New CEO and global sales and marketing director appointed at Ames Goldsmith Corporation

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 17:05 (PV-Tech)

Ames Goldsmith Corporation, global refiner and supplier of silver-based products to industries including photovoltaics, has made two major appointments at senior level. Read more

Inverter specialist Sputnik Engineering to cut workforce in major restructuring plans

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 15:42 (PV-Tech)

Switzerland-based Sputnik Engineering, well known under its PV inverter brand, SolarMax, is following SMA Solar in restructuring its operations as markets shift away from Europe and the PV industry becomes increasingly global. Read more

UK retailer Sainsbury's installs 100,000th PV module

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 15:22 (Solarserver)

On July 25th, 2013 Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd. (London, UK) has reached a significant milestone in its investment in renewable energy as it strives to cut CO2 emissions and reduce energy bills. The retailer has installed 100,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules across 210 stores. The PV arrays will help reduce Sainsbury’s total CO2 emissions by an estimated 9,785 tons per year as it retains its status as the largest multi-roof solar PV operator in Europe. Read more

PROINSO presents PV/diesel hybrid solutions in India and Japan

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 12:51 (Solarserver)

PROINSO SL (Fustiñana, Spain) has presented its solar photovoltaic (PV)/diesel hybrid solutions at the Solar Energy Technology Forum in India, as well as the PV Japan trade show in Tokyo. The company says that its hybrid solutions combining PV modules and diesel generation as a backup power source are increasingly being used in emerging nations to generate electric power and reduce diesel consumption. Read more

NRG Yield IPO ‘could transform access to capital’

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 22:20 (PV-Tech)

Yieldcos like the one launched by NRG Energy last week could transform access to capital particularly for distributed solar generation, said a leading renewable energy adviser Read more

UK manufacturer Sunsolar Energy invests in new production line

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 16:54 (Solarpowerportal)

Birmingham-based solar manufacturer, Sunsolar Energy, has penned a deal with Meyer Burger Technology for a new production line. Read more

Finance sector sits up and takes notice of solar in the UK

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 16:31 (Solarpowerportal)

The extent to which solar in the UK is a success hinges largely on its ability to access low-cost finance. Read more

Listen Up: Top Ten Questions about Residential Solar Power

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 16:14 (Renewable Energy World)

Like many home improvement projects, solar power can be complicated. Unfortunately, the solar industry make it worse; sometimes it’s like manufacturers and installers speak a completely different language. To make matters more challenging, there are literally hundreds of companies, almost all of whom have great products at the "best" price. So how do you as a consumer decide what system is best for your home or business? Read more

China and EU Close to Agreement on Solar Trade Deal — or Not?

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 15:40 (Renewable Energy World)

In a move to avoid imposing anti-dumping duties, Europe is nearing an agreement with China on minimum prices at which Chinese solar panels may be sold in Europe, according to some reports. Read more

Update: China and EU Close to Agreement on Solar Trade Deal — or Not?

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 15:40 (Renewable Energy World)

In a move to avoid imposing anti-dumping duties, Europe is nearing an agreement with China on minimum prices at which Chinese solar panels may be sold in Europe, according to some reports. Read more

Calculating the prospects of solar thermal: Australian government launches new tools to assess CSP potential

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 15:20 (Solarserver)

Australian Resources and Energy Minister Gary Gray on July 25th, 2013 launched new online tools supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) that will help researchers, developers and financiers to assess the commercial prospects of concentrating solar power (CSP) projects in Australia. "Concentrating solar thermal systems have the potential to play a significant role in future electricity networks as they can store energy, which means clean energy can be dispatched to homes and businesses at anytime of the day or night," Minister Gray said. Read more

Canadian Solar completes 30MW of rooftop PV under China’s Golden Sun programme

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 14:43 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer Canadian Solar has completed the installation of 30.2MW of solar power generation capacity across 129 rooftops in the city of Suzhou, China. Read more

Mp-tec launches solar joint venture in Ghana

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 14:31 (PV-Tech)

German solar system integrator Mp-tec is expanding its international operations by establishing a joint venture in Ghana, West Africa. Read more

Order Focus: Meyer Burger sells module assembly line to UK start-up

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 14:03 (PV-Tech)

UK-based PV manufacturing start-up, Sunsolar Energy, has placed an order with Meyer Burger for an automated and integrated module assembly line. Read more

BHEL wins contracts for 20 MW of solar PV plants in India

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 12:55 (Solarserver)

Public utility NTPC (New Delhi, India) has awarded contracts to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL, New Delhi, India) to build two 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, one in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and one in the state of Odisha. The turnkey contracts are valued at INR 1,320 million (USD 22 million). BHEL will supply design, manufacturing, supply, installation services, as well as operations and maintenance for one year, and the plants will utilize BHEL PV modules. Read more

