Photovoltaics (PV) News for February 2011

Photovoltaics (PV) News Archive

Bosch to fully acquire aleo Solar?

Bosch, which has a near 82% stake in alea Solar AG, is offering aleo Solar’s remaining shareholders €22 per share.

UK rural enterprise invests in solar PV project

A 5 MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system is to be constructed as part of The Regeneration Initiative at the Royal Bath & West of England Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

20% efficiency ‘realistic’ for silicon solar cells

Researchers in Germany claim to have achieved new peak efficiency for large-area easy-to-fabricate silicon solar cells.

Q-Cells turns loss to profit in 2010

Q-Cells has recorded a net result from continuing operations of €90.9 million in 2010, compared to a loss of €370.8m in 2009.

Trina Solar’s net income soars 224% in 2010

Trina Solar saw a 224% increase in its net income in 2010 to US$311.5m compared to 2009.

Solar PV leads renewable growth in Europe

Solar photovoltaics (PV) saw the strongest growth of all renewable technologies in Europe last year.

JA Solar with 18.2% conversion efficiency solar cell

The new multi-crystalline silicon solar cell uses JA Solar’s proprietary Maple technology.

TwentyNinety awarded for its solar PV array

TwentyNinety has won a Shell Springboard award for its solar photovoltaic (PV) Active Array™, which is being launched this year.

Parabel plans potential 90 MW solar park in Germany

Parabel AG plans a 90 MW solar power plant at a former military training ground in Brandenburg, Germany.

Spotlight on new solar power electronics technology

New research reveals apprehensions regarding the type of application for emerging solar power electronics technologies that are currently being developed such as micro inverters and power optimisation through maximum power-point tracking (MPPT).

Printed electronics research for organic PV

Organic photovoltaics (OPV) could benefit from a European research collaboration into printed electronics.

Dutch researchers help Kuwaiti solar PV

The Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) will advise and support the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in setting up and equipping a test facility for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

IPSol builds solar PV centre in UK

IPSol Energy is establishing what it calls a solar photovoltaic (PV) “centre of excellence” in Nottingham, UK.

Sunways sales up 25% in 2010

Sunways AG has reported preliminary sales figures for the full year 2010 of €222.7 million, up 25% on 2009.

aleo solar modules for 3 MW rooftop plant in Italy

aleo solar AG will supply over 13,000 of its S_18 solar modules to Italian logistics corporation he Lannutti Group for a 3 MW rooftop plant in Cuneo, Italy.

Phoenix Solar builds solar PV plant in Saudi Arabia

What could be Saudi Arabia’s largest photovoltaic (PV) power plant will be built by Phoenix Solar.

Parity Solar’s thin-film modules get MCS accreditation Parity Solar’s thin-film modules get MCS accreditation

Parity Solar’s thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules have achieved MCS certification following a review of its manufacturing processes, materials, procedures and products carried out in China by the British Board of Agrément.

Mapping UK’s solar power potential Mapping UK’s solar power potential

Bluesky’s Solar Suitability Map for the UK maps the solar power potential for solar panels on roofs.

Donauer mobile solar energy system

Donauer Solartechnik’s Mobile Solar Power System (MSPS), designed for extreme climate conditions, will be distributed by the off grid division of Gilching solar wholesaler and was launched at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

European solar PV industry calls for UK feed-in tariff caution

The European Photovoltaic Industry Association has urged the British Government to review its feed-in tariff carefully.

Solar PV plant planned in former Italian quarry

International energy provider Scatec Solar signs a contract with Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) and Italgen to construct a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in an old quarry, close to Guiglia, Italy.

Crystalline solar PV margins and prices in decline

Prices are falling sharply throughout the solar photovoltaic (PV) crystalline supply chain, according to IMS Research.

First Solar modules for 25 MWp of Moser Baer solar projects

Moser Baer Clean Energy Limited (MBCEL) will procure 25 MWp DC of First Solar's thin-film solar modules for its solar power generation projects.

Gehrlicher sells 1.9 MWp Audi solar system

An Audi rooftop system owned by Gehrlicher Solar has been sold to PT Erneuerbare Energien Energy Fund for €4.6 million.

Solar PV materials market to reach US$12.8bn by 2014

The market for solar photovoltaic (PV) materials will have grown 50% in four years, according to GTM Research.

Schott Solar signs 20 MW Indian PV contract

Schott Solar will deliver 200,00 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Premier Solar India.

Parity Solar completes 200 kW BIPV project in China Parity Solar completes 200 kW BIPV project in China

Parity Solar has completed a 200 kW building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) building project at the New Area Court House complex in Zhenjiang City, China.

European consortium develops thin-film solar PV module

European companies are working together to produce a low-cost thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) module for roofing.

Kyocera introduces 245 Wp solar PV module

Japanese company Kyocera is unveiling its new 245 Wp solar photovoltaic (PV) module in March.

Solar PV testing scheme to help buyers

TÜV Rheinland and Solarpraxis have set up a test to compare the quality of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules.

Spanish researchers develop 20.5% efficiency solar cells

Researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) have produced a silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) cells with a conversion efficiency of 20.5%.

SolarWorld profit soars 51% in 2010

SolarWorld AG’s consolidated profits soared 51% in 2010 to €89 million, according to provisional results.

REC constructs 24 MW solar power plant in Italy

REC Systems, part of REC, is constructing a 24.2 MW solar power plant together with ABB in the Lazio region of Italy using 100,000 REC solar modules.

Celestica and Recurrent solar manufacturing JV in Ontario

Celestica Inc and Sharp subsidiary Recurrent Energy have formed a joint venture (JV) to manufacture over 200 MW of solar components annually creating 300 manufacturing jobs in Ontario, Canada.

GCube ups solar property coverage to US$0.5bn

GCube Underwriting Ltd, a provider of insurance services for renewable energy technologies, has grown its solar property coverage from US$300 million to US$500m for any single solar project or phase.

Solar industry concern about EU energy finance model

The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has expressed concern about the European Commission's latest proposals to finance renewable energy.