News of the year 2014

Date: 19.03.2014



Photovoltaics

Liquidator investigations threaten Shunfeng takeover of Wuxi Suntech

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 9:00 (Solarserver)

The liquidator of Suntech subsidiary Power Solar System Co. Ltd. (PSS, Wuxi, China) has said that his team is making progress in its investigation of the purported transfer of equity interests in two other Suntech subsidiaries to Wuxi Suntech Power Co. Ltd. (Wuxi, China). This could endanger Shunfeng Photovoltaics International Ltd.'s (Changzhou, China) acquisition of Wuxi Suntech. Shunfeng has twice delayed publication of a circular to shareholders providing details of the proposed acquisition, following news that legal actions could involve Wuxi Suntech. Read more

DNV GL to acquire PV Evolution Labs

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 8:49 (Solarserver)

In a move which DNV GL (Høvik, Norway) says will bring together expertise to increase the confidence of solar components and support continued growth of the industry, the company has signed an agreement to acquire PV Evolution Labs (PVEL, Berkeley, California, U.S.). Through the acquisition DNV GL will gain PVEL's laboratory and outdoor test facilities to evaluate solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV systems components. DNV GL already provides independent engineering, owner's engineering, technology review, design assistance and asset management. Read more


Thermal Power/Heating

First Solar sets new CdTe solar PV module efficiency world record at 17.0%

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 18:39 (Solarserver)

First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) has set a new world record for total area cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar photovoltaic (PV) module efficiency at 17.0%, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL, Golden, Colorado, U.S.). Read more

NextEnergy casts CfD doubt as it publishes £150 million solar fund prospectus

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 18:14 (Solarpowerportal)

NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited has released the prospectus for its imminent £150 million IPO and has stated that it expects to continue with the renewable obligation (RO) scheme until it expires. Read more

First Solar Analyst Day: New 17% record CdTe module efficiency

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 17:55 (PV-Tech)

First Solar has revealed a new total area module efficiency record for its CdTe thin-film technology of 17%, a significant increase from 16.1%, set in April 2013. Read more

First Solar Analyst Day: Next major production capacity expansion in 2015

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 16:45 (PV-Tech)

First Solar is planning its next major CdTe thin-film production capacity expansion phase to occur in 2015 with an additional 1GW of nameplate capacity. The company revealed the plans during its 2014 Analyst Day event. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne delivers modules for 6.2 MW solar PV project in Guatemala

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 14:51 (Solarserver)

Hanwha SolarOne Co. Ltd. (Shanghai) has completed delivery of 6.2 MW of its 72-cell HSL72 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Cobra Group (Madrid) and Gransolar (Madrid) for the first utility-scale PV project in Guatemala. The project in Rio Hondo, Las Cruces is larger than any plant which has been built in Central America to date. Read more

First Solar, Shams Ma'an obtain PPA for 52.5 MW solar PV project in Jordan

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 14:14 (Solarserver)

Jordan's National Electric Power Company (NEPCO, Amman, Jordan) has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) and the Shams Ma'an Consortium for a 52.5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project planned in the nation. Read more

SolarCity continues installation race ahead of US tax equity changes

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 13:34 (PV-Tech)

The largest US solar installer, SolarCity deployed 280MW of PV installations in 2013, with plans to top 500MW in 2014 as it continues to race towards installing as much PV as possible before US tax equity incentive schemes are significantly reduced in 2017. Read more

Nottingham to construct UK’s largest urban solar canopy

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 13:27 (Solarpowerportal)

The Nottingham City Council approved plans to develop the UK’s largest PV canopy at two of the city’s Park and Ride sites. Read more

Myriad Solar PV posts record sales in 2013-14

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 12:10 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewable energy company Myriad Solar PV has reported record sales in 2013-14. Read more

Hanwha SolarOne delivers 6.2MW of PV modules to Guatemala

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 11:52 (PV-Tech)

PV module manufacturer Hanwha SolarOne has supplied 6.2MW of its 72-cell solar modules (HSL72) to Spanish-based companies Cobra and Gransolar for a new solar park located in Rio Hondo, Las Cruces, Guatemala. Read more

First Solar to build 52MW project in Jordan

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 11:47 (PV-Tech)

First Solar and local partner Shams Ma’an Power Generation have agreed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 52.5MW PV power plant in Jordan. Read more

Minnesota becomes first state to approve alternative ‘value for solar’ rate

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 10:07 (PV-Tech)

Minnesota made significant strides in strengthening its solar crediting policies last week, as the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved the nation’s first statewide methodology for calculating the value of consumer-generated solar energy. Read more

Petra Solar re-brands as Petra Systems, expands beyond solar PV

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 8:40 (Solarserver)

Petra Solar Inc. (South Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S.) has changed its name to Petra Systems, reflecting the expansion of its strategic focus beyond solar photovoltaic (PV) generation to remotely managed energy networks. The company has also launched a new product which connects streetlights, energy generation, surveillance, data and communication networks to municipal public works departments. The Petra Smart City Solution will be powered by distributed PV modules and microinverter technology with battery backup systems. Read more


