KIT and SMA inaugurate test centres for storage and inverters

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 13:49 (PV-Tech)

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and inverter maker SMA have both recently inaugurated megawatt-scale testing facilities that pair PV with batteries. Read more

Zhongli Talesun warns of PV patent ‘crisis’ following Kyocera lawsuit

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 13:40 (PV-Tech)

Chinese PV manufacturer, Zhongli Talesun, has said the filing of a patent infringement case by Kyocera Corporation against the Japanese subsidiary of Hanwha Q CELLS on the use of a ‘three-busbar electrode structure’ was a “crisis signal to most PV manufacturers”. Read more

Domestic suppliers strengthen grip on booming Chinese inverter market

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 13:31 (PV-Tech)

China’s PV inverter market grew more than 100% last year, with domestic firms dominating the top of the rankings, according to IHS. Read more

IHS: Domestic suppliers dominate Chinese PV Inverter market as demand doubles to nearly USD 800 million

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 12:06 (Solarserver)

The Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) inverter market grew by more than 100 percent in 2013, providing a huge boost to the country’s domestic supplier base, according to the latest report from IHS Technology (London, U.K.). The 10 largest suppliers in China 2013 were all domestic companies, and all benefited from explosive growth as the market expanded to nearly USD 800 million, up from USD 400 million in 2012. China’s PV inverter market is forecast to generate robust growth over the coming years and reach 18 gigawatts (GW) of annual shipments in 2018, up from 11 GW in 2013. Read more

PV in Pakistan: meeco Group expands strategic partnership with Lahore University towards performance optimization

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 11:56 (Solarserver)

After the successful “sun2live” installation set up on the rooftop of Lahore University of Managements Sciences (LUMS) in 2013, the meeco Group (Zug, Switzerland), through its Group company oursun Solar Power Limited, and LUMS pursue their cooperation by concluding another Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) amounting to 300 kWp. This new solar photovoltaic (PV) installation is expected to produce a minimum of 502.200 kWh of solar power per year, which shall thus save 43.18 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Read more

WTO Tells US To Reconsider Solar Panel Tariffs

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 20:19 (Renewable Energy World)

Yesterday the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced its findings in the dispute between China and the United States over countervailing measures imposed on various Chinese-made goods including solar panels. Read more

Yingli to build 2MW solar power plant in Senegal

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 17:55 (PV-Tech)

The Spanish subsidiary of solar panel manufacturer, Yingli Green, is to build a 2MW solar power plant in Senegal. Read more

Silicor Materials to produce solar silicon in Iceland

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 17:44 (PV-Tech)

Solar silicon materials producer, Silicor Materials is to establish a 19,000MT plant in Iceland to convert metallurgical-grade silicon (MG-Si) feedstock to purified solar grade silicon that it claims can be produced at US$9/kg. Read more

Silicor Materials produce solar silicon in Iceland

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 17:44 (PV-Tech)

Solar silicon materials producer, Silicor Materials is to establish a 19,000MT plant in Iceland to convert metallurgical-grade silicon (MG-Si) feedstock to purified solar grade silicon that it claims can be produced at US$9/kg. Read more

Is Solar Ownership Poised for a Comeback?

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 16:20 (Renewable Energy World)

With “no money down” and “zero maintenance” to attract homeowners, solar leasing has become the overwhelming favorite for residential solar installations. And with the complexity of tax incentives, rebates, and financing, it’s hard to find fault with homeowners that choose this low-effort option. But giving up ownership means giving up a big share Read more

Listen Up: The State of Solar in Hawaii

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 14:52 (Renewable Energy World)

As Jimmy Carter said, "what starts in California unfortunately has an inclination to spread." When it comes to solar, this quote should be changed to "fortunately," since California leads the nation in solar deployments of all types. But there is a state — even farther to the west — that is the real leader when it comes to rooftop solar penetration and the challenge these systems present to electric utilities. Read more

New Delhi authorities invite bidders for rent-a-roof solar programme

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 14:38 (PV-Tech)

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is looking for contractors to build and operate rooftop PV as part of a solar rooftop rental programme planned for the Indian city. Read more

Egypt’s Luxor makes solar debut, with more to come

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 13:04 (PV-Tech)

Egypt’s Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, and governor of the city of Luxor, Tarek Saad Eddin, inaugurated two solar power plants on Saturday, according to local news reports. Read more

WTO: US solar duties broke trade rules

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 13:01 (PV-Tech)

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that US import duties applied to Chinese solar products in 2012 broke global trade rules. Read more

Krannich Solar completes 418kWp rooftop project in Japan

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 11:15 (PV-Tech)

The Japanese arm of German company Krannich Solar has completed a 418kWp PV system on the roof of an aluminium manufacturer’s facility in western Japan. Read more

Solar Energy Corporation of India publishes list of rooftop PV project developers in Phase IV bidding

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 9:22 (Solarserver)

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has released the list of bidders under the Phase IV of the Solar PV rooftop programme. Since L1 bidding process was used for selection of bidders, the non-L1 bidders have been given time till July 21st, 2014 to match the L1 prices. SECI had released the RfS for allocation of 50 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop projects in 21 Indian states in March 2014 under two models - Part-A (CAPEX) and Part-B (RESCO). 40 MW in 21 states were available under Part A and 10 MW in 6 states were available under Part B. Read more

SEIA on recent developments in solar trade case: The future is unclear despite WTO Ruling

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 9:16 (Solarserver)

