Trina reports strong Q1 2014 results as its Chinese PV project business grows

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 15:56 (Solarserver)

Trina Solar Ltd. (Changzhou, China) delivered strong year-over-year growth in the first quarter of 2014, as it ramps up its solar photovoltaic (PV) project business and its sales follow the shifts in global markets. The company increased sales 71% year-over-year to USD 445 million, despite shipments rising only 36% year-over-year to 534 MW, with revenue boosted by the sale of a PV project in China's Gansu Province. Read more

Abengoa completes the world's largest solar PV plant with single-axis tracking

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 20:34 (Solarserver)

Abengoa SA (Seville, Spain) has completed construction of the 206 MW Mount Signal Solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, located in Southern California on the U.S.-Mexico border. Mount Signal is the world's largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plant to employ single-axis tracking technology. Read more

Trina Solar profits swell as ASPs rise

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Trina Solar has reported increased profits and revenues in its Q1 results largely due to higher average selling prices (ASPs). Read more

25 Solar Marketing Alternatives to Unsolicited Telemarketing and Email Lists

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 17:45 (Renewable Energy World)

Remember that old Seinfeld episode where Jerry receives an unsolicited call from a telemarketer? If not, here’s the clip: The punch line, “Now you know how I feel,” resonates with me and perhaps the rest of America. Does anybody really want to be interrupted by a telemarketer or their robo-call lackeys? No, no one looks forward to a telemarketer’s Read more

Aldi completes 1.5MW solar array at multi-million pound cold store and distribution centre

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 17:18 (Solarpowerportal)

Aldi has completed a new environmentally-friendly warehouse and distribution centre that will be partly powered by solar panels. Read more

Yingli begins trial production of Metal-Wrap-Through solar PV technology

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 16:28 (Solarserver)

Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (Baoding, China) has begun trial production of monocrystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules which incorporate N-type Metal-Wrap-Through (MWT) technology, utilizing equipment designed by Formula E s.r.l. (Bologna, Italy). Read more

Future of 215 UK solar farms on the line following RO review

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 16:10 (Solarpowerportal)

The future of 215 ground-mounted solar farms in the UK hangs in balance after the government announced proposals to revise support for solar farms, according to findings in the NPD Solarbuzz UK Deal Tracker report. Read more

Whiat if Roads Were Made of Solar PV Panels?

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 15:45 (Renewable Energy World)

Four years ago, Scott and Julie Brusaw announced their provocative concept of "Solar Roadways," a system of modular ‘pavement’ solar panels that could be installed directly onto roads, parking lots, driveways, bike paths, and “literally any surface under the sun." The idea got traction (no pun intended) and since then, the Brusaws have received two Read more

What if Roads Were Made of Solar PV Panels?

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 15:45 (Renewable Energy World)

Four years ago, Scott and Julie Brusaw announced their provocative concept of "Solar Roadways," a system of modular ‘pavement’ solar panels that could be installed directly onto roads, parking lots, driveways, bike paths, and “literally any surface under the sun." The idea got traction (no pun intended) and since then, the Brusaws have received two Read more

Largest US municipal utility wants to add US$500+ rooftop fees in San Antonio

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 14:11 (PV-Tech)

The largest municipally owned utility company in the US, CPS Energy, has proposed the addition of connection fees and monthly charges to its rooftop solar programme in its service area of San Antonio, Texas. Read more

India trade spat rocks post-election solar optimism

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 14:03 (PV-Tech)

Before India’s new pro-solar Prime Minister Narendra Modi can settle into office, a glut of troubling solar issues await resolution. Read more

Solar racking systems: Mounting Systems GmbH presents innovations at Intersolar Europe

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 11:31 (Solarserver)

