of the day's peak electricity demand of 36 GW, and less than 10% of the 23 GW of electricity produced by solar photovoltaics (PV) in Germany at peak production. Read more

Mainstream, Actis to develop 600 MW of solar, wind plants in Chile

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 8:52 (Solarserver)

Mainstream Renewable Power (Dublin, Ireland) has formed a joint venture (JV) with Actis (London, UK) to build and commission 600 MW of wind and solar projects in Chile by early 2016. The total value of the project is USD 1.4 billion including debt. Aela Energía (Santiago, Chile) will be owned 40% by Mainstream, which will develop the projects, and 60% by Actis, which will purchase them upon financial close. Following purchase, Mainstream will continue to manage the construction and support the operation of the projects on behalf of Aela. Read more

Mercatus introduces industry-first project scoring system

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 3:04 (PV-Tech)

Mercatus, a web-based platform for assessing solar projects, today announced it has closed $2m in series-A funding to expand its platform for investors. Read more

Service Lifts Take Wind Industry Higher

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:52 (Renewable Energy World)

Nacelle access solutions such as ladders and climb-assist technologies have been in place since there have been wind turbines, but as turbines get taller, service lifts (SLs) are becoming the solution of choice for new-built towers. Read more

Renewable Power Bridging the Digital Divide in Off-grid Africa

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:50 (Renewable Energy World)

We all know that wind energy can light homes and businesses, but how about powering "entrepreneurial spirit'" through education and information access? Read more

U.S. Army One Step Closer to Contracting $7 Billion in Renewable PPAs, Starts with Geothermal

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 21:04 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center along with the Army Energy Initiatives Task force (ETIF) announced its first Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOC) to support renewable energy projects on Defense Department Installations under the Renewable and Alternative Energy Power Production for DOD Installations. These first contracts focus on geothermal projects, but additional contracts will be awarded by technology in solar, wind and biomass throughout the remainder of 2013. Read more

How to Talk Renewables so Farmers and Landowners Listen

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:49 (Renewable Energy World)

A survey by Energy Now this year revealed two startling statistics: 1. 95 percent of farmers and landowners believe renewable energy will be vital to the future of farming in the UK, and 2. 42 percent of farmers and landowners are confused about renewable energy options. Read more

IEA Bids to Keep Climate Goals Alive Without Harming Economic Growth

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:48 (Renewable Energy World)

The International Energy Agency has today urged governments to put in place four energy policies that it claims will “keep climate goals alive without harming economic growth”. Read more

Lark Energy passes 150MW mark in UK

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 12:47 (PV-Tech)

Lark Energy, which has developed and installed 60MW of solar energy in the UK since 2011 – including Britain’s largest solar farm at Wymeswold in Leicestershire (33MW) – has secured planning permission for a further 100MW across five new sites. Read more

Lark Energy passes 150MW mark in UK

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 12:00 (Solarpowerportal)

Lark Energy, which has developed and installed 60MW of solar energy in the UK since 2011 – including Britain’s largest solar farm at Wymeswold in Leicestershire (33MW) – has secured planning permission for a further 100MW across five new sites. Read more

Europe's power sector needs a total market overhaul

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 12:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The European Union's decarbonization strategy has all the right intentions but it is taking the wrong path to that destination. That was the view of Fabian Roques, senior director at consultancy IHS CERA, who was speaking at the Plenary session of POWER-GEN Europe and Renewable Energy World Europe. Read more

Europe's Power Sector Needs a Total Market Overhaul

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 12:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The European Union's decarbonization strategy has all the right intentions but it is taking the wrong path to that destination. That was the view of Fabian Roques, senior director at consultancy IHS CERA, who was speaking at the Plenary session of POWER-GEN Europe and Renewable Energy World Europe. Read more