Tool Order: Chinese cell producer places major order with Singulus for PERC cell technology

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

China-based Zhejiang Fortune Photovoltaic Co (M-Cells) has placed an order with Singulus Technologies for delivery of up to 16 vacuum coating machines with conversion efficiencies of over 18% for multicrystalline solar cells. Delivery of the first machine is scheduled for the first quarter of 2014. Read more

Japanese module shipments up 304%, says association

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Total module shipments from Japanese companies in the first quarter of the 2013 financial year increased 304% compared to the same period last year, according to figures published by the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA). Read more

UK researchers explore kesterite-based PV modules

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 13:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Researchers at Northumbria University are investigating the use of unconventional materials that could significantly lower the cost of photovoltaic energy. Read more

Soletrica inverters chosen for 2.3MW North Carolina project

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 8:15 (PV-Tech)

Inverter manufacturer Solectrica’s SGI 500XT’s transformer inverters have been selected by Argrand Energy Solutions for a 2.3MW project in North Carolina. Read more

Solar PV pyramid by SRT, Renusol nominated for Solar Power Portal Award

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 21:31 (Solarserver)

The British project planner Sustainable Renewable Technologies (SRT, Bilston Glen, UK) has been nominated for the Solar Power Portal Award for a solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed on a pyramid-shaped office building. The PV pyramid has been shortlisted for the prize in the category “Most innovative system design”. A PV mounting system designed by German manufacturer Renusol was used in the ambitious project. Read more

PlanetSolar concludes 2013 campaign in Paris after transatlantic crossing powered by PV cells

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 21:24 (Solarserver)

For the solar catamaran PlanetSolar, this year´s journey began on April 8 in La Ciotat (France) and came to an end on September 10th in Paris. The boat crossed the Atlantic, carried out scientific research at the Gulf Stream and raised public awareness for climate issues and solar energy. The 2013 campaign has been specifically denoted by a new record for a transatlantic crossing, set in 22 days - 4 days less than in 2010. The solar catamaran powered by approximately 38,000 photovoltaic (PV) cells, each cell offering an efficiency of at least 22 percent, sailed over 20,000 kilometers over the course of 156 days. Read more

Soitec launches 31.8% efficient solar CPV module

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 16:45 (Solarserver)

Soitec SA (Bernin, France) has begun mass production of a concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) module with a conversion efficiency of 31.8%, based in its Concentrix technology. The CX-M500 CPV module represents an increase in peak power output from 2,335 watts in previous generations to 2,450 watts. Read more

GTM/SEIA: 832 MW of U.S. solar PV installed in Q2 2013

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 16:45 (Solarserver)

The utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) sector led to another quarter of U.S. market growth with 832 MW installed, according to the latest report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C.) and Greentech Media Research (GTM, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.). Read more

Are Solar Panels the Next Granite Countertop for Homebuilders?

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 16:27 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar panels are the next granite countertops: an amenity for new homes that’s becoming a standard option for buyers in U.S. markets. Read more

New Market Report Shows Huge Gains In U.S. Solar Deployment

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 15:32 (Renewable Energy World)

At a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East – coupled with rising gasoline prices across the United States – there is finally some good news on the energy front.  America’s solar energy industry is currently on pace to achieve a record-shattering year. A new market analysis by SEIA and GTM Research shows the U.S. market installed 832 megawa Read more

California finds “significant” impacts from Palen solar CSP project

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 15:28 (Solarserver)

Even with mitigation measures, the California Energy Commission (CEC) found “significant” environmental impacts from the 500 MW Palen concentrating solar power (CSP) project in its final staff assessment (FSA). It also found that the project does not comply with rules for visual resources, and is uncertain if rules for birds will mitigate impacts. Read more

First Solar puts weight behind PV power plant bankability standards

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 15:11 (PV-Tech)

Following the collaboration between Conergy and TÜV Rheinland in establishing verifiable procedures to provide the highest possible standards from design through to commissioning of PV power plants in 2012, First Solar and VDE Americas have implemented a similar system. Read more

Soitec launches 31.8% efficiency solar CPV module

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 14:50 (Solarserver)

Soitec SA (Bernin, France) has begun mass production of a concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) module with a conversion efficiency of 31.8%, based in its Concentrix technology. The CX-M500 CPV module represents an increase in peak power output from 2,335 watts in previous generations to 2,450 watts. Read more

Hudson Clean Energy launches solar infastructure fund

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Private equity firm for renewables, Hudson Clean Energy, has launched an investment programme for solar infrastructure -  the Hudson Solar Infrastructure Programme (HSIP). Read more

Brazil opens second auction to solar

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 14:03 (PV-Tech)

The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has announced that its forthcoming ‘A-5’ energy auction in December will be open to bids from solar projects. Read more

Dominican Republic To Get Large-Scale Solar Park

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 13:53 (Renewable Energy World)

The Dominican Republic will soon have its first large-scale solar park, the project developer has announced. Read more

Mexico set to invest in 30MW solar plant

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 13:32 (PV-Tech)

The Mexican Environment Ministry has confirmed it is in talks to sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) that would support a new 30MW power plant. Read more

LDK Solar pushes interim CFO to add president and COO roles at SPI Solar

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 13:31 (PV-Tech)

