SunEdison, TerraForm announce interconnection of 50 MW of utility-scale PV plants in UK

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 13:03 (Solarserver)

SunEdison Inc. (Beltsville Md., US) and subsidiary TerraForm Power, on September 15th, 2015 announced the interconnection of two large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totalling 50 megawatts (MW) DC in the UK. The solar projects will become part of TerraForm Power's operating portfolio before the end of 2014, and SunEdison will continue to manage them. Read more

Solartech investing US$16.2 million in Malaysian solar cell producer

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 11:52 (PV-Tech)

Taiwan-based solar cell producer, Solartech Energy is investing approximately US$16.2 million in Malaysia-based solar cell producer, TS Solartech Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Tek Seng Holdings Bhd. Read more

Sunpower makes its one-billionth panel and looks forward to Fab 4

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 11:17 (PV-Tech)

US manufacturer and developer SunPower claimed yesterday that the company had made its one billionth high efficiency solar cell since going into manufacturing 11 years ago. Read more

SunPower makes its one-billionth solar cell and looks forward to Fab 4

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 11:17 (PV-Tech)

US manufacturer and developer SunPower claimed yesterday that the company had made its one billionth high efficiency solar cell since going into manufacturing 11 years ago. Read more

TÜV Rheinland offers PV module, mounting systems fire testing services per latest UL 1703 requirements in California

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 8:55 (Solarserver)

TÜV Rheinland (Tempe, Arizona, US) offers the UL 1703 testing and certification services to manufacturers of building integrated solar photovoltaic modules (BiPV), rack-mounted photovoltaic (PV) modules and mounting systems in conjunction with the 2014 revision of the standard, which introduces new PV module fire type classification and system rating tests. Read more

SolarCity Introduces New Zep Mounting Technology in Commercial Solar Space

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 19:06 (Renewable Energy World)

Nearly one year after SolarCity acquired Zep Solar and its rackless mounting design for $158 million — a move that cut both cost and time for residential solar installations — the installer announced today that it is whetting its appetite in untapped areas of the commercial market with a new Zep product line. Read more

Get in Line and Get Creative: How to Deal with Module Price Changes

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 16:10 (Renewable Energy World)

The solar tariff dispute is leading to longer procurement times and altering module selection. Now, as developers build out their initial design specs with a specific module in mind, we are finding that as a project approaches NTP, the modules may become unavailable or too costly. In other words, both developers and investors are finding themselves Read more

SolarCity launches ‘Zep-compatible’ commercial east-west rooftop mounting system

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 16:00 (PV-Tech)

US installer SolarCity has launched a new flat roof mounting solution for the commercial rooftop market that it claims could allow customers to fit 20% to 50% more panels on their roofs. Read more

IPVEA: Lack of supply chain optimization is costing the solar PV industry USD 400-500 million annually

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 14:48 (Solarserver)

Delayed or lost shipments, missing or mislabeled inventory, product in the wrong place - there are many ways in which companies and whole industries suffer when the supply chain is not optimized. For the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, this means USD 400-500 million in unnecessary annual losses, the International Photovoltaic Equipment Association (IPVEA, Hanau, Germany, Orlando, FL, US) emphasizes. Read more

Intersolar Summit Middle East: Solar PV project developers are increasingly focusing on the Middle East

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 14:44 (Solarserver)

While geographical conditions are favorable for solar power production in arid desert regions, such areas are also highly challenging for the solar photovoltaic (PV) project developers and the products and materials used. Experts will provide an insight into practical experiences in solar projects at the Intersolar Summit Middle East. Read more

Why Lease Solar Panels When You Can Own Them?

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 14:13 (Renewable Energy World)

Now more than ever, it makes sense to own a solar power system instead of leasing one. The savings are significant, since purchasing a system presently pencils out to about 50 percent less than leasing over the long term and the payback period is now as low as three years. As prices continue to drop, more builders and developers are offering solar as standard in their new communities and we expect the trend to continue. Around the country, many solar rebate programs administered by states and utilities have begun to expire or at least are being overhauled. This does not mean that solar is going to die. It’s actually stronger than ever. Even without rebates, solar is now Read more

Duke Energy commits USD 500 million to North Carolina solar expansion, company to acquire and construct three PV facilities totaling 128 MW

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 13:09 (Solarserver)

Duke Energy (Charlotte, N.C., US) on September 15th, 2014 announced a USD 500 million investment to a major expansion of solar photovoltaic (PV) power in North Carolina. This culminates the company's request for proposals (RFP) issued in February 2014 for new solar capacity. The company will acquire and construct three solar PV facilities – totaling 128 megawatts (MW) of capacity – including the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) facility east of the Mississippi River. Read more

China solar push helps it to summit of RE investment rankings

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 12:04 (PV-Tech)

The prospects of a record-breaking year for solar in China have helped propel the country to the top of Ernst & Young’s list of the world’s most attractive destinations for renewable energy investment. Read more

