Suntech subsidiaries clash in US$264 million court ruling

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 15:56 (PV-Tech)

Suntech Singapore has been ordered to pay Suntech Power Holdings’ immediate subsidiary Power Solar System (PSS) nearly US$264 million. Read more

Valentin Software launches simulation programme with new features for designing PV plants of up to two MW

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 11:06 (Solarserver)

Berlin-based software company Valentin recently launched its programme PV*SOL Expert 6.0 R7. The new software enables users to plan and visualize roof-integrated, roof-top and free-standing solar photovoltaic (PV) plants with a generation capacity of up to two megawatts (MW). For the new version, Valentin has increased the maximum number of solar PV modules that can be visualized in a 3D-mode from 2,000 to 5,000. Read more

Advanced Energy shipping new 1MW central inverter, critical for growth

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 9:19 (PV-Tech)

Advanced Energy Industries (AE) has said it has begun shipping its new flagship ‘AE 1000NX’ 1MW-sized according to its backlog pipeline to PV projects. Read more

Vikram Solar considering MWT solar cell technology from Cencorp

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 9:15 (PV-Tech)

India-based PV manufacturer, Vikram Solar is considering a technology collaboration with Finish firm Cencorp in respect to its Metal Wrap Through (MWT) solar cell and Conductive Back Sheet (CBS) based PV module technology. Read more

Advanced Energy shipping new 1MW central inverter critical for growth

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 9:15 (PV-Tech)

Advanced Energy Industries (AE) new flagship ‘AE 1000NX’ 1MW-sized central inverter was said to be shipping according to its backlog pipeline to PV projects, according to the company. Read more

Polysilicon demand outpacing silicon per-watt reduction strategies

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 19:12 (PV-Tech)

Polysilicon demand is increasing sharply on the back of expected global end market demand reaching 49GW in 2014, according to NPD Solarbuzz. Read more

U.S. Senators propose extension of Investment Tax Credit, a key solar policy

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 15:12 (Solarserver)

Two U.S. Senators have introduced a bill that would allow solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) projects under construction by the expiration date of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to qualify for the incentive. Projects currently qualify for the ITC, which offers a 30% tax credit, based on the date they are placed in service. Read more

Solar Water Pumps Wean India Farmers From Grid

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 14:58 (Renewable Energy World)

India has a novel idea: Wean farmers from archaic power lines and expensive diesel fuel to run their water pumps with solar energy. Read more

Roof-mounted solar PV dominates submissions under Ontario's FIT 3.0

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 14:28 (Solarserver)

Roof-mounted solar photovoltaics (PV) account for 2/3 of submissions by capacity under the latest round of Ontario's feed-in tariff program (FIT 3.0), according to an analysis by NPD Solarbuzz (Santa Clara, California, U.S.). Wind, PV, hydropower and biomass are all eligible technologies under FIT 3.0. Read more

Northern Ireland gets the Emerald Isle’s first utility-scale PV plant

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 14:12 (PV-Tech)

BNRG Northern Power has been granted planning permission for the first utility-scale solar farm to be built in Ireland or Northern Ireland, a 5.1MW solar farm in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. Read more

Hanergy Solar keeps UK IKEA business in the family

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 12:58 (Solarpowerportal)

China-based energy company, Hanergy Holding has transferred Hanergy UK’s operations to Hanergy Solar, its dedicated downstream PV operation. Read more

India seeks World Bank loan to kick-start 4GW ‘ultra mega’ PV project

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 12:55 (PV-Tech)

The Indian government is seeking a US$500 million loan from the World Bank to initiate construction of a planned 4GW solar project in Rajasthan. Read more

Hanergy Solar acquires Hanergy UK to expand residential business

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 12:45 (PV-Tech)

China-based energy company, Hanergy Holding has transferred Hanergy UK’s operations to Hanergy Solar, its dedicated downstream PV operation. Read more

Colorado and Nevada senators push for widening of solar ITC eligibility

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 12:31 (PV-Tech)

Two US senators have proposed that solar farm projects under construction should qualify for investment tax credit (ITC), instead of having to be fully completed before the expiration date of the ITC. Read more

PV in India: Consortium led by German SOLEA AG signs 5 MW solar PPA with BESCOM

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 12:02 (Solarserver)

A consortium comprising SOLEA AG (Plattling, Germany) and PINPOINT VENTURES HOLDING Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for a 5 Megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) project with Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM). The Consortium represented by PINPOINT’s Indian subsidiary Heidelberg Solar Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore had won the 5 MW PV project in the 130 MW Tender issued by Karnataka Renewable Energy Department Limited (KREDL) during August 2013. Read more

SolarMax string inverters supplied to 6MW solar plant in Germany

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 10:23 (PV-Tech)

Inverter manufacturer, SolarMax, has installed 388 of its string inverters inverters at the 6MW Neuenbrook solar park in Germany. Read more

