Photovoltaics (PV) News for February 2010

Photovoltaics (PV) News Archive

Solar PV testing and certification in Singapore

A testing and certification centre for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules has been opened in Singapore by Fraunhofer ISE, VDE and the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS).

3TIER releases global solar dataset

A US-based provider of renewable energy assessment and power forecasting tools has completed a tool to identify and map the world’s wind and solar resources using a globally-consistent methodology.

Screening tool for renewable energy

A US report evaluates numerous factors to determine how western states can source 33% of their electricity from new renewable energy resources.

Suntech solar panels at 2010 Vancouver Olympics Suntech solar panels at 2010 Vancouver Olympics

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd has provided solar panels to power a net-zero home at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

IBC SOLAR rooftop solar PV at Prague Zoo IBC SOLAR rooftop solar PV at Prague Zoo

IBC SOLAR of Germany will equip Prague Zoo with a solar photovoltaic (PV) system as part of the German Energy Agency’s (dena) Solar Roofs Programme for Foreign Market Development.

Concentrix Solar installs CPV at US Chevron

Concentrix Solar will install a 1 MW solar concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) power plant at a Chevron Mining facility in Questa, New Mexico, USA.

Pennsylvania invests US$5m in solar

The state of Pennsylvania will strengthen its position as a leader in solar energy.

Trina Solar shipments near doubled

Trina Solar has released its 2009 year results, revealing that the company has almost doubled its solar module shipments to 399 MW.

Master certificate in renewable energy

Boots on the Roof, a US provider of renewable energy training and education, is now offering a Master Certificate in Renewable Energy programme.

USA develops renewable energy on contaminated sites

Two US agencies are evaluating the feasibility of developing renewable energy production on Superfund, brownfields, and former landfill or mining sites.

Green jobs if Canada renews incentives for renewable power

A coalition of environmental groups says Canada could create at least 8000 jobs by if the Federal Government renews incentives for renewable energy.

Q-Cells slumps into €1.36bn loss in 2009

Q-Cells fell into a net loss of €1356 million in 2009 compared to a net profit of €191m in 2008 as sales fell 36%.

Programme designing solar PV rooftops Programme designing solar PV rooftops

Valentin Software of Germany has released version 4.0 of its PV*SOL programme for designing and simulating solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop systems.

US utilities see future for solar and wind

Wind energy projects are underway or planned by 79% of utilities in the USA within the next five years, while solar energy is planned by 73% within that time horizon.

California raises cap on solar and wind

The State Assembly in California has approved legislation to increase the limit on the state’s net metering programme for solar and wind energy.

2025 solar and wind energy costs charted

The capital cost to install a 20 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) facility by 2015 will be US$7981/kW, according to a report from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

First Solar’s profit soars 84% in 2009

First Solar recorded a profit of US$640 million for the full year 2009, up 84% from 2008.

T-Solar and Solarpack deliver 173 GWh solar PV to Peru

T-Solar and Solarpack will deliver 173 GWh annually of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy to Peru for 20 years.

Kyocera Solar and Amsolar partnership

Kyocera Solar Inc and Amsolar Corporation will provide solar energy solutions for educational institutions, including strategic financing, system engineering and design, installation, operation and maintenance in North America.

Large solar PV to dominate US market

“Large-scale commercial solar PV and central-station utility-scale PV will most likely become the dominant growth market” in the United States, according to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

US solar centre funds research

The Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion (CRSP) has funded 10 advanced solar research projects totaling US$800,000 in its second round of Shared Research Program funding.

Florida installs solar energy on emergency shelters

Funding of US$10 million from the State Energy Program will deploy solar energy on schools and emergency shelters in Florida.

Delaware: 30% renewable energy by 2013

The state of Delaware must evaluate the feasibility of installing renewable enegy such as on-site wind or solar systems with a simple payback period of under 20 years.

Solar to gain the most into 2011

Solar will register the greatest increase in usage from 2010 into 2011, according to the latest US government forecast.

Kyocera achieves 16.6% solar PV efficiency

Kyocera Corporation has achieved 16.6% module efficiency for multicrystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules using 54 cells in the development stage.

UK and India collaborate on solar energy

The UK and India have announced two research programmes to develop cost-effective and efficient solar energy solutions, totalling £10 million.

Trina Solar boosts conversion efficiency to 18.8%

Trina Solar Ltd has developed a square monocrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) cell with up to 18.8% efficiency in laboratory tests.

SunPower acquires SunRay for US$277m

SunPower Corp is acquiring SunRay Renewable Energy, a European solar power plant developer with offices in Europe and the Middle East, for US$277 million.

US Senate considers legislation for 10m solar roofs

A US Senator has introduced legislation to incent more than 10 million solar electric and solar thermal systems over the next decade.