SunEdison and TerraForm yield co complete two UK solar farms totalling 50MW

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 11:47 (Solarpowerportal)

SunEdison and its yield co, TerraForm, have completed the connection of two solar power plants in the UK, totalling 50MW. Read more

‘Indian government set to overhaul national solar mission’

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 11:32 (PV-Tech)

The Indian government is set to make significant changes to its national solar mission, according to industry observers based in the country. Read more

Solar RO reforms sink investor confidence to lowest level in five years

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 11:02 (Solarpowerportal)

Investor interest in UK renewables has fallen to its lowest level in five years, according to Ernst & Young. Read more

Hareon Solar raising over US$600 million for business growth

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 11:00 (PV-Tech)

China-based PV manufacturer and developer Hareon Solar Technology is raising approximately US$618 million in a non-public offering of shares to fund several key projects related to manufacturing and PV power plant projects. Read more

SunEdison and TerraForm yield co complete 50MW UK projects

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 10:30 (PV-Tech)

Global PV manufacturer, SunEdison and its yield co spin-off, TerraForm, have completed the connection of two solar power plants in the UK, totalling 50MW. Read more

SunPower produces one-billionth solar PV cell; announces new 350 MW fab

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 9:04 (Solarserver)

SunPower Corp. (San Jose, Calif., US) on September 15th, 2014 announced that it has manufactured its one billionth high efficiency solar photovoltaic (PV) cell. This milestone was achieved 11 years after the company started manufacturing its A-300 solar cell in its first fabrication facility (Fab). Today, SunPower operates two PV fabs that will produce approximately 1,300 megawatts of solar cells by the end of this year. To meet growing demand for SunPower solar PV systems, the company is building a new integrated 350 MW Fab, with first silicon expected in early 2015. Read more

DK Kim returns to Hanwha SolarOne as Chief Commercial Officer

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 8:45 (Solarserver)

Hanwha SolarOne Co. Ltd. (Shnaghai, China) on September 15th, 2014 announced that DK Kim will return to the company as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) effective immediately. Kim had previously served as Chief Strategy Officer of Hanwha SolarOne from December 2011 until July 2013 and was a member of the Board of Directors from December 2010 until July 2013. Read more

Dominion to buy 57 MW of solar PV projects in California from EDF Renewable Energy

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 7:09 (Solarserver)

EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE, Paris, France; San Diego, Calif.) on September 15th, 2014 announced that Dominion (Richmond, Virginia, U.S.) will acquire two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects for a total of 57 megawatt peak (MWp): Cottonwood Solar (32.6 MWp) and Catalina Solar 2 (24.3 MWp). The sale agreement will close upon completion of installation, after which EDF RE will manage the commissioning and place the projects in service. Read more

New PV Projects expand REC Solar’s Hawaii footprint to 27 MW

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 6:59 (Solarserver)

REC Solar (Sandvika, Norway; San Luis Obispo, Calif.) on September 15th, 2014 announced growing momentum across the state of Hawaii, with the completion of six solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for Hawaii’s historic Dole Plantation and W.M. Keck Observatory. REC Solar has a total of 19 megawatts of projects in Hawaii completed or under construction in 2014, with more than 27 megawatts of solar installations since 2008, the company notes. Read more

Danish asset manager Better Energy acquires 8 MWp Solar Park in Anklam, Germany

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 6:49 (Solarserver)

Better Energy Invest A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark), an asset manager focusing on renewable infrastructure, announces the completion of the acquisition of an 8 MWp Solar Park built by German solar project developer F&S Solar Concept GmbH. The power plant will generate around 8 million kWh of electricity annually, saving 6 thousand tonnes of CO2, and is expected to operate for more than 25 years, the company reports. Read more

Underwater Compressed Air Energy Storage: Fantasy or Reality?

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 13:45 (Renewable Energy World)

Underwater Compressed Air Energy Storage (UW-CAES) — a step beyond underground energy storage in caverns — may soon offer conventional utilities a means of long-duration load shifting for their large-scale electrical grids, and niche microgrid operators a means of reducing their fossil-fuel dependence, say its advocates. Read more

Chile to get net metering for PV plants under 100kW

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 12:07 (PV-Tech)

A support scheme has been launched for the grid-purchase of electricity under a net metering programme in Chile, to come into effect next month. Read more

Dominion acquires two California PV projects

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 6:45 (PV-Tech)

US energy producer Dominion has reached an agreement with renewable energy developer EDF Renewable Energy to obtain two PV projects – totaling 42MW - in California. Read more

Duke Energy pledges US$500 million to North Carolina PV power expansion

Tuesday, 9.16.2014 - 4:43 (PV-Tech)

US electric power holding company Duke Energy has made a US$500 million commitment to the expansion of solar energy in North Carolina. Read more