SolarCity to build 12.8 MW of PV plants on military homes in Hawaii

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 12:47 (Solarserver)

SolarCity Corp. (San Mateo, California, US) plans to build 12.8 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on up to 7,500 military homes in the U.S. state of Hawaii, as the latest installment of its SolarStrong program. The systems will be installed at six locations throughout Lend-Lease's Palm Island Communities on the island of Oahu. SolarStrong is a five-year plan to build more than USD 1 billion in PV projects on up to 120,000 homes on military bases in the United States. SolarCity has begun similar work at seven other U.S. military facilities, and combined with the six new locations this will total 22,000 PV systems on military homes through projects announced to date. Read more

China announces subsidy for small-scale distributed solar

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 12:39 (PV-Tech)

The Chinese government has announced a CNY0.47/kWh (US$0.07/kWh) subsidy for distributed solar projects below 5MW. Read more

Fight Against Solar Net Metering in Arizona Gets Controversial Support

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 12:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Arizona Public Service (APS), the state’s largest utility is trying to gut its support of net-metering, and recently they got a boost from two swift-boat style attack ads, which may or may not be tied to the company itself. But the whole thing is being watched by the solar and utility industry to see how it plays out and whether or not the ads and Read more

Survey reveals shift to PV self-consumption in Germany

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 11:51 (PV-Tech)

Around one-third of the electricity from new PV systems in Germany is being consumed in the household or business where they are installed, according the country’s solar association, BSW-Solar. Read more

Meyer Burger receives over USD 5 million in solar PV, wafering orders

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 8:53 (Solarserver)

Meyer Burger Technology Ltd. (Zug, Switzerland) has received two orders totaling over USD 5 million for solar photovoltaic (PV) and wafering equipment from customers in the UK and Taiwan. The company has signed a contract with Sunsolar Energy Ltd. (Birmingham, UK) to deliver an automated, integrated PV module manufacturing line. This includes lamination and cell connection equipment, handling, performance testing and fast-track certification. Read more

JA Solar, Powerway to collaborate in Africa

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 8:46 (Solarserver)

JA Solar (Shanghai) and Powerway Renewable Energy Co. Ltd. (Foshan, China) have signed an agreement to cooperate in African solar photovoltaic (PV) markets. This will include placing bids for projects to use JA solar modules in rounds two and three of South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme. Powerway notes the advantages of its factories in Boksburg and Durban, South Africa, which produce both trackers and fixed tilt mounting structures, as well as a third facility which is currently ramping up. The company has also allied with engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractor Nari, and says that it will be able to offer a “one-stop Read more

Saft begins mass production of lithium-ion batteries for the German solar PV market

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 8:38 (Solarserver)

Saft Groupe SA (Paris) has entered high-volume production of its lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, as part of the deployment of Bosch's BPT-S 5 hybrid energy management and storage solution to the German residential solar photovoltaic (PV) market. The BPT-S 5 system includes an inverter, an energy management system and Li-ion batteries in a single unit, which is certified and tested for domestic installations. Saft notes that the system is being deployed to take advantage of new incentives for storage systems to accompany PV. Read more

Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse: Are Microgrids Our Only Chance?

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 18:20 (Renewable Energy World)

The electricity industry’s been abuzz recently about the need for a more resilient grid. As a result, microgrids are quickly becoming the industry’s topic du jour. However, nobody is talking about what is likely the most compelling reason to invest in microgrids: to prepare for the zombie apocalypse. Read more

Energy Efficiency Bill Will Help In Fight Against Climate Change

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 15:48 (Renewable Energy World)

Following months of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, it appears the Senate will begin debate soon on critically important legislation which could help American consumers, businesses and the federal government to save hundreds of millions of dollars each year by using less energy.  And using less energy gives us a big leg up in the fight against clima Read more

Insurance Bill for Renewables Seen Tripling to $2.8 Billion

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Insurance costs for the renewable energy industry may more than triple to $2.8 billion by 2020 as projects become more complex and risky, a report commissioned by Swiss Re Ltd. found. Read more

EIA: Renewables to become fastest growing electricity source

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 12:36 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewables will emerge as the fastest growing source of electricity generation between 2010 and 2014, according to a new report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Read more

Intel, Microsoft top US Green Power Partnership rankings

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 12:35 (PV-Tech)

Computer component manufacturer Intel and Microsoft are the top ranked companies in the latest Green Power Partnership (GPP) quarterly rankings of organisations in the US, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Read more

Renewables to become fastest growing electricity source: EIA

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 11:50 (PV-Tech)

Renewables will emerge as the fastest growing source of electricity generation between 2010 and 2014, according to a new report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Read more

Green Deal to begin door-to-door local advice service

Friday, 7.26.2013 - 11:14 (Solarpowerportal)

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced plans to fund Green Deal crews to advise the public door-to-door, an initiative designed to boost uptake of the flagship energy efficiency programme Read more