European arm of Suntech Power Holdings now solvent

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 18:14 (PV-Tech)

In the long-running bankruptcy saga of once global leading PV manufacturer, Suntech Power Holdings its major overseas sales operations, Suntech Power International (SPI) based in Switzerland has ended the moratorium phase of insolvency proceedings. Read more

Order Focus: Sunrun using up to 100MW of REC Solar modules in 2015

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 17:50 (PV-Tech)

Tier-one PV module manufacturer, REC Solar ASA is to supply US-based major residential solar installer, Sunrun with up to 100MW of PV modules in a new supply deal for 2015. Read more

China Minsheng Banking Corporation to provide USD 3.2 billion credit line to Shunfeng Photovoltaic International

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 16:24 (Solarserver)

Shunfeng Photovoltaic International Limited Shunfeng Photovoltaic International Limited (Changzhou, China) announced that on August 15th, 2014 the Company and the Shanghai Branch of China Minsheng Banking Corporation Limited (CMBC) entered into a strategic cooperation agreement. According to the agreement CMBC will, among other things, provide Shunfeng Photovoltaic banking credit and facilities of up to RMB 20 billion (approx. USD 3.2 billion). Read more

Trina Solar’s 72-cell frameless dual glass module gains quality certifications

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

Major PV manufacturer, Trina Solar has received quality certifications, including the IEC61215, IEC 61730 and UL1703 standards from UL and TUV Rheinland for its ‘Duo-Max’ 72-cell frameless dual glass module. Read more

1.5 million SolarWorld modules affected by ‘recall’

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 16:54 (PV-Tech)

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of 1.5 million modules in the US and Canada. Read more

1.5 million SolarWorld systems affected by ‘recall’

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 16:54 (PV-Tech)

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of 1.5 million modules in the US and Canada. Read more

EU will not pursue SolarWorld’s claims of Chinese trade breaches

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 16:50 (Solarpowerportal)

The EU Trade Commission has told PV Tech that it will not be pursuing the dossier of evidence presented to it by EU ProSun and SolarWorld that purported to show breaches of the EU-China price undertaking. Read more

Thousands of Nevadans urge utilities commission to stand strong for rooftop solar PV, net metering

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 16:29 (Solarserver)

On August 19th, 204 dozens of concerned Nevadans gathered at the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) to show support for one of the state’s most important solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop programs, the Vote Solar Initiative (San Francisco, California, U.S.) announced. The energetic crowd delivered more than 4,300 petition signatures urging state leaders to stand strong for rooftop solar and the many economic, environmental and grid benefits it delivers throughout the state. Read more

Frost & Sullivan: Strong telecom penetration in off-grid remote areas creates opportunities for solar, wind hybrid power systems

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 16:17 (Solarserver)

The lack of grid connectivity in distant and rural areas – especially in developing countries – is prompting end users to retrofit or replace the ubiquitous diesel generator set with cost-effective and efficient hybrid power systems. Hybrid power system manufacturers across the globe can leverage this trend while also targeting potential growth segments such as resorts, remote tourist spots, and off-grid residential communities to succeed in the market. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan (Mountain View, California, U.S.), Global Hybrid Power Systems Market, finds that the market earned revenues of USD 358.4 million in 2013 and estimates this to reach Read more

Canadian Solar sells 10 MW Good Light solar PV plant for over USD 60.3 million to BluEarth

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 15:57 (Solarserver)

Canadian Solar Inc. (Guelph, Ontari, Canada) on August 20th, 2014 announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Canadian Solar Solutions Inc., has completed the sale of Good Light, a 10 megawatt (MW) AC solar photovoltaic power plant located in the town of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, valued at over CAD 66.0 million (USD 60.3 million) to a BluEarth Renewables Inc. subsidiary (Calgary). This is the second of four planned solar projects being acquired by BluEarth from Canadian Solar, totalling 38.5 MW AC. Read more

EU will not pursue SolarWorld’s claims of Chinese trade breaches

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 15:08 (PV-Tech)

The EU Trade Commission has told PV Tech that it will not be pursuing the dossier of evidence presented to it by EU ProSun and SolarWorld that purported to show breaches of the EU-China price undertaking. Read more

Listen Up: What's the Deal with Solar Trackers?

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 14:55 (Renewable Energy World)

In the early solar PV days, trackers were a necessity to maximize the energy output from very expensive solar modules. Unfortunately, in those days trackers were mechanically complex and unreliable (remember TV antenna rotors?), and the control systems were expensive and finicky. As solar module pricing declined, the interest in trackers for small systems began to wane. Read more

Toyota’s factory in North Wales powered by solar PV array

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 14:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Toyota’s engine production factory in Deeside, North Wales is using energy generated from its own solar array. Read more

S4 Solar do Brasil establishing 100MW PV module plant

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 13:53 (PV-Tech)

New firm, S4 Solar do Brasil has said it has teamed with equipment suppliers, Meyer Burger, Confirmware and Jinchen Machinery Co to provide a 100MW automated c-Si PV module assembly plant at a cost of around R$30 million (US$13.2 million). Read more

