Bill to end feed-in tariff advances in Czech Parliament

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 8:43 (Solarserver)

The lower house of the Czech Parliament has passed a bill to end the nation's feed-in tariff for renewable energy generation in January 2014, as well as extending a retroactive 26% tax on solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. The bill must still pass the upper house and be signed by the president to become law. The Czech Photovoltaic Industry Association (CZEPHO) notes that members of parliament rejected an amendment to exempt PV plants 300 kW and smaller from the changes. The new law will also set a ceiling price of CZK 4.95 (USD 0.256) per kWh on the price utilities can pass on to electricity consumers for generation. Read more

India Rejects Petition for Retroactive Solar Tariff Cut

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 22:28 (Renewable Energy World)

Indian regulators rejected a cut in solar tariffs paid to generators, in a landmark decision for the country, after developers said it would stall investment. Read more

China Sees Possible Second-Half Revival of Local Solar Industry

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 22:27 (Renewable Energy World)

China's solar industry may revive this half as consumption grows abroad and local demand takes off, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said. Read more

Mitsubishi buys 50% stake in 56 MW of French solar PV plants

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 15:29 (Solarserver)

Mitsubishi Corp. (Tokyo) has acquired a 50% share in two French solar photovoltaic (PV) plants totaling 56 MW through subsidiary Diamond Generating Europe Ltd. (DGE, London). Read more

Duke Energy acquires a MW-AC solar PV project in San Francisco

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 14:52 (Solarserver)

Duke Energy's (Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.) renewable energy division has acquired a MW-AC solar photovoltaic (PV) project in San Francisco, California from Recurrent Energy (San Francisco). Read more

Seraphim Solar launches AC Solaris and Polaris systems in Australia

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 14:21 (PV-Tech)

China-based PV manufacturer Seraphim Solar System has launched its AC Solaris and Polaris systems to the global market. Read more

PV mounting systems: Terrafix supplies tracking systems for 115 MW solar project in South Africa, reports continued international growth

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 14:06 (Solarserver)

Terrafix Anlagenbau GmbH (Essenbach, Germany) reports success continues in spite of the current challenges within the international solar industry. The company supplies its new “Contour” tracker for a 115 MW PV project in South Africa. This will be the largest tracker project yet to be built worldwide, Terrafix emphasizes. Read more

Inside the Upgraded European Solar Test Installation PV Calibration Process

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 13:48 (Renewable Energy World)

Watching Apollo in action in its dedicated darkroom in the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI) in Ispra, Italy, puts a whole new sizzle on PV calibration: shutters slowly swing open revealing an array of 11 zenon lamps while several feet ahead a curtain draws aside. The air conditioning system provides the soundtrack, which is on at full blast to ensure temperature stability. The Apollo AAA large-area steady-state solar simulator (from Taiwan’s All Real Technology Company, the only one currently in use in Europe) is one of several new simulators at ESTI’s facilities, inaugurated this June following a €3 million refurbishment. Read more

Order Focus: Canadian Solar lands Leeward Islands module contract

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 13:06 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer Canadian Solar is to supply its modules to what will be the largest commercial PV project on the Leeward Islands of St Kitts & Nevis. Read more

Mitsubishi buys stake in 56MW of French solar

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 12:51 (PV-Tech)

Japan’s Mitsubishi has acquired a 50% stake in two solar PV power plants in France totalling a generating capacity of 56MW, through Diamond Generating Europe (DGE), a London-based Mitsubishi subsidiary. Read more

Vivint Solar Gets $200M to Fund Residential Solar Leases

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 12:05 (Renewable Energy World)

Vivint Solar’s residential solar leasing program just got a big vote of confidence, a $200 million vote of confidence. The Utah-based company, an offshoot of home services company Vivint, is the latest company to create a large fund to support third-party ownership for residents, making it easier for homeowners to go solar with little up front cost Read more

U.S. Interior Department establishes Chocolate Mountains Solar Energy Zone in Southern California

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 11:20 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced that it will establish a special area on public lands in Southern California's Imperial Valley for the development of geothermal and solar energy. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell made the announcement at the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 13th, 2013. The West Chocolate Mountains Renewable Energy Evaluation Area (REEA) will cover 259 square kilometers of land, which the Interior Department estimates can accommodate 3.33 GW of solar electric capacity and 150 MW of geothermal power. The REEA will serve as the 19th Solar Energy Zone created through the Western Solar Plan. Read more

Canadian Solar to sell up to USD 50 million in shares

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 11:16 (Solarserver)

