Order Focus: Sungrow supplies 3MW of PV inverters to Japan

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 20:02 (PV-Tech)

Major China-based PV inverter manufacturer, Sungrow Power Supply has supplied 3MW of inverters to Japan since the beginning of the year. Read more

Solfex energy systems inks new deals with Hyundai, Yingli and Suntech

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 10:11 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewables distributor, Solfex energy systems, has agreed new distribution deals with Yingli Green Energy, Suntech Power Co and Hyundai Heavy Industries to stock their respective range of solar PV modules. Read more

Order Focus: Trina Solar’s smart module used in first US project

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 20:33 (PV-Tech)

Trina Solar’s ‘Trinasmart’ PV module using Tigo Energy’s optimizer technology has been deployed for the first time in the US. Read more

Solar Frontier completes 11.6MW project at Kansai airport in Japan

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

Japan-based thin-film PV manufacturer, Solar Frontier has completed what it claims to be the largest solar installation at an airport anywhere in Asia. Read more

SEIA’s 40th Anniversary Celebrates ‘Stampede To Solar’

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 18:08 (Renewable Energy World)

On January 24, 1848 — 166 years ago today — a discovery was made at a place called Sutter’s Sawmill that would change the course of California and even American history.  Gold was discovered near the old sawmill, setting off the California gold rush. It’s ironic — or perhaps even prophetic — that the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) was f Read more

Listen Up: Let's Talk Solar Hot Water Systems

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 18:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Although solar hot water systems are used widely throughout the world for domestic hot water (DHW) in homes, they are still struggling to get traction in the U.S. Inexpensive natural gas coupled with the small size of these systems makes it hard for the economics for residential DHW to pencil out. Read more

UK’s largest solar thermal installation completed in Shropshire

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 17:37 (Solarpowerportal)

TGE Group claims to have installed the UK’s largest commercial solar thermal installation for a game rearing business in Shropshire. Read more

Martifer Solar USA files for bankruptcy

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 16:08 (Solarserver)

Martifer Solar's (Oliveira de Frades, Portugal) U.S. subsidiary has voluntarily filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. state of Nevada. Under chapter 11, businesses typically remain in charge of their assets under supervision of the court. Read more

US-China Solar Trade War Enters Second Round

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 15:38 (Renewable Energy World)

Just days after China finalized anti-dumping tariffs on U.S. makers of polysilicon, the main ingredient used to make solar panels, the U.S. has announced it is opening a new anti-dumping investigation into solar panels imported from China. The close timing of this latest round of developments in a solar trade dispute between the U.S. and China may Read more

Pakistan sets rates for solar PV feed-in tariff

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 15:28 (Solarserver)

Pakistan's National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has set rates for the nation's new feed-in tariff policy for solar photovoltaics (PV), which are split according to geography and are set higher for the plant's first ten years. Under the policy, PV plants in the nation's northern region will receive PKR 22.0197 (USD 0.209) per kWh for the first ten years, and PKR 9.1325 (USD 0.087) per kWh for the next fifteen years. Read more

How the Expiration of the Federal ITC Could Create a Boom in the Commercial Solar Market

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

All eyes are on the reduction or expiration of the 30 percent federal investment tax credit (ITC). While it's the prime goal of SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association) to maintain the federal ITC, some have argued explicitly that it's time to dismiss solar tax credits on the local level, while others have argued the federal tax credit SHOULD be Read more

Pakistan announces long-awaited upfront solar FiT rates

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 13:48 (PV-Tech)

Upfront FiT rates for large-scale PV projects in Pakistan have been announced by the country’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, set lower than rates recommended to agencies advising the regulator on the scheme. Read more

Vivint Solar buys PV install optimisation tool firm

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 13:06 (PV-Tech)

Vivint Solar, one of the largest PV installers in the US, has bought install optimisation tool maker Solmetric. Read more

Kenya sets record straight on solar goals

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 12:50 (PV-Tech)

Wildly varying reports of Kenya’s plans for deploying solar energy have been dismissed by power industry and policy figures in the East African country. Read more

NextEnergy Solar Fund targets £150 million IPO

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 10:17 (Solarpowerportal)

NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited has announced that it intends to raise £150 million to acquire UK solar PV assets. Read more

BNEF: China installed at least 12 GW of solar PV in 2013

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 8:56 (Solarserver)

Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF, New York City) estimates that China installed at least 12 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2013, citing preliminary figures by the nation's National Energy Administration. BNEF suggests that the final number may be as high as 14 GW, but even the 12 GW number is 50% more than any other nation has installed in one year to date. The company notes that change to the nation's feed-in tariff at the end of December 2013 created a rush to complete projects. Read more

World's largest solar PV bridge completed in London

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 8:50 (Solarserver)

Solarcentury (London) has completed a 1.1 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant on top of the Blackfriar's Bridge on the Thames River in London, as the world's largest solar bridge. More than 4,400 PV modules cover 6,000 square meters of the bridge, providing 50% of the electricity for a train station inside the bridge. Rail operator Network Rail (London) estimates that the system supplies enough electricity to make 80,000 cups of tea daily, and held a celebration with free tea for commuters. Read more

Frost & Sullivan: Feed-in tariffs to drive Asia-Pacific solar PV market growth in 2014

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 8:25 (Solarserver)

Frost & Sullivan (Mountain View, California, U.S.) predicts that solar photovoltaic (PV) and other renewable energy markets will grow across the Asia-Pacific region in 2014, as the result of new feed-in tariffs and improvements to existing policies. This assessment was one of the company's top five predictions for power generation and renewable energy in Asia-Pacific for 2014. The company notes that in addition to Japan and China, feed-in tariffs are driving PV market growth in Thailand, which aims to install 1 GW of PV during the year. Read more

Solar power has role in transforming Sub-Shaharan economy: Commerzbank

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 6:51 (PV-Tech)

The relatively quick deployment time of solar power could help to fix energy supply issues and get Sub-Saharan economies back on track, according to a new report by Commerzbank. Read more

Solar power has role in transforming Sub-Saharan economy: Commerzbank

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 6:51 (PV-Tech)

The relatively quick deployment time of solar power could help to fix energy supply issues and get Sub-Saharan economies back on track, according to a new report by Commerzbank. Read more

US ITC to investigate SolarWorld’s ‘loop-hole’ complaints

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 0:14 (PV-Tech)

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has agreed to SolarWorld Industries Americas request to investigate anti-dumping (AD) and anti-subsidy ‘loop-hole’ claims over imported PV products including solar cells used in Chinese modules supplied from Taiwan. Read more

Gamesa and Areva in Offshore Wind Tie-in

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 17:50 (Renewable Energy World)

European wind technology majors Gamesa and Areva have announced moves to create a joint venture in the offshore wind sector. Read more

London Array Wind Farm the Highlight of ‘Exceptional Year’ for Masdar

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Last year was “exceptional” for the wind business of UAE-headquartered company Masdar, according to its clean energy director Bader Al Lamki. Read more

Energy Storage Roundup: Xtreme Power, Rhubarb, Compressed Air, DOE's Grid-Scale Push

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 20:50 (Renewable Energy World)

Grid-scale battery storage continues to be a tough place to do business. Read more

US Congressional Action Could Help Advance Energy Storage Technologies

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Energy storage may be the next big thing on the energy horizon. Energy storage technologies provide for multiple applications, ranging from the integration of renewable energy into the grid to maintaining grid stability and reliability. Yet challenges to achieving the full potential of these technologies remain. Two bills currently pending in Congress could go a long way in addressing some of those challenges. Read more

Energy Storage Association rebrands and appoints new executive director

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 11:18 (PV-Tech)

The national trade association for the energy storage industry in the US has changed its name to the Energy Storage Association as well as appointing a new executive director and launching a revamped website. Read more

Colorado Energy Office proposes closer look at net metering policy decision

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 8:18 (Solarserver)

The Colorado Energy Office has filed a motion with the U.S. state's Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to move utility Xcel Energy's Inc.'s (Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.) proposals regarding net metering to a new docket. The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC) says that if adopted, this will allow a broader, more diverse discussion about the role that net metering plays. Net metering is a key policy for the residential and small commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) market in the United States, and has come under attack in multiple states including Arizona. In Colorado, Xcel has submitted a proposal that could effectively cap the number of systems installed under the policy. Read more

Renewable Energy Loses Out in Europe's "Lame-Duck" Climate Plan

Friday, 1.24.2014 - 6:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Wind and solar power producers say they're at risk of losing investment after the European Union's executive arm scrapped proposals for a mandatory target on renewable energy use in 2030. Read more