News - PV-Tech

COLEXON continues with efforts to streamline business

nchoudhury@pv-tech.org (Nilima Choudhury) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:54:47 GMT

Following a disappointing financial performance in 2011, COLEXON Energy to streamline its business continues. The company has sold two further solar project companies in southern Germany and Italy.

PV capacity in Ukraine could reach 500MW by the end of 2012

pbennett@pv-tech.org (Peter Bennett) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:28:55 GMT

Solar PV capacity in the Ukraine is set to double in 2012, as a result of generous renewable incentives. Europe’s second-largest country currently hosts Europe’s biggest photovoltaic plant, a 100MW behemoth installed by Activ Solar GmbH last year, and is set to benefit from continued investment due to the scaling back of feed-in tariff schemes across Europe.

SPI continues European expansion with 1MW fixed-ground-mount solar facility in Greece

nchoudhury@pv-tech.org (Nilima Choudhury) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:21:08 GMT

SPI Solar, US-based EPC services provider, has announced its third Greek venture, having acquired the necessary paperwork. Working alongside local partners SDL Solar and Global Energy Services, the installation is expected to be a 1MW fixed-ground-mount solar facility, located in Rhodope Prefecture, north-eastern Greece. The electricity will be purchased by Greek Public Power Corporation through a 20-year PPA.

Premier Power and Viasol enter agreement to provide 5MW to Scandinavian solar projects

nchoudhury@pv-tech.org (Nilima Choudhury) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:00:54 GMT

Scandinavia is to receive 5MWp in equipment for solar projects from Premier Power Renewable Energy. The plants will be funded through an agreement with Danish firm, Viasol. Equipment will be shipped out this month, with all systems scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.

Boston Consulting and Pike Research estimate 30% increase in use of battery technologies

nchoudhury@pv-tech.org (Nilima Choudhury) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:02:49 GMT

Market research firms Boston Consulting and Pike Research, have estimated a growth of more than US$10 billion over the next five years for the stationary energy storage market. An increased use of advanced battery technologies and new smart-grid technologies to enable the wide-scale use of wind and solar energy has could lead to as much as a 30% increase.

Ecoprogetti’s LED light sourced sun simulator receives triple class A rating

mosborne@pv-tech.org (Mark Osborne) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:07:47 GMT

Ecoprogetti’s sun simulator, ECOSUN10L which employs LED’s as the light source has received a triple class ‘A’ rating under EN60904-9 and IEC 60904-09 specifications, undertaken by TϋV intercert. The specialist equipment manufacturer said the system was the first module LED simulator to work in triple class A and it’s suitable both for testing standard crystalline modules as well as thin film and back contact solar cell modules.

Solyndra’s manufacturing plant for sale

mosborne@pv-tech.org (Mark Osborne) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:06:21 GMT

The Bankruptcy Court overseeing Solyndra’s insolvency has assigned Jones Lang LaSalle to undertake the sale of its manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. The 450,000-square-foot manufacturing facility was said to be designed to exceed California seismic standards and can be operating immediately following a seismic event, though not at the levels created by the current solar industry shakeout.

Mars Chocolate launches 1.258MW solar garden in North America

nchoudhury@pv-tech.org (Nilima Choudhury) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:47:55 GMT

Mars Chocolate, North America, has announced the installation of a solar garden at its Henderson chocolate factory, providing 100% of the factory’s electrical energy. The solar garden features 2,112 ground-mounted solar panels on 4.4 acres. Mars claims its installation as the largest by a food manufacturer in Nevada.

SolarWorld hit with €313 million write-off of production equipment

mosborne@pv-tech.org (Mark Osborne) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:15:18 GMT

SolarWorld has released preliminary 2011 financial results that include significant impairment charges of €313 million, primarily attributed to the write-off of out-dated production equipment. The company had also previously announced the closure of its wafering operations. Total losses for 2011 were reported at €233 million, due partially to declining prices on the back of industry-wide module overcapacity and dumping, as well as cancellation of wafer supply contracts, according to the company.

Exelon and First Solar defer change of ownership of AVSR PV project

mosborne@pv-tech.org (Mark Osborne) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:14:07 GMT

Exelon and First Solar have extended their deadline for initial funding of the DOE loan for the 230MW Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (AVSR) project, in northern Los Angeles County, California. A revised construction permit has been approved but the delay could have meant First Solar repurchase the project from customer, Exelon today, February 24, 2012 as federal loan and loan guarantee would not be released in time of contract clauses kicking-in.

