Mercom revises 2014 global PV demand forecast to 46GW

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 12:48 (PV-Tech)

Analysts firm Mercom Capital has revised its quarterly forecast for solar demand in 2014 to 46GW. Read more

Japan installed 587 MW of solar PV in December 2013

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 20:13 (Solarserver)

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) reports that the nation installed 94 MW of residential and 493 MW of “non-residential” PV solar photovoltaics (PV) during December 2013 under its feed-in tariff. This is roughly the same amount installed in November 2013, and brings Japan to 5.17 GW of PV installed in the first nine months of the nation's fiscal year 2013. Read more

Invenergy aqcuires 7MW Soitec solar plant in California

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 19:32 (PV-Tech)

Renewable project developer, Invenergy Solar Development, has acquired semiconductor manufacturer Soitec’s 7MW solar plant. Read more

How Solar Reduced a California Farm’s Electric Bill by 75 Percent

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 17:35 (Renewable Energy World)

A solar system installed by REC Solar at a California vineyard. Today’s farmers are increasingly using the sun’s energy to grow more than just fruits and vegetables. Solar power systems have become a new solution for reducing the energy costs of water pumps, refrigeration, vineyard wine processing, and many other energy-intensive agriculture applic Read more

Enphase praises stability and ‘tremendous long-term potential’ of UK solar market

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 15:57 (Solarpowerportal)

Enphase has said that the UK solar market offers a level of stability that is not being matched by other global solar markets. Read more

IHS: Solar PV equipment spending to rise 45% in 2014 to USD 3.8 billion

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 15:06 (Solarserver)

IHS Inc. (Englewood, Colorado, U.S.) has predicted that a new round of spending will increase solar photovoltaic (PV) industry capital expenditures 45% to USD 3.8 billion during 2014. The company notes that PV capital spending has been rising over the second half of 2013 through the first quarter of 2014, and expects this trend to continue through the end of 2014. Read more

EC must condemn Greek solar cuts or ‘risk credibility’

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 14:47 (PV-Tech)

The European Commission (EC) must condemn proposed changes to support for solar energy in Greece or risk jeopardising its credibility. Read more

Native American Moapa Tribe and First Solar begin construction of 250MW project

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 14:27 (PV-Tech)

Manufacturer and utility solar project developer, First Solar and the Native American Moapa Paiute Tribe have started the construction of a 250MW solar power plant. Read more

ReneSola reports record solar PV module shipments, revenues in Q4 2013, returns to profitability

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 14:16 (Solarserver)

ReneSola Ltd. (Shanghai) has released results for the fourth quarter of 2013, reporting a 58% year-over-year increase in solar photovoltaic (PV) module shipments to a record 505 MW and a 43% year-over-year increase in revenues to USD 439 million. The company has also returned profitability for the first quarter in more than two years, with a 1.8% operating margin and a net income of USD 800,000. Read more

JA Solar receives TÜV Rhineland certification for Japan market

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 13:40 (PV-Tech)

JA Solar has received certification from TÜV Rheinland which gives assurances of the quality of the company’s module design, production and product warranty for sale in the Japanese market. Read more

Will Outsized Solar Stock Returns Continue?

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 11:18 (Renewable Energy World)

Any way you slice it, solar investing has been on a tear for the last year. Of the 69 solar stocks that the Roen Financial Report tracks, three-quarters are up for the year. On average solar stocks have gained 85 percent for the year, with 60 percent of solar companies up in the double digits. What is most impressive is that the top 17 solar stocks are all up in the triple digits, and one, Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ), is up 903 percent. Read more

Clearing Up Cloudy Understanding on Solar Power Plant Output

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 10:57 (Renewable Energy World)

Sandia National Laboratories engineers have been studying the most effective ways to use solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays — a clean, affordable and renewable way to keep the power on. Systems are relatively easy to install and have relatively small maintenance costs. They begin working immediately and can run unassisted for decades. Read more

Sempra, ConEdison to partner on 360 MW of U.S. solar PV projects

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 8:59 (Solarserver)

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power (San Diego, California, U.S.) and Consolidated Edison Development (ConEdison, Valhalla, New York, U.S.) have agreed to partner on five solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the Western United States totaling 360 MW. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The five projects include Sempra's 250 MW Copper Mountain Solar 3 project near Las Vegas in the U.S. state of Nevada, which is currently under construction. The other four projects totaling 100 MW are held by a subsidiary of ConEdison. All four are located in California and all are operational. Read more

Assam, India issues RFP for 60 MW-AC solar PV plant

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 8:50 (Solarserver)

The Indian state of Assam has released a request for proposals (RFP) for a grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) project on a 140 hectare site which it owns. Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd. (APGCL, Guwahati, India) estimates that the site can accommodate 60 MW-AC of PV generation, but notes that this capacity may change depending on the outcome of a feasibility study. APGCL is proposing a PV plant to be built in three 20 MW-AC phases. The company is also proposing that a joint venture company be formed to develop the project, in which it will hold a 26% share, and that assets be turned over to APGCL after 25 years. Read more

US Lawmakers Urge Extension of Renewable Tax Credits

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 18:44 (Renewable Energy World)

Several dozen members of the House of Representatives, mostly Democrats along with some Republicans, have urged House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to help extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that benefits wind power. Read more

FERC Order 1000 Has Its Day in Court

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 13:59 (Renewable Energy World)

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an important set of reforms intended to save consumers money and improve the transmission planning process more than two years ago, but the merits of “Order 1000” were still being debated yesterday in a Washington, D.C., federal courtroom. Read more

EnergyTrend: ROI for large PV plants could fall in Japan on back of lowered FiT

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 12:44 (PV-Tech)

Due to a fall feed-in tariff (FiT) rates, return on investment (ROI) for large PV power plants in Japan could fall this year by as much as 5% compared to last year, according to Taiwan-based analysis firm EnergyTrend. Read more

REA: 2014 set to be a breakthrough year for renewable home heating

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 11:58 (Solarpowerportal)

The Renewable Energy Association has said that the introduction of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) could make 2014 a breakthrough year for renewable heating. Read more

European council delays decision on 2030 renewable energy targets

Monday, 3.24.2014 - 8:46 (Solarserver)

European heads of state have postponed making a decision on 2030 targets for renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction, a move which was criticized by Greenpeace and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW). The European Council was set to take up the issue at its meeting on March 20–21st, 2014, but appears instead to have focused on the crisis in Ukraine and put off the decision until October 2014. BDEW Chair Hildegard Müller expressed her disappointment in this move. Read more