Small in, large out as PV Japan show gets underway

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 14:01 (PV-Tech)

The PV Japan show, kicking off today, will see some of Japan’s biggest names in solar look to diversify their range of products and services, while foreign firms continue their attempts to make inroads into the Japanese market. Read more

New Suntech South Africa subsidiary could include local manufacturing

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

The new South African subsidiary of module maker Suntech could include local manufacturing, according to the company. Read more

SunPower to ship 29 MW of PV modules to Japanese IPP Nangoku Corporation

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 9:54 (Solarserver)

At the PV Japan 2014 conference on July 29th, 2014 SunPower Corporation (San Jose, Calif.) announced it has signed a definitive agreement to supply Nangoku Corporation (Nangoku) with 29 MWdc of its high efficiency E20/327 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Nangoku, an independent power producer (IPP) will build a mega solar PV plant in the Hioki, Kagoshima prefecture on the Island of Kyushu. Read more

Suntech establishes subsidiary to serve South African PV Market

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 7:19 (Solarserver)

Wuxi Suntech (Wuxi, China) one of the world's largest manufacturers of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, is expanding its footprint in Africa by establishing a subsidiary company in South Africa. The subsidiary, Suntech Power South Africa, is fully compliant with South Africa's Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) legislation, Suntech emphasizes. Read more

Sharp introduces stand-alone or PV coupled SmartStorage energy management solution in California, announces expanded availability

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 7:01 (Solarserver)

On July 29th, 2014 Sharp Electronics Corporation (Camas, WA), the U.S. subsidiary of Sharp Corporation (Japan), a world leader in solar electricity, announced the launch of Sharp's SmartStorage energy solution, which is immediately available throughout California and will be expanded to other states in the second half of 2014. SmartStorage operates effectively either as a stand-alone solution or when deployed together with a solar photovoltaic (PV) installation. Read more

SMA Solar to Cut 600 More Jobs and Lower Full-Year Forecast Citing Weak Demand

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 16:39 (Renewable Energy World)

SMA Solar Technology AG, Germany’s biggest solar company, said it may lose as much as 45 million euros ($60 million) this year because of “stagnating” demand in the solar industry. Shares fell the most in seven months. Read more

Massachusetts SREC Clearinghouse Auction Underway — Here’s What You Need to Know

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 16:07 (Renewable Energy World)

The Massachusetts solar renewable energy credit (SREC) market is undoubtedly one the most complex incentive programs. Among its complexities is the annual clearinghouse auction mechanism, which allows SREC sellers the opportunity to auction their SRECs at the end of each summer for a fixed price of $300/SREC, minus any auction and aggregation fees Read more

Brazil's First Solar-specific Power Auction Draws 10.8 GW of Interest

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 15:50 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar energy developers in Brazil applied to sell power from 400 power plants in the country’s first national energy auction with a specific category for photovoltaic projects. Read more

JinkoSolar to receive USD 225 million in private equity for its PV project business

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 14:16 (Solarserver)

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) on July 30th, 2014 announced that China Development Bank International (CDBI), the Macquarie Greater China Infrastructure Fund (MGCIF), a fund managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, and New Horizon Capital have agreed to invest a total of USD 225 million in the Company’s downstream solar power project business. Read more

Brazil continues solar surge as national auction attracts 400 solar power projects

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

The upcoming national renewable energy auction in Brazil has attracted 400 applications for PV plant development. Read more

AkzoNobel working with SERIS on lower cost ALD and PECVD precursors

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Materials specialist, AkzoNobel is collaborating with the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore in a bid to offer lower-cost ALD and PECVD precursors for aluminium oxide passivation layer processing. Read more

JinkoSolar secures US$225 million in private funding for projects business

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 14:04 (PV-Tech)

JinkoSolar has secured US$225 million in fresh investment for its solar projects business and has revised its project forecast up from 400 to 600MW. Read more

SEC uncovers US solar investment scam

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 13:56 (PV-Tech)

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has lodged charges against a company that it claims sought to dupe investors into backing a non-existent solar plant joint venture. Read more

Chinese government issues PPA template for large-scale solar

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 13:24 (PV-Tech)

The Chinese government has issued a standardised power purchase agreement (PPA) for large-scale solar power plants. Read more

SMA Solar warns of major job losses as market shifts to Asia

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 13:13 (PV-Tech)

Leading PV inverter manufacturer, SMA Solar Technology has announced a further round of restructuring with heavy job losses after drastically lowering its revenue forecast for the year. Read more

Martifer Solar weathers political storm to complete Ukraine PV plant

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 12:51 (PV-Tech)

Portuguese firm Martifer Solar has managed to complete an 8MW PV plant in Ukraine amid the ongoing political turmoil in the eastern European country. Read more

SMA Solar Technology lowers forecast for the current fiscal year, plans to lay off 600 employees

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 11:05 (Solarserver)

The Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (Niestetal, Germany) expects to see stagnation in the worldwide demand for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the current fiscal year. Particularly in the core PV and PV inverter markets in Europe demand has collapsed even further than expected, the company notes in an ad hoc announcement. In addition, cut-throat competition is keeping pricing pressure high in the solar industry. As a result, on July 30th, 2014 the Managing Board decided today to adjust its sales and earnings forecast for 2014. For the current fiscal year, the SMA Managing Board expects sales of between EUR 850 million and EUR 950 million (previously: EUR 1.0 Read more

Worldwatch Institute: Global solar power installations jumped to a new annual record in 2013

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 10:00 (Solarserver)

The year 2013 saw record-breaking growth for solar electricity generation as the photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) markets continued to grow. With over 39 gigawatts (GW) installed worldwide, the solar PV market represented one third of all newly-added renewable energy capacity, write Worldwatch's Max Lander and climate and energy intern Xiangyu Wu in the Worldwatch Institute's latest “Vital Signs Online” trend. Read more

China Sunergy and CPH Solar UK sign supply agreement on PV modules made in Turkey

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 9:44 (Solarserver)

China Sunergy (CSUN, Nanjing, China) on July 29th, 2014 announced that it has finalized a contract with CPH Solar Ltd. (Chichester, UK) to supply its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules made in Turkey, which CPH Solar will supply to distributors and installers in the UK. CPH Solar will provide warehousing for the PV modules until final sales in its distribution center in Felxistowe. Read more

SPI Solar to sell USD 25 million of common stock in a private placement

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 9:33 (Solarserver)

SPI Solar (Roseville, Calif., U.S.), a vertically-integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) developer, on July 29th, 2014 announced that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement for the sale of USD 25 million of common stock in a private placement. When received, the company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the shares for expansion of its global PV project activities, continued investment in ramping its “YES!Solar” solution for the residential and small business PV segments, for working capital purposes and to pay down debt. Read more

Hanergy Solar to change name to Hanergy Thin Film Power Group

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 9:24 (Solarserver)

The Board of Hanergy Solar Group Limited (Hong Kong) proposes to change the English name of the Company to "Hanergy Thin Film Power Group Limited". The Group is engaged in the design and assembly of equipment and turnkey production lines for the production of thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, and has expanded its downstream solar power generation and application business worldwide since 2013. Read more

PV in California: SunPower breaks ground on 135 MW Quinto Solar Plant

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 7:24 (Solarserver)

SunPower Corp. (San Jose, Calif.) on July 29th, 2014 announced it has started construction on the 135 megawatt Quinto Solar Project in Merced County, Calif. The solar photovoltaic (PV) system will generate power for Southern California Edison's customers, under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). In accordance with the company's recently announced “holdco” strategy, SunPower expects to own and operate the solar power plant during construction. Read more

France Spurs Efficiency, Renewables with $13.4 Billion Energy Plan

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 16:22 (Renewable Energy World)

France’s planned energy law will mobilize about €10 billion (US $13.4 billion) in investment through tax credits and low-interest loans to spur efficiency and renewable power, Environment Minister Segolene Royal said. Read more

From Grass in the Field to Fuel in the Hopper: On-Farm Grass Energy is an Opportunity for Farmers

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 14:50 (Renewable Energy World)

Farmers and landowners want to lower fuel and feed costs, explore feed and fertilizer co-products, be more self-sufficient, and rely less of fossil fuels. Biomass grass crops can be established on marginal lands and processed as a fuel replacement for heating oil or propane, or as an addition to wood chips or pellets. Read more

Ofgem publishes proposals for £17 billion electricity network boost

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 13:38 (Solarpowerportal)

Ofgem has published its price control settlements for the five remaining distributed network operators. Read more

A Grand Vision of a Potential U.S. Energy System

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

If all energy production channels were employed, the United States has sufficient resources to eliminate all coal, gasoline and diesel combustion in all demand sectors and replace them with natural gas, wind and solar electricity firmed and shaped with both grid-scale and distributed energy storage. I believe that we can reach a zero-air-pollution, coal-free, crude-import free, all-electric low-cost energy future. We have energy rhetoric and technology to get there; do we have leadership and will? Read more

A Grand Vision of a Potential US Energy System

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

If all energy production channels were employed, the United States has sufficient resources to eliminate all coal, gasoline and diesel combustion in all demand sectors and replace them with natural gas, wind and solar electricity firmed and shaped with both grid-scale and distributed energy storage. I believe that we can reach a zero-air-pollution, coal-free, crude-import free, all-electric low-cost energy future. We have energy rhetoric and technology to get there; do we have leadership and will? Read more

Con Edison proposes customer-side storage to save on US$1bn of infrastructure investment

Wednesday, 7.30.2014 - 12:36 (PV-Tech)

One of the largest investor-owned utilities in the USA is looking to use a series of measures that are likely to include customer-side energy storage in order to stave off the need for US$1 billion worth of infrastructure investment. Read more