German government cuts FiT from March 9

mosborne@pv-tech.org (Mark Osborne) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:49:04 GMT

Updated: Due to an aggressive FiT cut of between 20% for residential and 30% for large-scale PV installations, the German government will introduce the FiT cuts from March 9, 2012 to eliminate a rush of installations to beat the tariff change. However, this would first need to be ratified in the cabinet and parliament, which could be sanctioned next week.

Trina Solar’s module shipments increase in Q4 but revenue and margins down

mosborne@pv-tech.org (Mark Osborne) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:48:29 GMT

Stronger than anticipated demand in the fourth quarter of 2011 helped Trina Solar exceed PV module shipment guidance, but revenue and gross margins declined compared to the previous quarter. The company posted a 4Q’11 loss from operations of US$62.9 million, compared to an operating loss of US$23.5 million in the third quarter of 2011.

IMS Research: Smarter use of BOS products to help push market to US$24 billion in 2016

mosborne@pv-tech.org (Mark Osborne) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:10:47 GMT

Although PV inverters make up a significant percentage of the balance of system (BOS) equipment cost structure, monitoring hardware, smarter mounting structures and tracker systems are expected to help boost the PV BOS market towards US$24 billion in 2016, according to a new market report from IMS Research.

Canadian Solar’s modules used on Denmark’s largest rooftop installation

mosborne@pv-tech.org (Mark Osborne) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:50:40 GMT

According to Canadian Solar, a 605kW rooftop system in the Danish city of Virum, which employed 2,800 modules, is currently Demark’s largest rooftop installation. German firm, SRU Solar, constructed the system on two roofs of an office complex located in collaboration with Danish energy company Greengo Energy. The rooftop system was connected in January, 2012.

Arise finishes restructuring process, aims to focus on complete system integration for PV systems

solson@pv-tech.org (Syanne Olson) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:55:44 GMT

Arise has finished its restructuring process and is in the midst of completing projects and courting new clients. The company plans to provide a complete system integration service for its customers. Arise noted that it has severed its German cell manufacturing facility and the silicon R&D segments. Additionally, the company added a new finacing component to its systems division to help clients complete a lease option.

JinkoSolar opens PV module testing lab in China, receives UL WTDP certificate

solson@pv-tech.org (Syanne Olson) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:44:08 GMT

JinkoSolar Holdings has opened a PV module testing lab in Jiangxi, China, which was awarded the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Witness Testing Data Program (WTDP) certificate. The company worked with UL to obtain certification and will now be able to offer customers and third parties testing facilities, under the supervision of UL personnel, with an aim to ensure high quality and expedite the time to market.

SPI releases preliminary Q4 revenues of US$100 million

solson@pv-tech.org (Syanne Olson) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:30:50 GMT

SPI Solar has released its preliminary financial results for Q4 2011. The company expects for annual revenues to result in US$100 million, better than its November business outlook. Additionally, SPI is forecasting that its net sales in 2012 will double 2011 levels as it furthers its domestic and international developments. The full financial report will be disclosed in March.

EuPD awards Sharp “Top Brand PV” honour for Germany

solson@pv-tech.org (Syanne Olson) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:16:58 GMT

Sharp was awarded the “Top Brand PV” by EuPD Research for its presence in Germany.. The award was granted after EuPD examined several factors, including brand awareness and distribution depth, with brand perception among customers one of the leading factors for determining the seal.

Report: Silex Systems restarts production at its Sydney solar module facility

solson@pv-tech.org (Syanne Olson) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:06:06 GMT

According to RenewEconomy, Silex Systems has restarted production at its solar module facility in Sydney, Australia. The company announced in November that it would be halting production as it was hard hit by the rooftop solar market and was looking for ways to restructure its business. The report states that Silex decided to start operation again, upon Tindo Solar’s plans to begin commercial production were publicized. Plans to continue ramping up capacity at the company’s Sydney site are being considered.

Ceres Technologies purchases CIGS technology assets from Veeco

solson@pv-tech.org (Syanne Olson) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:51:34 GMT

Ceres Technologies advised that it had bought technology and product assets from the CIGS system business that was operated by Veeco Instruments. The CIGS product line is expected to add to Ceres’ products and services for the renewable energy sector with production-ready CIGS deposition tool sets, including machines for Molybdenum back contact, CIGS absorber layer and transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layers.