Taiwanese solar cell producers increasing mono c-Si PERC production - EnergyTrend

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 16:10 (PV-Tech)

In a bid to retain their solar cell efficiency lead of Chinese rivals and gain more business in the booming Japanese market, Taiwanese solar cell producers are increasing mono c-Si PERC cell production, according to market research firm, EnergyTrend. Read more

Japan’s TMEIC to open US inverter fab

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 13:12 (PV-Tech)

TMEIC, the inverter manufacturing alliance between Toshiba and Mitsubishi, has become the latest growing Asian inverter supplier to enter the US market. Read more

Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric to manufacture solar photovoltaic inverters in Houston, Texas

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 11:01 (Solarserver)

Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation (TMEIC, Tokyo, Japan) has formed a new manufacturing subsidiary in North America, TMEIC Power Electronics Products Corporation, to manufacture solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters in North America. Fabrication of PV inverters will commence in the fall of 2014 at the Houston, Texas based facility. Read more

SMA announces free module-level monitoring for life for Sunny Boy 240-US PV micro-inverter

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 7:14 (Solarserver)

SMA Americas (Rocklin, Calf., US) is now offering free monitoring for life for its Sunny Boy 240-US solar photovoltaic (PV) micro-inverter. Applicable to all Sunny Boy 240-US micro-inverters purchased during 2014 in North America, and active for the inverter’s entire lifecycle, this exclusive monitoring package includes the Sunny Multigate-US and Sunny Portal. This combined technology allows system owners to access module-level data via the Internet or iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android applications. Read more

Solar, storage and electric vehicles could kill utilities

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 17:40 (Solarpowerportal)

The rise of solar, electric vehicles and energy storage could enact a step change in the energy market which could undermine utilities, according to Gerard Reid, founder and managing partner of Alexa Capital.  Read more

Solar-Powered Plane to Circle the Globe

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 14:53 (Renewable Energy World)

Two Swiss pilots plan to fly a solar-powered plane around the earth, pushing human endurance as well as the boundaries of a technology that the aviators say isn’t anywhere near reaching its full potential for industry. Read more

Mission Solar hits average cell efficiencies of 19.7%, says supplier RENA

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 13:22 (PV-Tech)

Having just officially opened its first facility, N-type (bifacial) monocrystalline solar cell and module producer, Mission Solar was said to have achieved average cell efficiencies of 19.7%, according to one of its key technology supplier’s, RENA. Read more

JA Solar p-type mono-silicon PV cells surpass 20 % conversion efficiency

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 13:00 (Solarserver)

JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) on September 26th, 2014 announced that its p-type mono-crystalline silicon ("mono-Si") solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, a new family of high-performance solar cells dubbed "PERCIUM," have surpassed 20% conversion efficiency. The newly achieved conversion efficiency, which has been independently confirmed and certified by the Fraunhofer ISE's photovoltaic calibration laboratory (CalLab) in Freiburg, Germany, sets an industry-leading level for industrial size (156x156 mm2) solar cells using p-type mono-Si wafers. Read more

Help shape Solar Energy UK’s seminar content: Is MCS fit for purpose?

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 12:50 (Solarpowerportal)

MCS is currently undergoing a review and many are clamouring for a more effective standards scheme to protect against cowboy installers and maintain the industry’s reputation. For the first time at Solar Energy UK we will be running an interactive session. Read more

Solar Frontier considering New York factory

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 12:40 (PV-Tech)

Japanese thin-film manufacturer Solar Frontier will build a factory in New York state, its new president has said. Read more

IPVEA rebrands and expands remit in attempt to ‘unite’ solar value chain

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 11:22 (PV-Tech)

Business and technology association, the International Photovoltaic Equipment Association (IPVEA), has been renamed SOLARUNITED, as part of a wider rebranding and repurposing exercise. Read more

UK support for PV plants over 5 MW to end earlier than planned; SMA offers complete package for large-scale solar plants in the UK

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 11:14 (Solarserver)

SMA Solar Technology AG is actively responding to large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) system developers and investors in the UK to complete their PV projects before the subsidy changes in April 2015. With the SMA system solution package tailored to meet requirements in the UK market, PV power plants can be completed and connected to the grid quicker and without any complications, the company announces. Read more

JA Solar claims 20% multi-Si efficiency record

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 10:58 (PV-Tech)

Chinese manufacturer JA Solar claims to have achieved a record 20% conversion efficiency in one of its multicrystalline PV cells. Read more

Enphase Energy, Saving Energy to bring 1 MWp of solar PV to UK social housing project

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 10:56 (Solarserver)

Enphase Energy (Petaluma, Calif., U.S.) ), is partnering with Saving Energy Ltd., a Wickford (UK) based energy efficiency services firm, to bring solar power to residents of a major social housing project. Backed by a local charity, the Northumberland Aged Mineworkers Homes Association, the effort will provide the residents of the Aging Miners project with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that will lower their energy bills and improve their environmental footprint. Read more

US solar firms set to benefit from OPIC loan programme

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 10:56 (PV-Tech)

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has issued its first green guaranties to US investors to back climate-friendly projects, with US solar firms expected to benefit. Read more

Re-branding: IPVEA members approve “SOLARUNITED” as the new association name, and new direction for the global solar industry

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 7:21 (Solarserver)

September 25th, 2014 marks the launch of the first ever-global business and technology association for the solar industry, International Photovoltaic Equipment Association (IPVEA, Orlando, Florida, US) announced. In an extraordinary meeting in Amsterdam during the 29th EU PVSEC, members of IPVEA unanimously approved the association's new vision, expansion plans and associated re-branding. “The concept behind IPVEA’s new name expansion is that we want to unite the whole solar industry value chain as well as associated industries, such as energy storage, utilities and grid operators, through a collaborative approach,” says “SOLARUNITED” President Eric Ast, who also Read more

PSE&G starts work on a 10 MW solar PV farm on Parklands Landfill in New Jersey

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 7:06 (Solarserver)

Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G, Bordentown, N.J., US) on September 24th, 2014 marked the start of construction on a 10.14 megawatt (MWdc) solar photovoltaic (PV) farm on the capped Parklands Landfill. The PV project, part of PSE&G's Solar 4 All program, will transform 40 acres of landfill space into a solar farm, capable of powering nearly 2,000 average-size homes annually. The Parklands Landfill ceased operations in 1989. Read more

Ukraine Crisis May Spur EU Clean Energy Policies, Neste Oil Says

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 11:07 (Renewable Energy World)

Europe’s concern about its reliance on Russian fossil fuels may spur governments to prioritize alternative energy, the head of Neste Oil Oyj said. Read more

Center for Sustainable Energy offers new online tools identifying best loans for clean energy, PV projects in California

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 10:52 (Solarserver)

California homeowners and businesses seeking low-interest loans for energy efficiency upgrades and clean energy systems such as solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays can now find the most up-to-date information on affordable financing options online at the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) website. Read more

Scotland Rejects Independence, But Concerns Linger for a Renewables Future

Friday, 9.26.2014 - 6:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Scotland’s decision to vote no to independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has elicited a collective sigh of relief from energy sector players. Those companies with significant investments in Scottish renewable energy assets had understandably been anxious over the uncertainty that an independent Scotland would engender, for example potentially changing the rules on support measures for renewable energy investment north of the border. Read more