Solar electricity News for August 2010

Solar electricity News Archive

Phaesun sets up solar shops in Mozambique

Phaesun GmbH has started a project of rural electrification through off-grid solar systems in Pessene, Mozambique.

Solar PV module leader knocked off top spot Solar PV module leader knocked off top spot

IMS Research shows that crystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) module supplier Suntech shipped more modules during Q2 ‘10 than any other company, beating previous market leader and solar thin-film rival First Solar.

Sheffield solar farm opened

University of Sheffield is now home to 70m² solar photovoltaic (PV) panels - expected to generate 8 MWh per annum.

Vigorous testing for solar PV backsheets

Madico, a supplier of solar photovoltaic (PV) backsheets announce that its Protekt backsheet products are the most thoroughly tested on the market.

UK offers £7m for solar nanotechnology

The UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is launching a competition for £7 million for research into solar nanotechnology.

Tokuyama builds Malaysian polycrystalline silicon factory

Japan-based Tokuyama Corporation will build a polycrystalline silicon factory for use in photovoltaic (PV) solar cells.

Innotech Solar launches off-grid solar module

Designed for grid-independant solar installation, the Innotech Solar (ITS) 'off-grid' solar module allows different solar cell types to be used, including half and third cells.

LDK Solar increases polysilicon production

LDK Solar Co Ltd’s second polysilicon production facility with an output of 5000 mega tonnes has completed the commissioning process and commenced commercial production.

British Gas introduces solar PV panel scheme

The utility firm takes advantage of the UK Government’s recent feed-in-tariff (FITs) to encourage people to generate their own low-carbon energy including solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Tanmiyat plans US$200m solar PV in Bahrain

Tanmiyat Aloula Holdings is planning a US$200 million solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Bahrain.

Bosch opens solar cell production plant

Bosch Solar Energy AG has started the production of crystalline solar cells at its new facility in Arnstadt, Germany.

Q-Cells builds 5.3 MW solar power in Germany

Q-Cells SE and thermovolt AG have installed a 5.3 MWp solar power station for investment company HEP Kapital near Spremberg, Brandenburg, Germany.

Oerlikon Solar sales fall 74% in H1 2010

Oerlikon Solar has reported a fall of 74% in sales to CHF74 million in the first half (H1) of 2010.

Sunways net income up 3400% in Q2 2010

Sunways AG has reported a consolidated net income of €3.5 million in the second quarter of 2010, up 3400% from the same period in 2009.

Q-Cells returns to profit in Q2 2010

Q-Cells reports a net result of €34.7 million in the second quarter (Q2) 2010, compared to a loss of €322.8m in the same quarter last year.

Small and medium solar thermal has great potential

Small and medium sized solar thermal power stations have a larger application potential than often thought, according to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE).

Phoenix Solar’s net income soars in Q2 2010

Phoenix Solar’s net income soared from €1.1 million in the second quarter (Q2) in 2009 to €15.9m in Q2 2010.

Kyocera starts production at Japanese solar cell plant Kyocera starts production at Japanese solar cell plant

Kyocera Corporation is beginning full-scale production at its new Yasu solar cell manufacturing facility in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.

Conergy completes two Italian solar plants Conergy completes two Italian solar plants

Conergy Italy has completed two more solar parks in Apulia bringing the total to 6 solar power plants producing 6.6 MWh annually in total.

Suntech discontinues solar thin-film

Suntech Power is discontinuing the production of amorphous silicon thin-film solar panels.

SunPower sells 28 MW Italian solar PV park

SunPower Corp is selling the first two phases of the Montalto di Castro solar photovoltaic (PV) power park in Italy to Etrion Corporation for €48 million.

Suntech deliver solar panels to Thai solar power plant

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd will supply 34.5 MW of solar panels for the first phase of a solar power plant in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

Conergy builds 1.48 MW solar PV plant in Czech Republic Conergy builds 1.48 MW solar PV plant in Czech Republic

Conergy has begun construction of their second Czech solar park, a 1.48 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant near Velký Týnec in the Czech Republic.

Abengoa Solar and E.ON halfway on Spanish CSP plant

Abengoa Solar and E.ON are halfway through construction of their first concentrated solar plant (CSP) in Écija, near Seville in Spain.

Suntech solar PV panels to India

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd will deliver its 280 W polycrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to Indian solar power producer Azure Power.

Conergy turns loss to profit in Q2 2010

Conergy is reporting a net result of €7.9 million for the second quarter (Q2) 2010, compared to a loss of €31.1m in the same period in 2009.

SunPower solar tracking system in Australia

SunPower Corporation has completed a 505 kW solar power tracking system for Horizon Power in Western Australia.

Centrosolar revenues double in Q2 2010

Centrosolar says its revenues more than doubled to €124 million in the second quarter (Q2) of 2010.

Kyocera targets higher power with new module

The new product will incorporate 60 solar cells (240 Wp) and is aimed at installations on open fields or industrial roof tops.

PV: Optics based surface technology gets NREL boost

Soloptics has publicised the results of tests conducted at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for its FUSION technology, designed to make PV panels more efficient.