Ontario Reveals New FIT Structure

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 21:40 (Renewable Energy World)

Ontario is putting its new feed-in tariff program out for public feedback -- just in time for a RenewableEnergyWorld.com road trip to the region. Last month the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) announced upcoming changes to the FIT program, including carving out large projects, adding enticements for municipalities, and adjusting domestic content prov Read more

Greek PV trade association writes plea for assistance to Greek prime minister

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Greece’s solar trade association, the Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies (HELAPCO), has written an angry open letter to the Greek prime minister of Greece asking for support to help revive the country’s PV industry. Read more

Order Focus: Solon supplies modules to 2.2MW roof project in Romania

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Solon Energy has said it is to supply around 8,800 PV modules for a 2.2MW roof-mounted PV project in Bucharest, Romania. Read more

Ontario slashes local content requirement in third FiT round

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) in Canada has published draft rules for the next round of its feed-in tariff (FiT) programme, which opens for bids in the autumn. Read more

Silicor Materials raises USD 6 million, brings in new investment and technology expertise

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 8:54 (Solarserver)

Silicor Materials (San Jose, California, U.S.) has raised USD 6 million in new funding from Hudson Clean Energy Partners LLP (Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.), which it says will support its continued operations and growth through its next capital phase. The company has additionally retained Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) as its investment banker to assist with its next capital raise, and has recruited technology industry veteran Dr. Mark Pinto to its board of directors. Silicor is currently in development work at multiple sites for a new production facility which will be able to produce 16,000 metric tons of solar polysilicon annually. Read more

Solar Universe acquires Gen110 in bid to lower customer acquisition costs

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

The solar industry’s drive to reduce soft costs continues to gather pace with the announcement this week of the acquisition of one of California’s largest distributed energy companies by Solar Universe, a franchise that leases and sells rooftop systems. Read more

JinkoSolar to supply 23 MW of PV Modules for California Solar Farm

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 18:17 (Solarserver)

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China)") on September 5th, 2013, announced that it will supply 23MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Swinerton Builders (San Diego, CA) and clean energy finance and management firm Clēnera (Tempe, AZ). According to terms of the agreement, deliveries will be completed during the 4th quarter of 2013. Read more

French solar PV market falls 73% in the first half of 2013

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 15:27 (Solarserver)

The French Ministry of Energy, Ecology and Sustainable Development has released statistics which show that the nation installed only 207 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity during the six-month period, a 73% decline from a year prior. This brings the nation to 4.26 GW installed. Read more

Net Energy Metering Policies Helping To Spur Solar Growth

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 15:18 (Renewable Energy World)

All across the United States, rooftop solar panels are popping up on homes, businesses and schools like mushrooms in a forest, and utility-scale solar projects are bringing huge amounts of clean energy into our communities.  Why?  Well, among other things, consumer choice in America is something that we all hold very sacred. Today, smart policies — Read more

SPI Solar’s CFO resigns as LDK Solar takes more control

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

Jim Pekarsky has resigned his position as CFO at struggling SPI Solar and has been replaced by recently appointed board member from LDK Solar, Charlotte Xi. Read more

Listen Up: The Importance of Net Metering

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 14:48 (Renewable Energy World)

During the past decade the feed-in tariff in Germany (and other countries) spurred incredible growth in the solar industry. Many people bemoan the fact that there is no FIT in the U.S. Ironically, the FIT in Germany is now below regular retail electric rates. As Winston Churchill said, "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing — after they've tried everything else." That "right thing" when it comes to solar incentives is net metering. Read more

Jinko seals 23MW California module deal

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

JinkoSolar has secured a 23MW module order for the Westland Solar Farm in Fresno County, California. Read more

Blue Earth, Talesun Solar and NGP sign agreement for 165MW of solar projects

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 13:59 (PV-Tech)

Nevada-based renewable energy firm Blue Earth is to construct 165MW of PV projects in the US for Talesun Solar USA and New Generation Power (NGP). Read more

Anesco’s solar portfolio generates 50GWh of electricity

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 13:53 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar installs completed and monitored by renewable installer Anesco have generated over 50GWh of clean electricity in the UK, the company says. Read more

Trade War: SolarWorld challenges US import duty rates and loopholes

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

PV manufacturer SolarWorld is taking the United States government to court for allegedly failing to enforce trade policies against Chinese PV imports into the country. Read more

Avelar Energy and LG to build 120MW of thin-film solar farms in Russia

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Avelar Energy has announced that it will install 120MW of solar power capacity in central and southern Russia at a cost of US$400 million. Read more

