Eurotron opens ‘Competence Center’ dedicated to back-contact cell/module technologies

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Eurotron, a developer of back-contact solar cell processing equipment has opened a new ‘Competence Center’ to provide lab to fab testing and pre-production services for MWT, EWT, HJBC and IBC solar cell/module technologies. Read more

Forever 21’s 5.1MW rooftop qualifies for LA feed-in tariff

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 13:16 (PV-Tech)

A planned 5.1MW (DC) rooftop PV project at the headquarters of US fashion outlet Forever 21 has joined the list of PV systems receiving payment through the Los Angeles feed-in tariff programme, which was launched last year. Read more

U.S. President Obama puts solar PV system on the White House, announces commitments for 850 MW of new PV

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 22:10 (Solarserver)

U.S. President Barack Obama has announced commitments from 300 organizations to install a total of more than 850 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, along with policies to support solar deployment and grow the U.S. PV industry. Read more

Heraeus’ metallization paste sales declined again in 2013

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

The Precious Metals business group of Heraeus posted product revenue of €1.29 billion in 2013, which includes its Thick Film Materials segment that includes conductive pastes for the solar industry. Read more

Green Energy News Review: Solar connected on the White House roof as Obama has a PV dig at Congress

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

In today’s Green Energy News Review, IRENA counts 6.5 million renewable energy jobs globally, the White House connects its PV installation, Barack Obama has a dig at Congress’ attitude to PV and fracking is set to begin in the UK in 2015. Read more

Green Energy News Review: Solar connected on the White House roof as Obama has a PV dig at congress

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 16:15 (Solarpowerportal)

In today’s green news round-up: New report counts 6.5 million renewable energy jobs globally, White House connects new solar array; and shale gas could be hitting households as soon as 2015. Read more

Sharp's solar PV sales boom, but fall predicted during FY 2014

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 15:47 (Solarserver)

Citing the strong Japanese solar photovoltaic (PV) market as well success with overseas projects, Sharp Corp. (Osaka, Japan) has reported 1.6 billion in sales and a 10% operating margin in its Solar Cells division during the quarter ending March 31st, 2014. Read more

5 Ways to Use the White House Solar PV System for Residential Solar Marketing

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 15:28 (Renewable Energy World)

At long last, the White House has officially announced and promoted its solar installation. Though it wasn’t the comprehensive solar PR and educational blitz I was hoping for, it did include a blog post and a nicely produced video, below.   As many longtime readers of this UnThink Solar blog know, I’ve promoted getting solar back on the White House Read more

Trina Solar and vogt solar partner for 11.7MW Knowlton Court solar farm

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 15:05 (Solarpowerportal)

The historic Knowlton Court estate in Canterbury, Kent has installed an 11.7MW solar array across 14.2 hectares of its land. Read more

Los Angeles retailer to host 5.1 MW-DC rooftop solar PV plant under city's feed-in tariff

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 14:57 (Solarserver)

PermaCity Solar (Santa Monica, California, U.S.) has announced that it will install a 5.1 MW-DC solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the headquarters of retailer Forever 21 in Los Angeles, California. The PV plant will be the third-largest rooftop PV plant in California, and will be supported under Los Angeles' feed-in tariff program as well as its Solar Incentive Program. Read more

Local mounting systems factory for 155MW of First Solar’s Australia projects

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 14:31 (PV-Tech)

An Australian firm will build a facility in Adelaide for the manufacture of mounting systems for First Solar PV projects, including two PV plants with a combined capacity of 155MW (AC). Read more

JinkoSolar to supply 35MW for project next to Arizona mine

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 13:44 (PV-Tech)

JinkoSolar is to provide 35MW of modules for a PV project next to a copper mine in Arizona. Read more

The Value of Solar: Old Wine in New Bottles

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 12:47 (Renewable Energy World)

The “Value of Solar” has emerged as a flash point in the debate over the future of solar PV in the U.S. This has culminated in the recent introduction in Minnesota of a Value of Solar (VoS) policy, which will pay a per-kWh price for solar PV output over a 25-year period. This price is based on a detailed calculation of the estimated value of solar to the State’s electricity system. Read more

Sharp solar sales soar to US$4.3 billion in 2013

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 12:39 (PV-Tech)

Sharp Corporation’s solar PV segments returned to profitability in 2013 as sales in its cell segment increased 68.9% to US$4.3 billion (¥439 billion) and ahead of previous guidance of ¥430 billion. Read more

