Why Is an Island Electric Utility Hindering Incredibly Cost-Effective Solar?

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 19:11 (Renewable Energy World)

The Northern Mariana Islands are one of several island U.S. territories, lying three-quarters of the way from Hawai’i to the Philippines. Like most islands, their electricity supply has been almost entirely supplied by diesel-fueled generators, at enormous cost. So why have islanders in the Marianas — such as the residents of Saipan — been struggli Read more

Solar supplier to finance distributed generation across India

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 17:38 (PV-Tech)

Global solar energy supplier, Proinso is to provide PPA-model financing for distributed generation solar projects 100kW and above across India. Read more

Defra fails to back up new solar farm subsidy cut

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 16:25 (Solarpowerportal)

The UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has failed to produce evidence to back up its new policy scrapping a solar subsidy for farmers. Read more

OPDE begins construction of a new 8.9 MWp solar farm in UK

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 14:49 (Solarserver)

The OPDE Group (Navara, Spain), has begun construction of a new 8.9 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) farm near Eastbourne, in East Sussex, UK. The new solar farm represents a total investment of over GBP 7, 9 million and is scheduled to be connected to the electricity network by this December, the company announced. Read more

Panasonic completes solar PV Installations for Hertz at Denver and St. Louis International Airports

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 14:22 (Solarserver)

Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company (Newark, New Jersey, US) and The Hertz Corporation on October 23rd, 2014 announced the completion of two solar photovoltaic (PV) power installations at Hertz Rent-a-Car facilities at Denver and St. Louis International Airports. Panasonic is also building solar PV installations for Hertz at Newark Liberty International Airport in NJ, expected to be completed later this year, and will start construction for Hertz at John F. Kennedy Airport in NY in 2015. Read more

OPDE begins construction of 8.9MW solar farm in East Sussex

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 14:14 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar PV developer, OPDE has started construction of an 8.9MW solar farm in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Read more

REC Solar to sell full module production capacity in 2014

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 14:09 (PV-Tech)

Singapore-based PV module manufacturer REC Solar expects to sell its full module manufacturing capacity output in 2014, further indicating a turnaround in fortunes after restructuring. Read more

SolarWorld To US Solar Developers: “We Want the Same Things”

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 13:49 (Renewable Energy World)

When Rhone Resch opened Solar Power International 2014 by telling the industry that it needs to fight for solar the same way that the Koch Brothers fight for coal, he probably wasn’t thinking about SolarWorld and its fight with China over what it says are unfair manufacturing subsidies. But, at least according to Ben Santarris, Strategic Affairs Director for SolarWorld Americas and Tim Brightbill of the law firm WileyRein, fighting for its industry is exactly what SolarWorld is doing. Read more

Chinese computer manufacturer to invest US$87 million in 60MW of distributed PV

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 12:48 (PV-Tech)

A computer manufacturer, China Great Wall Computer Shenzhen Co, is set to invest over US$87 million in 60MW of solar power projects in central and eastern China. Read more

ContourGlobal buys 40MW of central European solar

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 12:30 (PV-Tech)

Independent power producer (IPP) ContourGlobal has purchased 40MW of solar power projects in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Read more

Singapore leads charge to integrate solar with US$25 million energy storage programme

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 12:01 (PV-Tech)

Singapore is set to introduce measures aimed at meeting “significant shifts” in the energy sector, including investment in research for integration of solar, cutting times for grid connection and the creation of a US$25 million fund for energy storage projects. Read more

SPI 2014: Sapphire yield issues brought GTAT down

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 11:47 (PV-Tech)

GT Advanced Technology (GTAT) was suffering from sapphire yield issues at its Arizona production plant, according to a consensus of financial analysts and equipment suppliers that PV Tech spoke to during Solar Power International, held in Las Vegas last week. Read more

First Solar is lowest bidder in 500MW Andhra Pradesh auction

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 11:18 (PV-Tech)

The bid results for the 500MW solar tender in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India reveals that US thin film manufacturer, First Solar has submitted the lowest bid. Read more

Intersolar Summit Middle East: Solar energy sector takes a stand in the Middle East

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 11:12 (Solarserver)

The solar photovoltaic (PV) market in the Middle East is gaining momentum; simultaneously the solar energy sector is also starting to take up its stance. Against this background, representatives from the political and economic spheres met on October 14th and 15th, 2014 at the Intersolar Summit Middle East, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Over 320 participants, including Dr. Saleh Alawaji, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Electricity and many other top-ranking company representatives, seized the opportunity to listen to practice-related speeches and take part in enthralling discussions with more than 25 experts, in which they received profound insights into the current market Read more

Unirac partners with Enphase Energy to eliminate copper wires and grounding lugs in solar PV installation process

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 11:04 (Solarserver)

Unirac, Inc. (Albuquerque, N.M.), a Hilti Group Company, at Solar Power International announced a new milestone in the continued evolution of competitive PV mounting solutions in North America. Unirac's SolarMount system becomes the first residential PV mounting system in North America to provide a revolutionary grounding and bonding process listed to UL2703 that eliminates the need for copper wire and grounding straps from the installation process, the company reports. Read more

Wärtsilä to supply a biofuel-based 50 MW power plant to support integration of solar energy in Hawaii

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 11:01 (Solarserver)

Wärtsilä Corporation (Helsinki, Finland) on October 27th, 2014 announced plans for a 50 MW “Smart Power Generation” power plant to Hawaiian Electric Company on the island of Oahu. The plant will help enable the integration of more solar photovoltaic (PV) generation on the island. The project requires approval by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. If approved, the power plant is scheduled to be operational in 2017. Read more

ContourGlobal signs purchase agreements on wind farms in Austria totaling 161 MW, and operating solar PV plants in the Czech Republic and Slovakia totaling 40 MW

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 14:45 (Solarserver)

ContourGlobal (New York) and affiliates of Austria'sRaiffeisen Banking Group (Vienna) announced that they have signed agreements for ContourGlobal to purchase approximately 201 MW of renewable energy operating plants in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic for an undisclosed sum. The portfolios acquired include 8 operating wind farms in Austria totaling 161 MW and operating solar photovoltaic (PV) sites in the Czech Republic and Slovakia totaling 40 MW. Read more

Batteries Are a Crucial Component of Our Energy Portfolio

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 16:13 (Renewable Energy World)

People take batteries for granted, typically worrying about them only when they fail in the electronic devices they carry or in the cars they drive. Read more

EU Leaders Agree To Tough Carbon Regulations to Spur Renewable Energy Development and Fight Climate Change

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 14:51 (Renewable Energy World)

European Union leaders backed the most-ambitious carbon emissions goals of any major economy, in a bid to crank up pressure on the U.S. and China ahead of climate talks in December. Read more

EPIA reviews European climate and energy framework for 2030: lacking ambition

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 11:09 (Solarserver)

On October 24th, 2014 European Heads of State have agreed on a Climate and Energy framework for 2030 that includes a binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 40%, a renewable energy target of at least 27% and an energy efficiency target of at least 27%. “The renewables target is a very small step to support the enormous potential that solar and other renewables represent, comments Frauke Thies, Policy Director at European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). Read more

SPI 2014: Yingli Green includes MWT and ion implant to ‘PANDA’ technology roadmap

Monday, 10.27.2014 - 8:30 (PV-Tech)

Yingli Green Energy updated the financial community as to its long-term technology roadmap during its fifth annual investor day event during Solar Power International 2014, held in Las Vegas. Read more