Mounting Systems GmbH (Rangsdorf, Germany), an international developer and producer of solar racking systems, will present its innovative flat roof systems Lambda Light S+ and Lambda Light EW+ as well as its easy to assemble open terrain system Sigma I XS at the Intersolar trade fair in Munich between 04th and 06th of June 2014. The systems will be presented in Hall C3, at booth 570. The advantages of the new light ballasted flat roof systems for landscape installed modules are obvious, the company emphasizes. Besides a weight-optimized design, which has been wind tunnel tested, both systems can be installed without roof penetration. The use of the proven Clickstone technology Read more

Chile's new Energy Plan will include renewables in bidding processes, push for solar innovation

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 8:29 (Solarserver)

Chilean Energy Minister Máximo Pacheco has presented President Bachelet (PS) with his Energy Plan, which will attempt to lift barriers to the deployment of non-conventional renewable energy (ERNC) such that it will comprise 45% of capacity installed between 2014 and 2025. According to the Energy Plan, this will allow ERNC to provide 20% of the nation's electricity by 2025, as dictated by the law passed under the previous administration. ERNC by definition excludes large hydroelectric plants. Read more

NPD Solarbuzz: Rapid growth of U.S. solar PV market threatened by policy changes

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 8:20 (Solarserver)

NPD Solarbuzz (Santa Clara, California, U.S.) predicts that cumulative installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in the United States will near 20 GW by the end of 2014, representing a 50% annual growth rate since 2006. However, the company warns that there are threats to the sector, including efforts to roll back renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and net metering policies at the state level. The most urgent threat identified is the uncertainty related to the trade investigation of PV products from China and Taiwan. Read more

GTM Research: More Solar PV monitoring systems installed than PV plants in 2013

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 8:16 (Solarserver)

The global capacity of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems equipped with monitoring solutions was greater than the capacity of new PV installed in 2013, according to a new report by GTM Research (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) and Solichamba Consulting (San Francisco, California, U.S.). “Global PV Monitoring: Technologies, Markets and Leading Players, 2014-2018” found that 39.7 GW of PV plants were equipped with monitoring systems in 2013, including 6.3 GW of retrofits on older plants. This contrasts with the 37 GW of PV plants installed during the year. Read more

United PV takes over full ownership of 180 MW of solar PV plants in Northwestern China

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 8:11 (Solarserver)

As subsidiary of United Photovoltaics Group Ltd. (Hong Kong, China) has agreed to take over full ownership of project companies which own three Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) plants totaling 180 MW by purchasing majority shares from Renewable Energy Trade Board (Hong Kong) Ltd. (EBODHK). United PV will pay USD 880,000 in cash to EBODHK for its 55% share of project companies Zhongli Gonghe and Hainanzhou Yahui, as well as assuming a USD 440,000 shareholders' loan. United PV notes that it is in line with plans to acquire the project companies in a two-step process. Read more

Ascent Solar Technologies to provide CIGS modules to power unmanned aircraft systems

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 1:25 (PV-Tech)

Thin-film developer Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. announced that it has agreed to a partnership with Silent Falcon UAS Technologies and Bye Aerospace which will see the company provide CIGS materials to power the Silent Falcon unmanned aerial system (UAS). Read more

Ross Solar Group installs 327kW rooftop system in Queens

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 0:15 (PV-Tech)

The Ross Solar Group, a PV installation company with locations in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, has completed the largest SunPower rooftop PV installation in the New York City borough of Queens to date. Read more

U.K.’s Negative Press on Wind Power Could Have Hurt Renewable Energy Fundraising

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.K.’s negative media coverage of wind farms may have curbed a clean-energy fundraising, with the Ventus VCT Plc and Ventus 2 VCT Plc trusts receiving a fifth of the amount they targeted, a Temporis Capital LLP partner said. Read more

UK’s Negative Press on Wind Power Could Have Hurt Renewable Energy Fundraising

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.K.’s negative media coverage of wind farms may have curbed a clean-energy fundraising, with the Ventus VCT Plc and Ventus 2 VCT Plc trusts receiving a fifth of the amount they targeted, a Temporis Capital LLP partner said. Read more

Texas Wind Boosted with Improved Public Planning

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 13:54 (Renewable Energy World)

