Size doesn’t matter for niche thin-film market

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

A number of smaller thin-film applications will be collectively worth 1.2GW by 2024, according to a new study by Lux Research. Read more

Conergy announces second large-scale plant in Philippines

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 17:00 (PV-Tech)

Conergy will build a second utility-scale plant in the Philippines, about 30 miles from the capital Manila, to add to the 22MW plant on the island of Negros Occidental that was connected in May. Read more

X-GW PV production: European Photovoltaic Technology Platform discusses large-scale PV manufacturing in Europe

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 16:27 (Solarserver)

“The time of excess solar cell and module production capacity is coming to an end,” said Prof Eicke Weber, Director of Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Freiburg, Germany) and speaker for the European Gigawatt Fab initiative known as ‘X-GW’ at the Annual Conference of the European Photovoltaic Technology Platform on June 24th, 2014 in Brussels “Europe needs to be ready in 3-4 years to manufacture cutting edge, next generation technology cost effectively, which means with extensive use of automation and at GW scale.” Read more

REC Solar still looking for CEO replacement

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 20:07 (PV-Tech)

Singapore headquartered PV manufacturer, REC Solar ASA has appointed current CFO, Martin Cooper as interim CEO. Øyvind Hasaas is retiring from the company at the end of June, 2014. Read more

Texas launches solar trade association

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 17:50 (PV-Tech)

The state of Texas has launched a solar trade association. Read more

Solar PV in Pakistan: The meeco Group and Nishat Group sign PPA agreement on a 2.0 MWp solar installation on a shopping mall in Lahore

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 16:23 (Solarserver)

Oursun Solar Power Ltd. (Lahore, Pakistan), a subsidiary joint venture company of the Swiss based meeco Group, and the Pakistani multinational Nishat Group have concluded an agreement for the supply of a total of up to 2,0 MWp of “sun2roof” solar photovoltaic (PV) installations for the future emporium mall in the framework of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Read more

MENA countries to spend USD 9.8 billion over next decade to modernize electric grids, incorporate new solar generation capacity valued USD 27.9 billion

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 16:19 (Solarserver)

Middle East and North African (MENA) countries will spend billions of dollars over the next decade to modernize their electric grids and add solar generation resources, infrastructure market intelligence firm Northeast Group LLC (Washington) reports. This spending will include USD 9.8 billion cumulatively for smart grid infrastructure by 2024. Smart grid will enable the incorporation of USD 27.9 billion in new solar generation resources. MENA countries can save between USD1 billion to USD 3.5 billion per year by redirecting domestic energy consumption towards exports, according to a new study by Northeast Group. Read more

TRIC solar mounting system from Wagner Solar achieves MCS012 certification

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 16:15 (Solarserver)

On June 25th, 2014 Wagner Solar UK Ltd. (Chichester) announced announce the completion of MCS012 certification for its TRIC mounting system for solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems. The accreditation has been carried out by leading certification body BRE Global and covers the company’s TRIC A system for residential pitched roofs (including slate tiles) as well as the commercial mounting product family for roof structures including amongst others trapezoid and fibre cement coverings. Read more

SCE issues invitation to tender small-scale solar, renewable generation projects

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 16:07 (Solarserver)

Southern California Edison (SCE, Rosemead, Calif.) has launched another round of solicitations for small-scale renewable source projects, including solar photovoltaics (PV), wind, geothermal and biomass, with the goal of procuring up to 290 megawatts from smaller-scale renewable projects through a Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM). The submission deadline for this solicitation is Friday, June 27th. Read more

‘Window of opportunity’ opening for renaissance in European PV manufacturing

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Europe’s PV manufacturing sector has a limited window of opportunity in which to position itself to capitalise on the predicted worldwide upturn in solar demand, according to the director of Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE research establishment. Read more

BayWa r.e completes Cornwall solar farm

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 14:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewable energy project developer, BayWa r.e has announced the completion of its Polmaugan Solar Farm. Read more

Rooftop Solar Leases Scaring Buyers When Homeowners Sell

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 13:43 (Renewable Energy World)

Dorian Bishopp blames the solar panels on his roof for costing him almost 10 percent off the value of the home he sold in March. Read more

Barker: UK solar at forefront of the move to a new renewables revolution

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 13:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar will lead the push towards grid parity and zero subsidies for renewable technologies in the UK, according to Greg Barker, minister for climate change. Read more

Bahrain 5MW solar plant complete

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 13:10 (PV-Tech)

System provider, Petra Solar, and its partner, the Washington DC-based renewable infrastructure business group, Caspian Renewable Energy, have completed a 5MW installation in Bahrain. Read more

EPIA: Proper regulation needed for distribution grid operation and solar PV flexibility

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 9:34 (Solarserver)

The integration of renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaics (PV) holds an underestimated and untapped potential to offer flexibility services to the distribution grid but the regulatory framework is missing, as was highlighted during an event held at the European Commission on June 24th, 2014. Read more

Lux Research: Niche solar PV markets will grow to 1.2 GW in 2024; Applications like BIPV provide a small, but profitable opportunity for thin-film suppliers

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 9:27 (Solarserver)

After a string of failures in trying to displace crystalline silicon in core application solar photovoltaic (PV) market segments, many thin-film PV manufacturers have sought out smaller, niche markets where they can leverage flexibility, light weight, and aesthetic attributes. Supplier consolidation and slow adoption have led to additional failures and poor sentiment. However, a suite of niche applications will combine to a market worth 1.2 GW in 2024, led by building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) that incorporate PV panels directly in building roofs, skylights or facades, according to Lux Research (Boston, MA, U.S.). Read more

Wanted: An EU Biofuels Policy that Is Fair for All

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 14:42 (Renewable Energy World)

At the beginning of 2014, the European Commission unveiled a policy framework for climate and energy from 2020 to 2030. In a controversial move, the Commission stated that it “does not think it appropriate to establish new targets for renewable energy or greenhouse gas intensity of fuels used in the transport sector or any other sub-sector after 2020.” Read more

Many Describing UK Wind Energy Cuts as Unsettling

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 14:48 (Renewable Energy World)

David Cameron’s planned subsidy cuts for U.K. wind power are unsettling the investors the prime minister needs to fund infrastructure of all kinds, the company developing one of the nation’s biggest wind farms said. Read more

German industry group considering ‘legal action’ against energy reforms

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 13:35 (PV-Tech)

German solar industry trade association BSW-Solar is considering taking legal action over reforms to the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG), announced yesterday. Read more

EnergyTrend: China to Cut 1/3 of Taiwanese PV orders; starts entering into the Japanese market

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 12:25 (Solarserver)

TrendForce's (Taipei) EnergyTrend division reports that the Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has been facing serious challenges since the beginning of 2014, and the market change is now affecting Taiwan. Some Chinese PV companies started to cut Taiwanese orders and this may bring negative influence to Taiwanese PV manufacturers’ performance in the second half of this year, EnergyTrend forecasts. Read more

German Renewable Energy Association: Restart of the energy transition backfired by Government

Wednesday, 6.25.2014 - 9:40 (Solarserver)

The German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) criticized the German Government’s proposal on the reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) as a step backwards for the energy turnaround. "Federal Minister Sigmar Gabriel had announced a reboot for the ‘Energiewende’ - now he has reached the opposite," says BEE CEO Dr. Hermann Falk. "Mandatory direct marketing and tenders will curb the further expansion of renewable energies and simultaneously increase efforts and costs of the overall system." Read more