News of the year 2014
Date: 30.04.2014
Ernst & Young provides guide for utilities to learn to benefit from distributed generation
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 23:24 (Solarserver)
Ernst & Young LP (London) has issued a new report which finds that while the increase in distributed solar photovoltaics (PV) in the United States threatens utility business models, utilities can and should learn to benefit from this change if they want to survive. “From defense to offense: Distributed energy and the challenge of transformation in the utilities sector” provides a guide to managing these changes, recommending that utilities develop road maps to move to more effective operating models, work to transform the grid, and manage the transition. Read moreWuxi Suntech to continue to honor Suntech product warranties
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 23:16 (Solarserver)
Wuxi Suntech (Wuxi, China) has announced that it will continue to honor the product warranties for Suntech products which it manufactured prior to its recent acquisition by Shunfeng Photovoltaic (Changzhou, China). Suntech was the world's largest PV module maker as recently as 2011, and the company estimates that more than 30 million Suntech PV modules can be found in more than 80 nations. Wuxi Suntech states that as part of its restructuring it set aside reserve funds to cover 100% of its past and future warranty obligations. Read moreShunfeng purchases Sunways PV inverter and BIPV businesses
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)
Bankrupt German-based PV firm, Sunways has sold its PV inverter and BIPV businesses to Shunfeng Photovoltaic for an undisclosed sum. Read moreApricum: Persian Gulf nations to deploy 3.85 GW of PV, CSP by 2018
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 8:07 (Solarserver)
Apricum GmbH (Berlin) predicts that the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will reach a cumulative installed solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) capacity of 3.85 GW in 2017, led by Saudi Arabia. The consultancy also predicts that these nations will install over 1 GW of wind. Apricum Principal Matthias Kittler notes that PV and wind can offer a much lower cost of electricity generation than oil-fired power in the region, and that oil-rich nations can benefit from exporting petroleum instead of supplying it at discounted rates to generate electricity. Read moreABB to sell off Power-One power solutions business, maintain focus on inverters
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 8:04 (Solarserver)
ABB Inc. (Zürich, Switzerland) has announced that it will sell the Power Solutions Business of Power-One (Camarillo, California, U.S.) to Bel Fuse Inc. (Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.), while retaining the company's solar photovoltaic (PV) inverter business. Bel Fuse will pay roughly USD 117 million for the Power Solutions business, and ABB expects the sale to close in the second quarter of 2014 after achieving regulatory clearance. The division made power conversion products for multiple industries, and was acquired by ABB with its purchase of Power-One. Read moreSoitec, Exosun launch new solar CPV system
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 23:19 (Solarserver)
Soitec SA (Bernin, France) has partnered with Exosun SAS (Martillac, France) to offer a new concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) system utilizing Exosun trackers holding 18 to 24 Soitec Concentrix CPV modules. The CX S540 system offers power ratings of up to 61.2 kW per unit, and is already being sold by both companies. Soitec notes that it will be used in the majority of CPV projects awarded under the French government solicitation in March 2013. Read moreBTU International sales rise but remains cautious on PV orders
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 16:53 (PV-Tech)
Advanced thermal processing equipment supplier, BTU International has reported first quarter 2014 sales of US$11.7 million, up 6.3% compared the previous quarter. Read moreLarge Scale Solar UK: Review of solar support entirely political, says Lightsource chief
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 16:52 (Solarpowerportal)
A proposed review of the level of support for large-scale solar is purely political and has no economic basis, according to the head of a major UK project developer. Read moreLand acquisition delays solar obligations in India
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 15:17 (PV-Tech)
Maharashtra’s state-run utility Mahagenco, is faced with delays to two solar developments, leaving it less than half way to its national renewable energy obligation. Read moreSolargiga expects PV outsourcing business with Sharp to rise over 30% in 2014
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 15:11 (PV-Tech)
Solargiga Energy Holdings, the largest solar PV outsourcing supplier to Sharp Corporation in China, expects business with the Japanese electronics giant to expand by more than 30% in Sharp’s 2014 financial year. Read moreChina Fuels Highest Solar Silicon Demand Since 2011
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 14:52 (Renewable Energy World)
The polysilicon industry is headed for its biggest boom since a price war started three years ago. It can thank a burst of solar-panel orders in China and Japan. Read moreNew solar crowdfunding platform launched in US
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 14:21 (PV-Tech)
Another new crowdfunding website for solar projects in the US has been launched, to join Sunfunder and Mosaic in the recently created market space. Read moreLarge Scale Solar UK: Trina says 20GW by 2020 achievable if commercial sector mobilises
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 14:19 (Solarpowerportal)