Texas might not be the first state you think of for best practices in government planning. But it turns out Texas wind development success is due in great part to excellent planning by the state regulatory bodies, and not just a bunch of wild cowboys simply popping up turbines for the heck of it. Read more

‘Needlessly damaging’: industry reaction to solar farm review

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 13:10 (Solarpowerportal)

Watch industry leaders reject government’s argument that solar farm decision was necessary to preserve the budget and criticise the manner in which the news was delivered Read more

Global Geothermal News Roundup: US Plants Near Completion, South America Closer to Tapping Resource

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 13:55 (Renewable Energy World)

Geothermal projects are on the move worldwide. Some highlights include Oregon’s Paisley geothermal plant, which is expected to be completed this summer. Various projects are moving forward in stages of preparation and construction, including Mariposa, Chile; San Jacinto-Tizate, Nicaragua; and Biliran, The Philippines. China says it is establishing its own Geothermal Energy Association. Below you'll find brief updates on these projects and more. Read more

Anti-UCG campaigner gets a SLAPP: GENR 21 May

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 16:32 (PV-Tech)

In Wednesday’s Green Energy News Review, an anti-underground coal gasification activist has been hit with a cease and desist order by polluting company for indefensible reasons. Read more

Anti-UCG campaigner gets a SLAPP: GENR 21 May

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 16:31 (Solarpowerportal)

In Wednesday’s Green Energy News Review, an anti-underground coal gasification activist has been hit with a cease and desist order by polluting company for indefensible reasons Read more

Ohio Ready To Halt its Renewable Portfolio Standard

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 15:07 (Renewable Energy World)

Ohio is debating the sharpest break from a three-decade campaign by 29 U.S. states to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by promoting power from renewable sources. Read more

Ohio Ready To Halt Its Renewable Portfolio Standard

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 15:07 (Renewable Energy World)

Ohio is debating the sharpest break from a three-decade campaign by 29 U.S. states to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by promoting power from renewable sources. Read more

Texas is the American Leader in Energy – So How Can Its Electricity Markets be Such a Mess?

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 14:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Texas both produces and consumes more energy than any state in the U.S. It controls one-quarter of U.S. proven oil reserves. Energy companies looking to grow or to establish a U.S. presence set up operations in Texas. The primary electricity transmission system in Texas is independent of the rest of the country (a long-time source of pride). The Electric Reliability Company of Texas, or ERCOT, is responsible for regulating the generation and supply of power to 85 percent of the state, except the extreme eastern and western portions. Read more

‘Burgeoning’ PV monitoring market outstripped PV installs in 2013 - GTM

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Sales of PV monitoring equipment surpassed global PV installations in 2013, according to analysis by GTM Research. Read more

Alan Whitehead says electricity storage could be ‘glue’ that holds the grid together

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 11:07 (Solarpowerportal)

Electricity storage could be the “glue” that holds electricity networks together in the near future, according to Alan Whitehead MP. Read more

Alan Whitehead says electricity storage could be ‘glue’ that holds the network together

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 11:07 (Solarpowerportal)

Electricity storage could be the “glue” that holds electricity networks together in the near future, according to Alan Whitehead MP. Read more

Mexico sets goal for renewables to grow to 33% of installed capacity

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 8:24 (Solarserver)

Mexico announced a goal to increase its share of renewable energy to 32.9% of installed electricity generation capacity by 2018 at the Fifth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM5) in Seoul. CEM5 took place on May 12th-13th, 2014. The office of Mexico's Secretary of Energy (SENER) notes that this goal follows a number of energy sector reforms passed since 2010, including measures to integrate more renewable energy and bidding systems for renewables. Read more

Mexican government wants 33% of electricity capacity to come from renewable sources by 2018

Wednesday, 5.21.2014 - 0:41 (PV-Tech)

The Mexican government has set lofty goals for the future, as energy secretary Pedro Joaquin Coldwell announced that the current administration wants 33% of the country’s installed electricity capacity to come from renewable sources by 2018. Read more