Obama takes triple-pronged approach to boost US solar

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 12:18 (PV-Tech)

President Obama has launched a triple-pronged approach to boost the solar energy sector in the US. Read more

STA expects solar RO announcement tomorrow

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 12:15 (Solarpowerportal)

The Solar Trade Association (STA) says that it “seems clear” that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will publish proposals to change solar’s support under the Renewable Obligation (RO) scheme on Tuesday. Read more

Green light for Abengoa CSP plant in Chile

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 12:13 (PV-Tech)

Spanish renewable energy developer Abengoa’s proposal for an 110MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant has been approved by the Chilean environmental authorities. Read more

Recurrent Energy completes 13 solar PV projects in Ontario totaling 101 MW-AC

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 8:52 (Solarserver)

Recurrent Energy (San Francisco, California, U.S.) has announced the completion of a portfolio of ten solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totaling 78 MW-AC, as well as the final three PV projects a second 74 MW-AC portfolio. Despite harsh winter conditions and heavy snowfall, Recurrent completed all 13 plants totaling 101 MW-AC in late 2013 and early 2014. Electricity from all plants in both portfolios is being sold through 20-year contracts under Ontario's feed-in tariff. Read more

Yingli to supply 30 MW of solar PV modules for projects in Turkey

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 8:47 (Solarserver)

The Turkish subsidiary of Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (Boading, China) has been chosen by Tekno Ray Solar (Istanbul) to supply 30 MW of its multicrystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules over the next 12 months. Yingli expects these PV modules to be used in several large-scale PV projects in southern Turkey. While Turkey installed only 9 MW of PV in 2012, the nation's PV market appears to be growing rapidly under its feed-in tariff. Read more

Renewable heating forum to be held at Intersolar Europe 2014

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 8:43 (Solarserver)

The Intersolar Europe trade show will stage a three-day forum looking at technologies and policies for renewable heating, with an opening on June 4th, 2014 by German feed-in tariff co-author and former MP Hans-Josef Fell (Green). Intersolar Europe estimates that heating represents the largest share of German energy use at 40%, and that as such renewable heat presents a large potential for reducing the nation's CO2 emissions. It also notes Germany's dependence upon gas imports from politically unstable regions such as Russia and Ukraine. Read more

Phoenix Solar upbeat about future prospects despite revenue collapse in Q1 2014

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 8:35 (Solarserver)

Phoenix Solar AG (Sulzemoos, Germany) has reported a 78% year-over-year collapse in revenues during the first quarter of 2014 to EUR 6.6 million (USD 9.1 million). However, the company managed to reduce its operating loss to by roughly half to EUR 2.2 million (USD 3.0 million), representing a -33% operating margin. Phoenix Solar underwent a restructuring in the first quarter of 2013, and notes that the fall in revenues is not surprising given its focus on the volatile PV projects business. The company retains EUR 62 million (USD 85 million) in orders on hand, and stands by its projection of EUR 150–160 million (USD 205–220 million) in 2014 revenues, with a positive operating Read more

Fuel from the Sea: Scale Model WWII Craft Takes Flight with Seawater

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 12:11 (Renewable Energy World)

Navy researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Materials Science and Technology Division, demonstrate proof-of-concept of novel NRL technologies developed for the recovery of carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) from seawater and conversion to a liquid hydrocarbon fuel. Read more

Powerway undertakes PV mounting system wind tunnel testing in Germany

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Major PV mounting systems specialist, Powerway Renewable Energy has recently undertaken extensive wind tunnel testing of its PV mounting systems in an effort to be able to reduce ballast and costs where possible. Read more

New York Seeks to Reform the Energy Vision: Shift from Monopoly Model to "Utility 2.0"

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 15:52 (Renewable Energy World)

New York State is pushing its utility industry to shift away from a century-old business model into a system that can accommodate more power from solar and wind. Read more

Renewable Energy Stocks By Dollars Per Watt

Monday, 5.12.2014 - 12:08 (Renewable Energy World)

Dollars per watt ($/W) is a lousy measure of the economics of solar, but it persists. Most likely, it persists because it seems familiar. We can pay $4 for a watt of solar, or $4 for a Iced Hazelnut Macchiato at Starbucks. Unfortunately, while the analogy may seem apt, this is a lot like knowing you’re getting a Macchiato without knowing if it’s a Tall, Grande, or Venti. Read more