Solar continues to top opinion polls

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 12:40 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar has once again proved to be the most popular renewable technology amongst Brits according to results of surveys by both the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the BBC. Read more

California Sets Quarterly Record for Solar PV in Q2’13, US Adds 976 MW

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 11:48 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. added 976 megawatts (MW) of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity during the second quarter of 2013 (Q2’13), up 24 percent Q/Q from 788 MW in Q1’13, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz North America PV Markets Quarterly report. Read more

PG&E Signs PPA with Mosaic Offering Solar Investors a 5.5% Return

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 9:08 (Renewable Energy World)

Mosaic and its project partner Pristine Sun signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 322-kilowatt PV array with Pacific Gas & Electric under its feed-in tariff program. The PPA allows project investors to experience a 5.5 percent annual return for 10 years.  The array is being developed on dual-use farmlands by solar installer Pristine Sun and Read more

Kyudenko begins work on 11.7 MW solar PV plant in Japan

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 9:04 (Solarserver)

Kyudenko Corp. (Fukuoka, Japan) has begun construction of an 11.7 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture, which it is building in partnership with Orix Corp. (Tokyo). Kyudenko expects to complete the plant in January 2015. The plant will comprise 47,800 PV modules on 171,000 square meters of leased land owned by Nippon Coke & Engineering Co. Ltd. (Tokyo) in Umota City. Read more

HELAPCO asks Greek Prime Minister for assistance, warns of solar PV job losses

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 8:57 (Solarserver)

The Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies (HELAPCO) has sent an open letter to Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaris, asking for his intervention to revive the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry and warning of further job losses. The organization estimates that the Greek PV industry has lost one-third of its jobs in the first six months of 2013, and will lose more due to new, restrictive policies. HELAPCO says that it has proposed a series of measures to revitalize the market, but that these have not been heard by the government. Read more

German Monopolies Commission argues for quota system to replace feed-in tariffs, BDEW, BEE warn against fundamental change

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 16:03 (Solarserver)

The German Monopolies Commission has released a report arguing for the introduction of a quota system based on the Swedish model to replace Germany's feed-in tariff law (EEG) and allow for a controlled expansion of renewable energies. Both the German Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) and the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) disagree with the report's conclusion, with BDEW stating that such a change will not be effective. Read more

Wirsol, Greenpower Capital JV announces 22 MW PV project in Japan

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 18:35 (Solarserver)

WIRSOL SOLAR AG (Waghäusel, Germany) and Greenpower Capital LLC (Burbank, CA, and Tokyo, Japan through their exclusive Japan joint venture located in Marunouchi), have announced the acquisition of the 22 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant project being developed by Chikyu Factory Service. WIRSOL will provide all financing, engineering, procurement and construction. Start of construction is planned for early 2014, when government permissions are granted. Read more

Report Sounds Warnings for UK Renewables Industry

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 16:14 (Renewable Energy World)

Supply chain investments that are critical for the growth of the UK’s renewable energy industry are at risk because of hit-and-miss government policies, according to a new report. Read more

Residential PACE Energy Programs Pursue Innovative Approaches

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 15:46 (Renewable Energy World)

Although the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has created strict requirements for residential property-assessed clean energy (PACE) programs, a few states and cities are continuing to develop programs and pass legislation. Read more

Chile Ups Renewable Energy Target

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 15:16 (Renewable Energy World)

Chile’s upper house of parliament has unanimously passed a bill revising its renewable energy targets upward, from the previous goal of sourcing 10 percent of the nation's energy mix from renewables by 2020 to 20 percent by 2025. Read more

The African Energy Mix: Adopting Renewables

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 11:44 (Renewable Energy World)

It is no secret that there is an ongoing energy revolution taking place worldwide. Many countries are making conscious efforts in becoming more energy independent and sustainable. In achieving this, all energy options are being considered and in the past ten years, renewable energy sources have been the most prominent. The rationale for any country Read more

Younicos begins work on Northern Germany's largest commercial battery system

Friday, 9.6.2013 - 9:01 (Solarserver)

Younicos (Berlin, Germany) has begun construction of a 5 MW lithium-ion battery system in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany to help integrate renewable energy into the grid. This will be the largest commercial battery system in Northern Germany when complete. The company will supply the system on a turnkey basis for utility Wemag AG (Schwerin, Germany), and plans to commission the system by September 2014. Germany's Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) will provide EUR 1.3 million (USD 1.7 million) for the project through the nation's Environmental Innovation Program. Read more