Nano-coating company P2i enters solar energy Nano-coating company P2i enters solar energy

P2i, a developer of liquid repellent nano-coating technology, has teamed up with US-based Energy Launch Partners to develop its business proposition for the solar energy sector.

Utility funds US$60m for solar installations

An electric utility will fund 1000 solar electric installations through a tax equity initiative.

US renewable energy industry wants key legislation passed this year

Five associations in the United States have banded together to urge Congress to enact key policies which will continue accelerated growth across the renewable energy sector.

REC went from profit to loss in 2009

Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC) reports a full year loss of NOK 2482 million in 2008 compared to a profit of NOK4379m in 2008.

Finance: Clean Energy Index down 4.59%

Interested in financial renewable energy news and stocks? Renewable Energy Focus has launched a finance section with real-time financial data and news.

£10m for renewable energy initiatives by UK communities

Twelve UK communities have received grants to install solar panels, wind turbines and other renewable energy technologies, under a national challenge to reduce carbon emissions.

Sonel builds Slovenian 81 kW solar PV plant

Slovenian wholesaler Sonel has built a 81 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant using Sputnik Engineering’s SolarMax inverters in the northern Slovenian town of Gornji Petrovci.

Sunways opposes German reduction of solar feed-in tariff

Sunways AG of Germany put down work for 30 minutes on 4 February in protest against planned cuts in the German solar energy feed-in tariff.

Trina Solar delivers 40 MW solar PV to Germany

Trina Solar Ltd will deliver 40 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to AE Photonics GmbH of Germany during 2010.

Hawaii considers US$50m bonds for renewable energy

Hawaii has introduced legislation to create a green jobs sector through the establishment of a ‘Hawaii Clean Energy Investment Bonds’ programme for renewable energy.

Atlantis Energy Systems gets 2009 solar BIPV award

The Frost & Sullivan '2009 World Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Niche Player of the Year Award', has been presented to Atlantis Energy Systems (AES).

Solar power plants connected to Italian grid

Two 1 MWp solar power plants have been connected to the grid in Puglia, Southern Italy by Zouk ventures and NextEnergy Capital.

US renewable electricity standard - 274,000 jobs

A US national renewable electricity standard (RES) of 25% by 2025 could create thousands of jobs and help fledgling industries like wind grow, as short-term tax benefits expire.

Solar anti-reflective coating system optimised Solar anti-reflective coating system optimised

DSM Functional Coatings has optimised its KhepriCoat™ solar anti-reflective coating system.

DuPont opens solar PV facility in Geneva DuPont opens solar PV facility in Geneva

DuPont has opened the Meyrin Photovoltaic Application Laboratory at its European Technical Centre – adding new capabilities to its R&D hub by developing next-generation solar PV products.

HgCapital renewable energy fund tops €1bn

HgCapital Renewable Power Partners has made three new investments: two Spanish solar photovoltaic (PV) projects and one UK onshore wind project.

Canada funds solar PV research network

The Canadian Government will provide C$5 million to create the ‘Photovoltaic Innovation Network’ to raise the status of solar electric as a renewable energy option.

Abener develops solar melted salts storage in Spain

Abener will develop a molten salts storage project for parabolic trough solar collectors and gas chambers (CCP) in an experimental solar plant in Almeria, Spain.

Amplio Group connects 2 MW solar in Italy

The UK-based Amplio Group has connected two 1 MW solar electric plants in Italy.

Centrosolar revenue down 7% in 2009

Centrosolar Group AG has posted provisional results for 2009 recording €309 million in revenues, down 7% from 2008.

T-Solar and Global Ecopower develop solar PV in France

T-Solar Group and French Global Ecopower, will jointly develop 120 MWp of solar photovoltaic (PV) power in France over the next three years.

Solar partnerships install solar electric in Ontario

More companies are forming partnerships to take advance of the C$0.80/kWh feed-in tariff (FiT) offered in the province of Ontario for small solar electric installations.

USA investigates new renewable energy

The US federal budget proposes that the USA should be “the global leader in the new energy economy by developing new ways to produce and use clean and renewable energy.”

UK renewable industry welcomes feed-in tariff

The UK renewable energy industry welcomes today’s announcement of the feed-in tariff for renewable and low carbon electricity, and the plans for low carbon heating incentives.

Suntech and American Solar Electric cooperate on BIPV roofing

American Solar Electric Inc will become one of Suntech Power Holding’s partners in Arizona, USA, for its building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar products.

UK feed-in tariffs announced

The UK Government has announced its feed-in tariffs for small scale renewable and low carbon electricity starting from 1 April.

Concentrix Solar CPV module IEC certified

Concentrix Solar has received IEC certification 62108 for its CX-75 FLATCON® concentrating solar photovoltaic (PV) module generation.