India braces for anti-dumping duty decision

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 13:45 (PV-Tech)

India’s Ministry of Finance is to announce a final decision on anti-dumping duties for solar imports tomorrow. Read more

Canadian Solar sells 10MW PV plant as part of US$217.2 million deal in Ontario

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 12:46 (PV-Tech)

A 10MW PV plant in Ontario, Canada, has been sold to independent power producer BluEarth Renewables by Canadian Solar. Read more

UK’s offshore wind giants back cuts to solar support

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 12:13 (PV-Tech)

EDF and E.ON, two of the largest offshore wind project developers in the UK have backed the department of energy and climate change’s (DECC) plans to cut support for large-scale solar under the renewable obligation (RO) scheme. Read more

Chinese modules imported to US should be tagged: SolarWorld lawyer

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 11:48 (PV-Tech)

Any trade settlement should require Chinese modules imported to the US to be physically traceable, according to a lawyer representing SolarWorld in the US trade case. Read more

JA Solar announces strong Q2, 2014 results: Increased shipments, strong revenue growth

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 9:07 (Solarserver)

JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) on August 20th, 2014 announced its unaudited financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2014. The company’s total shipments were 681.8 megawatts (MW), an increase of 47.0% year-over-year, +6.8% sequentially. Shipments of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules increased by 75.6% y/y, +14.9% sequentially, and reached 445.8 MW. Shipments of solar cells were 236.0 MW, an increase by 12.5% y/y and a decrease of 5.7% sequentially. Read more

Encouraging signs for Intersolar India 2014: New Indian government backs solar energy

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 9:03 (Solarserver)

Solar industry and the wider economy are pinning high hopes on the new Indian government that assumed power in May of this year. While the first positive steps toward changes in energy supply are already being seen, the fundamental stance of the new administration and the Indian solar market will form one of the key topics at Intersolar India 2014. From November 18th to 20th, 2014 around 200 exhibitors will showcase the entire solar industry value chain covering photovoltaics (PV), PV production technologies, energy storage systems and solar thermal technologies. Read more

Three new utility-scale PV plants add 20 MW to North Carolina's solar surge

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 8:59 (Solarserver)

Three new North Carolina utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants with a total generating capacity of 18.2 MW have begun producing solar power in August 2014, Strata Solar, LLC (Chapel Hill, N.C., US) reports. The three new PV arrays will provide electricity for 2,300 homes for one year. The farms, located in Laurinburg, Clarkton, and Spring Hope, are home to 60,436 solar panels and are projected to produce 30 million kilowatt hours of solar power annually. Read more

New Cable Technology Can Carry Twice as Much Power from Offshore Wind Farms

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 15:50 (Renewable Energy World)

ABB Ltd. said a power-cable technology that allows offshore wind farms to transmit more than twice the energy of current set-ups will boost orders at the company’s power systems division in coming years. Read more

South Africa Approves Treaty for $100 Billion Inga Hydropower Project

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 15:58 (Renewable Energy World)

South Africa’s Cabinet approved a treaty signed with the Democratic Republic of Congo to begin development of a hydropower project that will eventually cost about $100 billion and generate 40,000 megawatts of electricity. Read more

Sub-Saharan Africa predicted 1.8GW renewable energy pipeline for 2014

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 19:08 (PV-Tech)

According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance 1.8GW of renewable power capacity will be commissioned in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2014. Read more

The Next Big Challenge for Energy Storage

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 15:29 (Renewable Energy World)

The energy storage era is upon us. States like California and New York have adapted energy policies that will make it possible to economically deploy storage systems, while technology advancements have boosted performance and trimmed costs. For the first time in history it will become feasible to store electric energy. Read more

Renewable Energy Accounts for 100 Percent of New US Electrical Generating Capacity in July

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 13:31 (Renewable Energy World)

According to the latest "Energy Infrastructure Update" report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects, all new U.S. electrical generating capacity put into service in July came from renewable energy sources: 379 megawatts (MW) of wind, 21 MW of solar, and 5 MW of hydropower. Read more

TÜV SÜD to issue certified standards for renewable energy storage systems

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 12:11 (PV-Tech)

TÜV SÜD has developed a certificate for renewable energy storage systems, which the testing house claims will “provide reliable information on the safety, performance and service life of stationary energy storage systems”. Read more

BNEF: Sub-Saharan Africa will see more non-hydro renewable energy capacity come online in 2014 than in the whole 2000 - 2013 period

Thursday, 8.21.2014 - 12:06 (Solarserver)

Sub-Saharan Africa is emerging as one of the most exciting new markets for renewable energy technologies such as onshore wind, small-scale and utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) and geothermal power, according to research company Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF, New York City). BNEF’s latest analysis suggests that 1.8 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power capacity (excluding large hydro-electric projects) will be commissioned in the region in 2014. That is still small by world standards, but it is more than the amount that came online in the entire 2000-13 period. Read more