A further tightening of control of EPC firm, SPI Solar, by its majority owner, LDK Solar, has taken place with interim CFO, Charlotte Xi, appointed as president and global chief operating officer. Read more

SolarCity, Direct Energy partner for commercial, industrial solar PV service offering

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 11:35 (Solarserver)

SolarCity (San Mateo, California, U.S.) has signed an agreement with Direct Energy (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.) for the two companies to jointly offer electricity from solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to Direct Energy's commercial and industrial customers. This including creating a USD 124 million investment fund to finance these projects, which is partially funded by USD 50 million from Direct Energy. This will include offerings with no up-front costs to Direct Energy customers. Read more

US solar growth rates steady as market surpasses 10GW in 2013

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 11:15 (PV-Tech)

Blistering growth rates of US solar may be showing signs of levelling off even though installation levels remain strong and cumulative capacity will surpass 10GW by the end of the year, according to new figures released today by GTM Research with the Solar Energy Industries Association. Read more

Mercom reiterates global solar PV market forecast of 38 GW in 2013

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 9:49 (Solarserver)

Following the negotiated settlement of the EU trade case against Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) imports, Mercom Capital (Austin, Texas, U.S.) has maintained its global solar market forecast of roughly 38 GW in 2013. Forecasts for individual nations also remain largely unchanged in the updated version of Mercom's analysis. The company predicts that China will be the largest market in 2013 at 8.5 GW, followed by Japan at 7 GW and the United States at GW. Read more

JA Solar to supply PV modules for massive projects in Western China, including hybrid hydro-solar plant

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 8:40 (Solarserver)

JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (Shanghai) has begun shipments in a deal to supply 96 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to a subsidiary of China Power Investment Corp. (CPI, Beijing) for two massive projects in Western China's Qinghai Province. JA Solar estimates that it will conclude shipments by the end of September 2013. The two projects in Hainan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province will be 320 MW and 200 MW in capacity, and the 320 MW project is a hybrid hydro-solar project. Read more

Comparative study by Fraunhofer ISE: DEGER solar PV tracking systems with MLD sensors perform best

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 8:37 (Solarserver)

Dual axis solar photovoltaic (PV) tracking systems with the patented MLD Sensor technology produced by DEGERenergie (Horb, Germany) gain 42.9 % more solar power than static PV systems at the same project site with identical specs like module layout and inverter design. This results from a comparative study by continuous measuring executed by the Fraunhofer­Institut für Solare Energiesysteme (Fraunhofer ISE). Read more

Sneak Peek: Inside The Atikokan Biomass Plant Conversion

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 12:53 (Renewable Energy World)

North America's biggest 100-percent biomass plant is a former coal plant under conversion about a two-hour drive west from Thunder Bay, Ontario. The facility burned its last load of coal and powered down one year ago, but it's all abuzz with activity now. I got an up-close look at the upgrades in-progress as part of a tour of renewable energy companies, groups, and facilities sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment (MEDTE). Read more

Project of the Year Finalists Announced: VOTE NOW for Readers' Choice

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 20:01 (Renewable Energy World)

It’s that time of year again. We’ve narrowed down the solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and bioenergy finalists for the 2013 Project of the Year awards, and it’s your turn to vote for Readers’ Choice. Like last year, renewable projects from around the globe are up against coal, oil and gas — so every vote counts. Let’s make sure a renewable project wi Read more

California Energy Bill Passes, Awaits Gov. Brown's Signature

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 22:16 (Renewable Energy World)

Lawmakers in the California state legislature granted their final approval to a package of energy legislation. The bill, AB 327, will now head to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk. It passed the state Senate September 9 with a vote of 33-5 after passing the Assembly in May by wide margins. Read more

Mix of Conservation and Renewables Cheaper than Nuclear Mix in Ontario

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 20:40 (Renewable Energy World)

In a report released this week, the Pembina Institute and Greenpeace Canada questions Ontario’s commitment to new and refurbished nuclear plants. The groups say that a mix of conservation and renewables would be cheaper than the cost of the Canadian province’s commitment to maintaining nuclear’s current 50 percent share of electricity generation. Read more

European energy heavyweights call for scaling back of renewables subsidies

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

Nine of Europe’s biggest energy companies have called for reforms to Europe’s energy system that would see subsidies for established renewable forms such as solar scaled back. Read more

BNEF: Clean energy investment by development banks exceeds USD 100 billion in 2012

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 11:42 (Solarserver)

Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF, New York City) reports that development banks invested USD 109 billion in renewable energy, energy efficiency and electricity transmission and distribution in 2012, including at least USD 3.7 billion invested in solar projects alone. This is the first time that such investments have exceeded USD 100 billion annually, and BNEF suggests that such investments will increase again this year. BNEF's analysis looked at 26 financial institutions including KfW (Frankfurt, Germany), the China Development Bank (Beijing) and BNDES (Rio de Janeiro), which together have invested a total of USD 425 million in clean energy projects since 2007. Read more

EV Technology Racing Ahead

Thursday, 9.12.2013 - 19:02 (Renewable Energy World)

Fiercely competitive, the famed crucible of motorsport is to be the high-tech proving ground for an advanced generation of electric vehicle technologies through the new Formula E race series, using exclusively electric drivetrains. Backed by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) – the governing body behind Formula 1 – the open champio Read more