Top 10 PV Module Suppliers for 2014: Same Group, Different Order

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 18:20 (Renewable Energy World)

The 2014 rankings for solar module suppliers have been released from the newly combined Solarbuzz and IHS Technology solar research team. The team predicts that the global top 10 PV module suppliers will stay the same, although some reshuffling will occur. The rankings are based on full year shipment estimates. Read more

Kong Sun Holdings announces investment in distributed PV projects in China totaling 800 MW

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 11:41 (Solarserver)

Kong Sun Holdings Limited (Hongkong, China) on November 28th, 2014 announced, that the Company entered into a framework agreement with solar photovoltaic (PV) EPC company Wuxi Liansheng Hezhong New Energy Co., Ltd. pursuant to which the parties agreed to cooperate in the development of distributed PV power system projects in the People’s Republic of China. The cooperation is expected to involve the development of distributed photovoltaic power systems projects with an aggregate generation capacity of 800 MW across the PRC over the three years of 2015 to 2017. Read more

Decentralized intelligence for the smart grid: Fraunhofer ISE launches spin-off company, Enit Systems

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 11:19 (Solarserver)

Enit Energy IT Systems GmbH is the latest spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg, Germany. The young company develops and markets monitoring and control systems for decentralized energy systems like combined heat and power plants, photovoltaic (PV) systems or industrial consumers. These systems help gain more transparency about electricity, heat and gas consumption. In addition, the company’s products enable intelligent system control and more efficient operation. Read more

Rexel USA to begin distribution of Q CELLS PV modules

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 7:12 (Solarserver)

Rexel Holdings USA Corp., through its subsidiaries Rexel Inc. and General Supply & Services Inc. doing business as Gexpro, a distributor of electrical supplies and services, and Hanwha Q CELLS, on December 2nd, 2014 announced that Rexel and Gexpro will begin carrying Q CELLS solar photovoltaic (PV) modules effective immediately. Under the terms of the agreement, Hanwha Q CELLS will supply its U.S. trade-compliant solar PV modules, which are developed at its headquarters in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany, to Rexel and Gexpro for resale to their nationwide networks of installers and distributors. Read more

IKEA to expand rooftop PV array at Michigan store

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 22:21 (PV-Tech)

Home furnishing retailer IKEA has announced that the rooftop solar array atop its store in Canton, Michigan, will be expanded by approximately 25% due to new construction on building. Read more

Osborne’s oil handout almost double solar’s CfD budget

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 19:33 (Solarpowerportal)

In this year’s Autumn statement, George Osborne has prioritised oil over renewables to the tune of a £94 million oil tax break. Read more

Solar Uniquely Positioned to Help States Meet New Regulations

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 19:25 (Renewable Energy World)

After more than five months of listening to both pros and cons, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finally closed the public comment period on its proposed plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants.  Now it’s time for the EPA to make a good plan even better. In detailed comments submitted this week to the agency, the Solar Energy In Read more

JinkoSolar supplies modules for new batch of national solar plants in India

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 16:24 (PV-Tech)

JinkoSolar has delivered 21.4MW of solar modules to a ground mount solar project in Charanka in the state of Gujarat, India. Read more

If Going Solar is Contagious, What Are You Doing to Get Everyone Infected?

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 15:55 (Renewable Energy World)

Yet another study has shown how going solar is contagious. That is, when Yale University and UConn researchers analyzed residential solar installation data in Connecticut, they found that solar installations became clustered in the same geographical area, and that was true regardless of the neighborhood’s income level. But why? In the words of the Read more

IHS predicts reshuffling of top 10 solar PV module suppliers in 2014

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 13:27 (Solarserver)

As the Q3, 2014 earning season draws to a close for leading solar photovoltaic (PV) companies, with re-stated full year forecasts made for the final time, IHS Technology has released its global top 10 module rankings based on full year shipment estimates. The 2014 top 10 PV module suppliers are almost the same group of companies as one year ago. SunPower entered the top 10 in 2014 and was ranked joint 10th largest suppliers alongside Kyocera according to IHS estimates. Read more

GCL New Energy details major PV module deal with Chaori Solar

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 12:44 (PV-Tech)

GCL New Energy subsidiary, Nanjing GCL New Energy, has outlined the PV module purchase deal with bankrupt Shanghai Chaori Solar as part of GCL New Energy’s plans to acquire a 30% stake in the company and save it from liquidation. Read more

Camborne Capital and sPower acquire Welsh solar project

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 12:32 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewable energy provider sPower and developer Camborne Capital have acquired a solar project in Pembrokeshire, Wales from RGE Energy UK. Read more

Softbank could develop 10GW of solar in India - report

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 12:07 (PV-Tech)

Japanese telecoms provider-turned-solar developer Softbank could be in line to develop as much as 10GW of solar in India, beginning with the state of Andhra Pradesh, according to reports. Read more

Softbank eyeing 10GW of solar in India - report

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 12:07 (PV-Tech)

Japanese telecoms provider-turned-solar developer Softbank could be in line to develop as much as 10GW of solar in India, beginning with the state of Andhra Pradesh, according to reports. Read more

Dutch solar simulation technology provider Eternal Sun raises EUR 2 million financing

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 11:26 (Solarserver)

