Intelligent Inverters Stealing the Show

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 16:01 (Renewable Energy World)

As markets for solar PV inverters become more competitive, manufacturers are being forced to adapt in a bid to maintain revenues or hold market share. This is a trend that has been evident for some years now. As far back as 2012, Dexter Gauntlett, now a senior analyst with Navigant Research, noted: “Inverter companies must increase functionality, reduce cost, and differentiate themselves from the growing competition.” He explained that while industry incumbents have the advantage of size and market reach, disruptive technological innovation by well-funded start-ups and early-stage companies was rapidly changing the face of the industry. Read more

Shunfeng Photovoltaic International announces construction of a 250 MW agricultural and PV demonstration park in Qinghai

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 15:20 (Solarserver)

Shunfeng Photovoltaic International Limited (Changzhou, China) continues to gain support from China provincial governments in developing solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. On September 23rd, 2014 the company announced that its subsidiary Shunfeng Photovoltaic Investment (China) Ltd. has entered into a cooperation agreement with Hainan Xinghai County People's Government in Qinghai Province on the development and construction of an agricultural solar PV demonstration park. Read more

PV production technology: Meyer Burger announces contract by Hanwha Q Cells for delivery of PERC equipment upgrade, technology in Europe and Asia

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 11:44 (Solarserver)

Meyer Burger Technology AG (Thun, Switzerland) and its Group Member Roth & Rau AG have concluded an important contract with Europe´s largest solar photovoltaics (PV) provider, Hanwha Q Cells, for the delivery of MB-PERC upgrade equipment to its production facilities in Germany and Malaysia. Delivery of the systems is planned for late 2014 and the first half of 2015. Read more

Kyocera joins imec research partner programme

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 11:41 (PV-Tech)

Japanese module manufacturer Kyocera has joined the industrial partner programme of Belgian nanoelectronics research institute imec. Read more

Manz AG: New efficiency world substantiates technological advantage of CIGS thin film PV technology

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 11:40 (Solarserver)

With 21.7%, the center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wuerttemberg (ZSW), Manz AG's research partner in the field of CIGS thin film solar technology on glass, has presented a new world record for CIGS thin film solar cell efficiency. It is the highest efficiency ever achieved in thin film solar technology and significantly exceeds even the previous record held by today's market-leading multicrystalline silicon solar technology. "The new world record is an impressive result of efficient collaboration between the ZSW and Manz as an exclusive industry partner. With 21.7% the ZSW has not only negated the last world record but far surpassed it,” comments Dieter Read more

EU PVSEC: IPA-free PERC texturing touted

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 8:46 (PV-Tech)

A couple of companies have highlighted wet chemical texturing processes for PERC cells that avoids using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) that is intended to offer a low-cost alternative for high-efficiency solar cells at EU PVSEC. Read more

Utility-scale PV in West Africa: EIB backs 30 MW project in Burkina Faso with EUR 23 million

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 7:14 (Solarserver)

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide EUR 23 million (15 billion CFA) to support investment in one of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) power stations in sub-Saharan Africa. The EUR 70.5 million (46 billion CFA) scheme will be constructed at Zagtouli on the outskirts of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso and operated by national electricity utility, SONABEL. The new plant is expected to act as a reference for future solar investment across the continent. Read more

EU PVSEC: Meyer Burger supplying upgraded PERC tools to Hanwha Q CELLS

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 6:22 (PV-Tech)

Hanwha Q CELLS is upgrading certain ‘standard’ production lines in Malaysia and its advanced line in Germany to PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) solar cell technology developed by Meyer Burger’s competence centre for coating technologies, Roth & Rau. Read more

Canadian Solar connects first Japan project at 2012 FiT rate

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 18:02 (PV-Tech)

Canadian Solar has made the first dent in what it claims is a 405MW pipeline of PV projects in Japan, connecting a project in Kagoshima, on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Read more

Kazakhstan Mulls Adding 713 MW of Solar PV Capacity by 2020

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 17:03 (Renewable Energy World)