Biomass/Pellets

There are no news available

 



Wind Energy

Transmission Line To Carry Wind Power Across the US Midwest Sparks Controversy

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 14:48 (Renewable Energy World)

The windy plains of Kansas could be a treasure trove in the nation's effort to harness clean energy, but a major proposal to move wind-generated electricity eastward is running into a roadblock: Farmers who don't want high-power transmission lines on their land. Read more


Hydropower

There are no news available

 



Hydrogen/Fuel Cell

There are no news available

 



Geo Thermal/Heat Pump

There are no news available

 



Energy Policy/Climate/CO2

Spurred by Japan, Steady Growth Predicted for Energy Storage Market

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 18:21 (Renewable Energy World)

On March 17, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced that it would begin accepting applications for a generous subsidy that it is awarding to consumers who install lithium-ion battery storage systems along with renewable energy systems on their homes or businesses. The subsidy will spark nearly 100 MW of energy storage capacity to be installed in 2014, according to an energy analyst with IHS. Read more

Budget 2014 reaction: Carbon floor price freeze, lowering bills and the green economy

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 16:14 (Solarpowerportal)

Experts from the industry, civil society and the world of finance comment on George Osborne’s 2014 Budget statement. Read more

Budget 2014: Osborne announces £7 billion package to cut energy bills for British manufacturers

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 15:00 (Solarpowerportal)

George Osborne has announced a £7 billion package designed to help British manufacturers cut their energy bills in his Budget announcement. Read more

German Chancellor Merkel Lobbied to Ease Renewable Aid Cuts

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 14:42 (Renewable Energy World)

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s planned revamp of the German energy industry may crimp the onshore wind expansion that’s key to her unprecedented switch from nuclear to renewable power sources, the country’s top wind state said. Read more

Will UK Carbon Emission Rules Lead to Energy Shortages?

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 14:27 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.K. risks power shortages because utilities may react to Europe’s toughest carbon emissions rules by closing plants without replacing them. Read more

What’s Powering the Future of Clean Tech?

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 14:18 (Renewable Energy World)

Population growth, pollution, and limited natural resources have created an urgent need for innovative clean tech solutions that are smarter, cleaner, and more efficient. However, energy storage’s high cost and technical limitations have kept renewable energy providers from achieving large-scale, low-cost parity with traditional energy suppliers. Read more

Energy Storage Offers Tailored Grid Solutions, But at What Cost?

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 14:11 (Renewable Energy World)

Modern wind turbines generate AC power, and because this specific electricity form cannot be stored in common AC-grid networks, the grid must maintain a full balance between generation (supply) and load (demand) at all times. In small-scale networks, imbalances occur more often and are generally more difficult to manage when compared to large-scale networks that often incorporate interconnector links. Read more

Is Sustainability Talk a Distraction from what Really Matters?

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 13:56 (Renewable Energy World)

Most talk of "energy efficiency" and “sustainability” is insidious or naïve, or even misdirected. We all should switch off the lights when we leave a room, use efficient, gas-fired tankless water heaters (even when they are uneconomical), and work in LEED certified buildings. Intelligent thermostats — Nest, for instance — may regulate our air-conditioning to assure comfort while generating savings, and shaving “peak” load on the electricity grid. Using LED lamps and star rated appliances is admirable too. These solutions and behaviors, while praiseworthy, are beside the point; we should rather favor “supply action” before demand response. Read more

Is Sustainability Talk a Distraction from What Really Matters?

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 13:56 (Renewable Energy World)

Most talk of "energy efficiency" and “sustainability” is insidious or naïve, or even misdirected. We all should switch off the lights when we leave a room, use efficient, gas-fired tankless water heaters (even when they are uneconomical), and work in LEED certified buildings. Intelligent thermostats — Nest, for instance — may regulate our air-conditioning to assure comfort while generating savings, and shaving “peak” load on the electricity grid. Using LED lamps and star rated appliances is admirable too. These solutions and behaviors, while praiseworthy, are beside the point; we should rather favor “supply action” before demand response. Read more

Transmission system operator awards Sardinia battery storage tender to Younicos

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 13:02 (PV-Tech)

Italy’s electricity transmission system operator has awarded a tender to Younicos, Samsung SDI and Italian renewable energy producer Green Utility to provide 1MW/1MWh of battery storage aimed at stabilising Sardinia’s electrical grid. Read more

EnergyTrend: Delay in U.S. trade cases to lead to increased prices on Chinese PV

Wednesday, 3.19.2014 - 9:04 (Solarserver)

TrendForce's (Taipei City, Taiwan) EnergyTrend division says that it expects a delay in U.S. trade officials' preliminary anti-subsidy decision to stimulate the solar photovoltaic (PV) market and increase PV prices. After this initial rise the company expects prices to remain steady in the second quarter of 2014, with additional demand from the United States, Japan and Europe increasing utilization rates. The company also notes that demand is high on the spot market. Read more


Solar-/Electromobil

There are no news available

 



Here you find the news of the last years:

HomeDirectory