India to ask World Bank for USD 500 million for first phase of 4 GW solar PV project

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 8:59 (Solarserver)

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has initiated the process to ask the World Bank (Washington D.C.) for a USD 500 million loan to be used to support the first 750 MW of a massive solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the state of Rajasthan. Six state-owned companies signed a memorandum of understanding in late January 2014 to build the plant on land bordering the Sambhar salt lake near Jaipur. When all 4 GW of the plant is complete it will cover 93 square kilometers, as the largest PV plant in the world. Read more

France launches call for innovative solar, renewable energy projects

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 8:54 (Solarserver)

France has launched a “call for expressions of interest” for innovative solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal, wind and renewable cooling projects. The call includes hybrid solutions, including hybrids of renewable and conventional technologies and those which incorporate energy storage. The minimum cost of projects must be at least EUR 3 million (USD 4 million), except for solar thermal and hybrid building projects, which must be at least EUR 1.5 million (USD 2 million). The call is open through October 2nd, 2015. Read more

SoloPower plans to re-open thin-film solar PV factory after securing bridge financing

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 8:48 (Solarserver)

Thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer SoloPower Systems Inc. (Portland, Oregon, U.S.) reports that it has obtained interim financing necessary to close on longer-term funding. The company says that this coming capital infusion will allow it to re-open and ramp manufacturing activities at its factory in Portland, which makes flexible copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film PV. The 400 MW facility was officially opened in September 2012 but closed without reaching full production. Read more

U.S. solar industry remains divided over expanded tariffs on Chinese, Taiwanese solar PV

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 8:48 (Solarserver)

The conflict inside the U.S. solar industry over the issue of tariffs on solar photovoltaic (PV) products from China has returned, as evidenced by a series of open letters sent by leaders of the respective camps. On February 5th, 2014 SolarWorld AG (Bonn, Germany) published an open letter by Founder, Chairman and CEO Frank Asbeck to U.S. President Barack Obama, calling on his support to fight “trade aggression” from China, and calling for expanded tariffs on Chinese goods. Read more

Change Of Plans: Deepwater Swaps Offshore Wind Turbine Partners for Block Island Project

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 20:21 (Renewable Energy World)

Deepwater Wind New England today announced it is partnering with European turbine supplier Alstom for its 30-MW Block Island wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island -- a change in turbine suppliers from its original plans. Read more

Change of Plans: Deepwater Swaps Offshore Wind Turbine Partners for Block Island Project

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 20:21 (Renewable Energy World)

Deepwater Wind New England today announced it is partnering with European turbine supplier Alstom for its 30-MW Block Island wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island -- a change in turbine suppliers from its original plans. Read more

Baltics’ Estonia Ramps Up Wind Power Generation

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

There has long been much rivalry between the three small Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. When it comes to offshore wind power development, Estonia got off to an impressive start with plans add 1,500 megawatts (MW) of installed wind capacity by 2015 with two offshore wind parks in the Baltic Sea. Read more

Taiwan government to support PV companies in US anti-dumping case

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 9:55 (PV-Tech)

The Taiwanese government has raised fears that the latest the anti-dumping investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce that has expanded it reach to include Taiwanese PV products could “seriously damaged the interests of manufacturers and suppliers.” Read more

Renewables Provide 15% of Supply During California Emergency — Time to Go 100% Renewable?

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 17:48 (Renewable Energy World)

California’s over reliance on fossil fuels for generating electricity, notably natural gas, led the state’s electricity system operator to call an emergency on Thursday, 6 February. The move called on Californians throughout the state to conserve electricity and natural gas. Read more

Can We Achieve A Smoother and More Secure Grid with Energy Storage?

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 17:17 (Renewable Energy World)

At RenewableEnergyWorld.com, we’ve had our eye on energy storage for some time. For years we told you that if the industry could solve the energy storage problem, it would unlock gigawatts of renewable energy capacity all over the world.  About a year ago, progress started really picking up.  At Intersolar in Munich in 2013, more than 200 energy st Read more

Renewable Energy Outlook for 2014 Is Decidedly Optimistic

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 15:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Financial analysts are decidedly optimistic about the year ahead in clean energy. In conducting interviews with experts in venture capital deployments, project finance and other investment markets, the one resounding theme I heard was a high level of confidence in the sector. Read more

As Goes January? What the Pullback in Green Mutual Funds Means

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 14:51 (Renewable Energy World)

Alternative energy mutual funds and ETFs have pulled back from some of the fantastic gains seen in 2013. There is a saying in the investment world that “as goes January, so goes the year.” Is it time to bail on this sector, or on stocks in general? Perhaps, but wise long-term alternative energy investors should avoid rash steps at this juncture. Read more

Green Energy Technology sales continue climb in January

Monday, 2.10.2014 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Taiwan-based solar wafer producer, Green Energy Technology (GET) continued to post incremental increases in sales, which have continued for over a year. Read more