The Kazakh government is aiming to add 3,054 MW of new renewable energy capacity by 2020, according to a new federal plan unveiled by state-owned national atomic energy company Kazatomprom. According to the plan, 713.5 MW of the total capacity would come from 28 PV power plants. Read more

UGE and Orion to offer Philippines new solar finance

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 16:19 (PV-Tech)

UGE and engineering, Manila based procurement and management company, Orion Group have teamed up to boost solar deployment in the Philippines. Read more

GlobalData: Japanese government helps to boost the nation’s solar PV market by 8 GW in 2014

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 15:28 (Solarserver)

Japan will be adding a total of 8 Gigawatts (GW) to its solar Photovoltaic (PV) installations in 2014, with just over 5.1 GW coming online in the second half of the year, driven by initiatives from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), according to research and consulting firm GlobalData (London, UK). Read more

IKEA to expand solar sales following UK success

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 13:23 (Solarpowerportal)

IKEA will extend its residential solar offering into eight new markets in the next 18 months following the success of the scheme in the UK. Read more

Duke Energy reveals partners for US$500 million North Carolina solar push

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 11:44 (PV-Tech)

Utility Duke Energy has announced partner companies have been chosen to help build three solar power projects in the state of North Carolina. Read more

Eternal Sun delivers solar PV and thermal certification laboratory to Turkish Standards Institute

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 11:33 (Solarserver)

Eternal Sun (Delft, The Netherlands), a Dutch high-tech company specialized in solar simulation technology, has equipped the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) with solar certification laboratory. The laboratory will enable TSE to engage in both solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal certification testing. Read more

Texas continues solar focus with new N-Type manufacturing facility

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 10:59 (PV-Tech)

Mission Solar Energy has announced the opening of its N-Type solar manufacturing facility in Texas. Read more

EPIA urges conclusion to WTO solar trade talks

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 10:42 (PV-Tech)

Trade body the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has thrown its weight behind efforts to liberalise the global trade in solar products. Read more

UK PV owners too focused on exporting instead of consuming solar-generated power

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 10:27 (Solarpowerportal)

Brits with solar PV installs are too focused on the financial benefits of their installations, wrongly believing that exporting energy provides maximum benefit, according to academic research by a UK smart grid project. Read more

IKEA to expand solar sales into eight new markets

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 10:25 (PV-Tech)

IKEA will extend its residential solar offering into eight new markets in the next 18 months following the success of the scheme in the UK. Read more

Yingli Solar to supply over 24 MW of PV modules to the largest to solar power plant in Honduras

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 8:50 (Solarserver)

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (Baoding, China), known as "Yingli Solar", on September 22nd, 2014 announced that it will supply over 24 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for the Pavana Solar Park, which is the largest solar PV project to break ground in Honduras, and owned by Energia Basica S.A., a Honduran energy company. Sybac Solar, a global solar PV integrator based in Murrieta, CA, United States, will provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. Read more

Mission Solar Energy opens solar PV panel manufacturing facility in San Antonio, Texas

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 7:01 (Solarserver)

At a ceremony on September 22nd, 2014, Mission Solar Energy, LLC (San Antonio, TX., US) celebrated the grand opening of their solar photovoltaic (PV) panel manufacturing facility at Brooks City-Base. The factory, which is the only N-type solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Texas, will create more than 400 new jobs in San Antonio. Additionally, the solar panels produced at the plant will be installed at local solar farms, generating solar power that will fuel the community and CPS Energy’s New Energy Economy Initiative. Read more

NYC's Clean Energy Programs Take Center Stage

Tuesday, 9.23.2014 - 17:20 (Renewable Energy World)

As Climate Week 2014 quickly approaches, all eyes are on New York City (NYC), the host of this year’s events. And given the recent release of New York’s progressive draft State Energy Plan, “Reforming the Energy Vision” (REV), it is perhaps the most appropriate place to hold such discussions about how to create and implement low-carbon solutions. T Read more