Richard Rushin from Trina Solar has said that unlocking the potential of the UK commercial solar sector could hold the key to a 3GW year for British solar. Read moreMorocco turns to US in effort to kick start US$12 billion solar plans
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 13:36 (PV-Tech)
Senior Moroccan officials will tour the US this June as they look to kick start the North African country’s ambitious US$12.4 billion solar plans. Read moreHanwha SolarOne appoints new CEO
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)
Tier-one PV module manufacturer Hanwha SolarOne has appointed Seong-woo Nam as its new chief executive. Read moreUK solar industry alarm at pending subsidy review
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 12:28 (PV-Tech)
Representatives of the UK solar industry have expressed universal dismay at the prospect of a review of the country’s main’s support programme for large-scale solar. Read moreIndustry reaction to solar support review
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 11:39 (Solarpowerportal)
A round-up of the reaction to the news that DECC is set to announce a review of the level of support received by large-scale solar in the UK. Read moreUK becomes REC Solar’s largest European market
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 10:51 (Solarpowerportal)
PV panel manufacturer, REC Solar, continues to operate its production plant in Singapore at full capacity due to continued strong demand from its core markets of Europe and Japan. Read moreNorthland Power closes on USD 240 million in financing to build 50 MW of solar PV
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 8:01 (Solarserver)
Northland Power Inc. (Toronto, Canada) has closed on USD 240 million in financing to build five 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Ontario, as the final phase of 130 MW of utility-scale PV projects which it is building in the province. This includes a USD 240 million construction credit facility and an 18-year term loan. A subsidiary of White Construction Inc. (Clinton, Indiana, U.S.) is constructing the plants, and expects to complete them throughout 2014 and in the first half of 2015. The projects are all qualified to participate in the Ontario's feed-in tariff, and utilize Ontario-made equipment. Read moreStrong showing by California utilities in SEPA utility solar PV deployment rankings
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 7:56 (Solarserver)
The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA, Washington D.C., U.S.) has released its annual lists of the top 10 U.S. utilities for solar deployment in 2013, both on a raw capacity and capacity-per-customer basis. California utilities again dominated the raw deployment category, with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E, San Francisco, California, U.S.) adding 1.47 GW, more than double its nearest competitor. This is the sixth year that PG&E has taken top place in the rankings. Read moreThere are no news available
Wind Safety: Is Your Turbine Up to Industry Standards?
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 13:25 (Renewable Energy World)
The demand for greater safety in technology is growing worldwide. Proven and tested industrial automation products — including integrated safety functionality — increases the availability of wind turbine systems and coincidentally meeting stricter safety regulations. Modern safety concepts simplify the integration of fail-safe solutions into wind turbine systems. Read moreFrench State to Keep Control of Hydropower Concessions, Royal Says
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 13:58 (Renewable Energy World)
France will create state-controlled companies to operate hydroelectric dams, Energy Minister Segolene Royal said today, scrapping a plan to hold competitive bids for the contracts. Read moreArizona’s 290MW Agua Caliente PV plant operational
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)
The 290MW Agua Caliente solar PV facility in Arizona is close to being fully complete, according the NRG Solar and MidAmerican Solar. Read moreThere are no news available
There are no news available
Report: 100,000 jobs supported by UK renewables
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 18:57 (Solarpowerportal)
More than 100,000 jobs are supported by renewable energy in the UK, according to a new report. Read morePension Funds Hold a Key to Renewable Energy Finance
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 13:26 (Renewable Energy World)
One of the more prominent asset classes that U.S. pension funds invest in is electric utility stocks and bonds. This is because utilities are historically stable businesses, and as a result are suitable for retirement funds precisely because they are generally subject to virtually no market risks from competition. Thus their profits, while not literally guaranteed by a state’s utility governing agency, are nonetheless essentially guaranteed through approved rates of return and rate recovery. Read moreMoving Towards the European Super Grid
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 12:20 (Renewable Energy World)
The creation of a single European electricity market has been moving in a positive direction. With the EU Electricity Liberalization Directive agreed by all Member States forming the framework of EU energy policy, the overarching goal is for consumers to benefit from an internal market governed by coordinated rules — for the implementation of renewables and development of the electricity network. A market-oriented European energy system also aims to make the most of different types of power generation and to optimize the costs associated with managing, maintaining and evolving the grid infrastructure. Read moreDeutsche Bank Securities underwrites 60MW Sunedison California project
Wednesday, 4.30.2014 - 12:15 (PV-Tech)
US-based PV energy provider, SunEdison, has achieved financial close on a 60MW PV plant project in Kern County, California. Read moreThere are no news available