Eternal Sun B.V. (Delft, The Netherlands) on December 3rd, 2014 announced that it has closed a EUR 2 Million (USD 2.5 Million) Series A financing from Belgian investment firm Vermec N.V. The Delft based high-tech company that is specialized in solar simulation technology will use the investment to expand international sales and service operations. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne confirms 230MW South Korea module fab

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 11:21 (PV-Tech)

Module manufacturer Hanwha SolarOne has confirmed details of the new 230MW facility it plans to build in South Korea. Read more

SolarMax insolvency impact travels along supply chain

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 11:13 (PV-Tech)

The impact of SolarMax parent company Sputnik Engineering’s insolvency has spread up the supply chain with German firm InTiCa facing a €2.5 million (US$3.1 million) hole in its 2014 figures. Read more

California’s 280MW Mojave CSP plant begins operation

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 11:10 (PV-Tech)

The yield-co arm of Spanish renewables firm, Abengoa, has confirmed the 280 MW Mojave concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in California is now up and running. Read more

Neo Solar Power continues slow recovery in sales

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 10:28 (PV-Tech)

The largest merchant solar cell producer, Neo Solar Power Corporation (NSP) continued to post a slow recovery in monthly revenue after peaking with record revenue in May, 2014. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne to build 230 MW PV module factory in South Korea

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 7:17 (Solarserver)

Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) on December 2nd, 2014 announced to build a new solar photovoltaic (PV) module factory in Eumseong, Chungbuk, South Korea. The company will invest USD 12 million to build the facility, which is scheduled to begin production in the second quarter of 2015 with an annual manufacturing capacity of 230 megawatt (MW). Read more

MESIA unveils winners of the 2014 solar awards

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 6:50 (Solarserver)

On December 1st, 2014 the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA) unveiled the winners of the 2014 Middle East Solar Awards. In total, there were twelve trophies that were being contested across several sectors. “MESIA turned 5 years on November 24th this year and we are now the largest solar association in the MENA region, recognized and respected for its independent expertise. As an evidence MESIA was awarded by DEWA for its contribution in advancing solar power in the UAE. The Association was also awarded at the World Green Economy Summit”, said Abdulaziz Al Midfa, the Chairman of MESIA and Chairman of the jury. Read more

Osborne shuns renewables: Autumn statement reaction

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 19:13 (Solarpowerportal)

Chancellor George Osborne has ignored renewables in favour of oil and fracking in this year’s Autumn statement. John Parnell looks at the initial reactions. Read more

Leaked Internal Presentation Details the Oil Industry's Campaign to Stop Clean Energy

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 14:37 (Renewable Energy World)

The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) — whose members include Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips, BP, and others — was caught red-handed late last month when a leaked internal presentation revealed a coordinated campaign to stomp out climate and clean energy progress in California, Oregon and Washington by propping up over 15 front groups that purport to represent the views of concerned citizens and the broader business community. Read more

Geothermal Visual: Jobs Created by Power Plants

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 14:37 (Renewable Energy World)

The graph above shows jobs created at actual geothermal power plants using information GEA collected over the last few years; companies are kept anonymous to protect proprietary information. View this along with presentations to the Committee on Earth Sciences at dels.nas.edu. This blog was originally published on GEA's GeoEnergyWire and was republ Read more

Renewable Energy Lowers Consumer Utility Bills in Alberta, Canada

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 16:38 (Renewable Energy World)

In Alberta, Canada, renewable energy is not increasing energy prices for consumers as it has in other parts of the world, such as Germany. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Read more

DOE to fund ‘breakthrough’ PV reliability research

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 12:52 (PV-Tech)

The US Department of Energy has announced a grant of US$9 million to fund “breakthrough” research into improving the reliability and durability of PV modules. Read more

OPEC Oil Price Squeeze To Leave Renewable Energy Unscathed

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 12:33 (Renewable Energy World)

While OPEC is helping drive down global prices for crude, it’s having less success squeezing the $250 billion clean power industry. Read more

Munich Venture Partners, Chrysalix SET and eCAPITAL invest almost USD 10 million in lithium-ion energy storage systems producer Sonnenbatterie

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 11:31 (Solarserver)

Sonnenbatterie GmbH, the German market leader for smart energy storage systems, on December 2nd, 2014 announced the closing of a USD 9.4 million round of equity financing led by new investors Chrysalix SET and Munich Venture Partners (MVP). The investment round also included follow-on financing by prior investor eCAPITAL. Read more

Yingli Green’s chief strategy officer resigns

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 10:44 (PV-Tech)

Major PV manufacturer, Yingli Green Energy, has said a former CFO and current chief strategy officer, Zongwei Li, has resigned from his position as executive director on its board of directors. The company did not give reasons for the resignation. Read more

German Fossil Fuel Giant Jumps on Renewables Bandwagon

Wednesday, 12.3.2014 - 6:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Germany’s biggest utility E.ON — long a pillar of the country’s fossil fuel and nuclear industry — dropped a bombshell on Europe’s business world with the announcement that the multinational was exiting the conventional energy market in favor of a new business model based on renewables, intelligent grid systems, energy management and other services. Indeed, the company seems finally to have drawn the logical consequences from the Energiewende, Germany’s renewable energy transition, after years of resisting the ambitious transformation of the nation’s energy supply. Read more