In a significant ruling handed down on July 14th, 2014 a panel of judges at the World Trade Organization (WTO) accused the United States of violating global trade rules when it imposed punitive import duties in 2012 on many Chinese products, including solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. “We are continuing to follow developments closely, but today’s WTO decision is not expected to impact either the 2012 U.S. solar countervailing duty (CVD) order against China or any new CVD tied to the ongoing investigation until 2016, at the earliest”, comments Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Read more

Solarbuzz: Top-5 countries account for 80% of global PV demand

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 9:01 (Solarserver)

The rise of the Chinese and U.S. solar photovoltaic (PV) markets has been occurring steadily over the past few years, with the Chinese market seeing the greater growth in a short period of time, while the U.S. has seen slower, but steadier increases, NPD Solarbuzz Inc. (Santa Clara, California, U.S.), reports. Now, in the second half of 2014, these two PV markets are set to reach a new demand share record, accounting for 54% of the global market according to NPD Solarbuzz. Read more

CASE statement on WTO PV tariff findings: Tariffs hurt American solar workers

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 8:52 (Solarserver)

The WTO panel determined that important aspects of the U.S. government’s findings in the solar trade dispute conflicted with the U.S. commitments and legal obligations under the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and, “recommended that the United States bring its measures into conformity with its obligations,” under the Agreement. The World Trade Organization (WTO) issued a ruling on July 14th, 2014 that found some punitive U.S. import duties on Chinese products, including solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, violate the United States’ commitments to WTO rules, the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) reports. The WTO panel determined that important Read more

C-WET provides additional information on Indian national solar atlas project

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 8:43 (Solarserver)

C-WET (Chennai, India) a specialized autonomous R & D institution established under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India published a rejoinder in response to the information posted on 07.07.2014 on Solar Server (Global Solar Industry Website) under the caption “3TIER to develop national solar atlas of India”. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India has launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) to establish 20 GW of solar power by 2022. In this regard, to measure solar radiation resources available in the country, C-WET is implementing the Solar Radiation Resource Assessment (SRRA) mission mode project Read more

Greenskies reaches US$82 million deal to finance more than 60 PV projects

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 6:15 (PV-Tech)

US-based solar installer Greenskies Renewable Energy has reached a US$82 million financing deal with Dutch multinational company Rabobank that will see Greenskies finance more than 60 solar projects in Connecticut and three other states, HartfordBusiness.com reports. Read more

Israel set for 121MW solar thermal plant

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 6:02 (PV-Tech)

Megalim Solar Power, a company established by Brightsource, Alstom and the NOY Infrastructure & Energy Investment Fund has received funding from the European Investment Bank and Bank Hapoalim in order to construct a 121MW solar thermal plant in Israel. Read more

121MW PV Plant set to be constructed in Israel

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 6:02 (PV-Tech)

Megalim Solar Power Ltd, a company established by Brightsource, Alstom and the NOY Infrastructure & Energy Investment Fund has received funding from the European Investment Bank and Bank Hapoalim in order to construct a 121MW PV plant in Israel. Read more

4.9 GW of New Offshore Wind Capacity Under Construction in Europe

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 15:53 (Renewable Energy World)

There are currently 16 offshore wind farms under construction in Europe totaling 4.9 GW of power capacity. During the first six months of 2014, 224 new offshore wind turbines, totaling 781 megawatts (MW), were fully grid connected in Europe — 25 percent less than during the same period in 2013 (1,045 MW). Also during this period, 282 wind turbines have been installed but not connected, making a total of 310 offshore turbines awaiting grid connection. Once connected they will add a further 1,200 MW of offshore wind energy capacity. Read more

DECC’s illegal FiT changes had ‘devastating effect’

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 14:14 (Solarpowerportal)

Solarlec is one of 14 companies claiming £132 million in damages from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The company’s director Nicholas Keighley tells Peter Bennett why the company felt legal action was necessary. Read more

GCL-Poly subsidiary to supply silicon tetrachloride to Evonik and GCL new JV

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

GCL-Poly subsidiary, Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon Technology Development, is to supply silicon tetrachloride, a byproduct of polysilicon production to a new joint venture between Evonik Industries and GCL-Poly Energy Holdings that will produce fumed silica and ultra-pure silicon tetrachloride. Read more

The New Mod Squad – Grid Modernization for Our Shifting Energy Resources

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 15:34 (Renewable Energy World)

We’ve heard a lot about smart grid over the past decade, but to achieve a truly intelligent grid we need to do much more than switch out analog meters for their digital counterparts. We must also implement comprehensive new regulatory structures to make use of the data and functionality provided by these equipment upgrades.  In other words, we need Read more

UK set to miss carbon targets without stronger policy, warns CCC

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 13:24 (Solarpowerportal)

The UK is in danger of missing its post-2020 carbon targets unless key policies are strengthened, according to a report published today by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Read more

Australia awards funding to hybrid renewables project

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 11:15 (PV-Tech)

The government-run Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded funding of AUD$18.5 million (US$17.3 million) to a hybrid energy project in South Australia. Read more

Greg Barker resigns and Owen Paterson sacked in cabinet reshuffle

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 9:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Greg Barker, the minister for climate change, has resigned from his role and will step down from the Commons in May. Read more

US Department of Defense hands out US$334 million contract for PV projects in Hawaii

Tuesday, 7.15.2014 - 6:15 (PV-Tech)

Pacific Energy Solutions, LLC (PES) has received a US$334 million contract from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific to develop, built, own and operate PV plants at military bases in Hawaii. Read more