Photovoltaics (PV) News for March 2011

Photovoltaics (PV) News Archive

PLG Power builds 40 MW solar PV plant in India

PLG Power Ltd has started construction of its 40 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Patan, Gujarat in India.

Q-Cells: 13.4% efficiency for mass produced CIGS solar thin-film module

Q-Cells SE has achieved a 13.4% efficiency record for mass produced copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar thin-film modules manufactured via monolithic integration.

SMA Solar doubles 2010 profit

SMA Solar Technology AG’s profit soared 127% in 2010 to €365 million, but the company warns of growth stagnation in 2011.

Belgian solar boom over, but small installations still promising Belgian solar boom over, but small installations still promising

Accumulated solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in Belgium is estimated at 740 MW at the end of 2010, but growth rates have deteriorated since the 2009 boom.

Germany installed 1073 MWp solar PV in December 2010 Germany installed 1073 MWp solar PV in December 2010

December was the second strongest month for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in Germany in 2010, reaching 1073 MWp, according to EuPD Research.

Foresight and Our Generation to roll out £50m of solar PV

Alternative asset manager Foresight Group and Our Generation Ltd have agreed a £50 million programme of sub-50 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in the UK over the next 12 months.

First Solar builds solar PV factory in Vietnam

First Solar Inc has broken ground on a 250 MW four-line solar photovoltaic (PV) module plant near Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

German BELECTRIC tops global solar PV system integrators

BELECTRIC developed over 300 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in 2010, bringing it to the top of IMS Research’s 2010 Global PV System Integrator Rankings.

Screen printed cells achieve lab breakthrough Screen printed cells achieve lab breakthrough

The Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) says it has increased the conversion efficiency of screen-printed silicon solar cells from today’s 17%-18.5%, to a new record value of 19.4%.

Could a new technique enable faster production of a-Si solar cells?

A researcher from TU Delft has reportedly demonstrated that the speed at which inexpensive solar cells are produced can be increased by a factor of ten – and that this can be achieved without any detriment to the energy yield of the cells.

Trina Solar signs licensing agreement with Zep Solar Trina Solar signs licensing agreement with Zep Solar

The agreement will enable Trina to use Zep Solar's patented auto-grounding, drop-in mounting solution, and incorporate a platform for module-integrated installation hardware.

REA wrath over UK solar subsidy reductions

The Fast Track consultation on the UK feed-in tariffs have been published, sparking anger among the industry with warnings that it could leave UK solar “strangled at birth.”

Renewable Energy Focus at EWEA 2011

The Renewable Energy Focus team is at the European Wind Energy Association's annual conference and exhibition EWEA 2011.

French reduce solar PV funding

French solar photovoltaic (PV) feed-in tariff is being reduced to €0.12/kWh.

More industry reactions to UK renewable heat incentive

Following yesterday’s announcement of the UK renewable heat incentive (RHI), comments from across the industry has been flooding in – most of them positive.

Fraunhofer ISE unveils large-scale dye solar cell

Solar energy researchers have produced what could be the world’s largest dye solar cell on a continuous substrate material.

Online marketplace for solar PV projects

ProjectForum4t2 has launched an online international marketplace for solar photovoltaic (PV) project rights and existing systems.

SunPower delivers 48 MW of solar panels to Toshiba

Toshiba Corporation is ordering 48 MW of solar panels from SunPower Corporation to support its residential solar offering in Japan.

UK feed-in tariff rise ‘will help fuel solar PV demand’

Mitsubishi Electric has welcomed an increase in the UK’s feed-in tariff for solar technology to take into account inflation.

Italian solar PV feed-in tariff agreement postponed

Feed-in tariffs for the Italian solar photovoltaic (PV) industry will only remain stable until the end of May but the solar market will not be capped.

Going to Hannover Fair? Get your free ticket

As part of a media partnership deal with the forthcoming Hannover Fair, we have managed to secure complimentary tickets for our readers...

Q-Cells polycrystalline solar module reaches 17.84% efficiency

Q-Cells has reached an efficiency rating of 17.84% and an output of 268 W with a polycrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) module.

Trina Solar and Zep cooperate on installation hardware

Trina Solar Ltd and Zep Solar Inc have entered a licensing, sales and marketing partnership agreement for Zep’s platform for module-integrated installation hardware.

Oerlikon Solar deliver thin-film coating equipment to China

Oerlikon Solar will deliver its solar thin-film silicon coating equipment to photoelectric glass manufacturer Dong Xu Ltd in China.

TEP Solar acquires two BP Solar plants in Abruzzo

TEP Solar is buying two solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Italy from BP Solar.

Siemens gets follow-up solar PV order for Italy

Siemens Energy has received a follow-up order for the turnkey construction of 8 solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Italy totaling 14 MWp.

Electronics giants swell Asian solar PV market

The Asian share of solar photovoltaic (PV) production could reach nearly 85% by the end of the year, according to IMS Research.