Canadian Solar Inc. (Guelph, Canada) has announced plans to offer up to USD 50 million in stock through an at-the-market offering. Shares will be sold through ordinary broker transactions, including on the NASDAQ exchange, in negotiated transactions, or as otherwise agreed by sales agent Credit Suisse Group AG (Zurich). The company plans to use the proceeds from the sale of these shares for general corporate purposes, which may include solar photovoltaic (PV) project development and working capital. Read more

U.S. President Obama installs solar PV system on White House

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 11:13 (Solarserver)

U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized the installation of a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the White House, the traditional residence of U.S. presidents and their families. Reports state that the PV modules will be American made. The Obama Administration had pledged to install the system in October 2010, following public campaigns by environmentalists and renewable energy advocates. The move was applauded by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.). Read more

Mitsubishi Buys Solar Stakes in France From Energies Nouvelles

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 10:35 (Renewable Energy World)

Mitsubishi Corp. (8058), a Japanese trading company, acquired 50 percent stakes in two solar power stations in France from EDF Energies Nouvelles SA. Read more

EnergyTrend: EU-China solar PV deal should fix destructive pricing, but issues will remain

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 8:31 (Solarserver)

TrendForce's (Taipei, Taiwan) EnergyTrend division has published a new analysis of the impacts of the price undertaking between the EU and China, stating that the solution should fix destructive solar photovoltaic (PV) pricing, and will additionally create an entry barrier to the EU PV market. EnergyTrend notes that the minimum price is likely to allow top-tier Chinese PV manufacturers to focus on product and service quality. It also states that the market quota of 60% of previous shipments over a two-year period will limit industry consolidation, noting that 94 Chinese PV makers are in the program. Read more

Windfall: CMMS and the Wind Industry

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 13:25 (Renewable Energy World)

Mass production of wind turbines (on an industrial scale) is a relatively young industry (less than a decade old) and, as such, robust operational data is hard to come by. It is not uncommon for experts to rely on anecdotal data to manage predictive maintenance (what component is likely to fail, on which turbine, and how to avert it). Inadequate documentation, for example the lack of maintenance comments recorded on completed work orders, and inconsistent review of comments provided, is a systemic problem. Read more

Despite Slowdown, China to Hold Wind Power Market Leadership to 2020

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 12:05 (Renewable Energy World)

China’s determination to reduce its carbon footprint and increase electricity production in rural areas is good news for the nation’s wind power market, according to a new study. Read more

Amsterdam based Photon Energy reports operational successes in Q2 2013

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 8:52 (Solarserver)

Photon Energy NV (Amsterdam) has released selected financial results for the second quarter of 2013, reporting a 6.8% year-over-year decrease in revenues to EUR 4.39 million (USD 5.86 million), but a sharp increase in operating margin to 21%. Photon Energy also reported a total comprehensive income of EUR 58,000 (USD 77,000). This was the company's first quarter as a listed company on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, and Photon Energy's management is evaluating financing options in preparation for its initial public offering (IPO) by the first quarter of 2014. Read more

Vermont energy co-op is latest utility to question net-metering

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 18:16 (PV-Tech)

A rural Vermont energy co-op has joined some of the largest utilities in the US in their disapproval of net-metering. Read more

German consumers support transition to renewables, criticize exemptions for industry

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 14:05 (Solarserver)

A new poll by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBZ) finds that 82% of the German public support the phase-out of nuclear energy and the expansion of renewable energy, but that only 40% support the current implementation. German consumers are particularly clear on the solution, with 62% criticizing the feed-in tariff (EEG) surcharge exemption for certain classes of industry. Overall, while 52% saw rising costs as a disadvantage of the energy transition, 63% said that advantages still outweigh the problems. Read more

Election could leave Australia with AUS$4 billion clean energy funding gap

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 13:38 (PV-Tech)

If the Coalition defeats the current Labor government in Australia’s general election on 7 September, it could create an AUS$4 billion (US$3.7 billion) gap in funding for the renewable energy sector and other carbon cutting measures, research claims. Read more

High expectations for South Africa as third REIPPP bid closes

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 13:24 (PV-Tech)

The third bidding window for South Africa’s national renewable energy initiative closes today amid expectations of a surge in competition for the available PV capacity. Read more

Which? calls for investigation into the cost of energy policies

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 13:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Which? has called on the government to annually review the cost of energy and climate change policies on consumers’ bills. Read more

Household energy consumption falls by 24.7% in six years

Monday, 8.19.2013 - 12:48 (Solarpowerportal)

The average household energy consumption in the UK fell by almost a quarter from 2005 to 2011, according to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Read more