Photovoltaics (PV) News for March 2012

Photovoltaics (PV) News Archive

Japan's new feed-in tariff is attractive for solar and wind

The new feed-in tariff scheme in Japan offers attractive returns for both solar and wind power projects, according to analyst Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

US Army base installs 3000 solar PV panels US Army base installs 3000 solar PV panels

The US Army’s base at Fort Hood in Texas, USA, has seen the installation and activation of a 684 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the base’s Liberty Village Military Housing.

Solar cell industry will buy 35 GWp of equipment by 2017 Solar cell industry will buy 35 GWp of equipment by 2017

Yole Développement says 35 GWp of new solar photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing equipment will be purchased by 2017, in its report Crystalline Silicon PV: Technology, Equipment & Materials.

Chinese solar PV inverter market grew 400% in 2011

The Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) inverter market, driven by the introduction of a national feed-in tariff, grew by over 400% in 2011 to over 2.5 GW in shipments, according to IMS Research.

Innotech develops solar PV module from re-processed cells Innotech develops solar PV module from re-processed cells

Norwegian solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer Innotech Solar (ITS) has developed a high-yield 72-cell solar module from re-processed solar cells.

UK Supreme Court refuses Government appeal on feed-in tariffs

The UK Supreme Court has refused the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) leave to appeal the ruling against changes to the feed-in tariff.

Temporary compromise on US-China solar PV trade spat

The US Department of Commerce has set countervailing duties to a lower-than-expected 2.9-4.73% as a compromise in the trade spat between US solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers and China, analyst EuPD Research says.

Solarhybrid goes bankrupt on German solar tariff cuts

Solarhybrid AG is filing for insolvency due to illiquidity before the local court in Arnsberg, Germany, weeks after listing project failures following the cuts in the German feed-in tariff for solar.

Ontario reduces feed-in tariffs – streamlines approval process

The Government of Ontario is reducing the feed-in tariff for solar by over 20% and for wind by around 15% in a review of the programme.

Most old Solon warranties will be transferred to new Solon Energy

Most of the warranties for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules from the insolvent Solon SE will be transferred to the recently established Solon Energy GmbH.

Premier Power and Chaori build utility-scale solar in the US

Premier Power Renewable Energy Inc and Chaori Solar USA have finalised a US$27.6 million agreement to build utility-scale solar power plants in the US.

Sharp to build 100 MW solar PV on Bali?

Sharp and the Government of Indonesia have agreed on the construction of 100 MW of solar photovoltaics (PV) on Bali, according to media reports.

FRV and Denham Capital partner on US$190m of solar investments

FRV and Denham Capital are partnering with the aim to invest over US$190 million in new solar energy projects worldwide.

First Solar builds 26 MW solar PV project for NRG

First Solar will construct the 26 MW Avra Valley thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) project near Tucson, AZ, USA, for NRG.

DEGERenergie says solar CPV is “unprofitable in the foreseeable future”

DEGERenergie is stopping the production of its concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) tracking systems as it says “CPV is unprofitable in the foreseeable future” – analyst questions too-optimistic business plan.

US solar PV soared 109% in 2011 US solar PV soared 109% in 2011

The US installed 1855 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2011, up 109% on 2010, according to the latest US Solar Market Insight report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

CPR gets grant for solar PV cloud cover simulation

Clean Power Research (CPR) has been awarded a grant of US$850,000 from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to implement simulation tools to predict the variability of solar photovoltaic (PV) power caused by cloud cover.

Suntech sets another efficiency record with Pluto solar PV cell

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd has reached a record 20.3% efficiency with its Pluto solar photovoltaic (PV) cell technology with standard, commercial grade, p-type silicon wafers.

Power-One's central solar PV inverter recognised by OTTI

Power-One Inc's Aurora Ultra central solar photovoltaic (PV) inverter system has been awarded second place at the OTTI Award for Innovation by the Ostbayrisches Technologie-Transfer-Institut (OTTI).

Suntech increases solar module efficiency to 15.7%

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd is presenting a new series of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules with improved efficiency, the monocrystalline solar modules STP200S and STP195S – 24/Ad+, with an efficiency of 15.7%.

Schott Solar modules withstand salt spray corrosion test

Schott Solar AG's Schott Perform Poly solar photovoltaic (PV) modules have passed a salt spray corrosion test at the most difficult level of 6.

11,000 protest against German solar PV cuts 11,000 protest against German solar PV cuts

Around 11,000 people gathered in Berlin on 5 March to protest against further cuts to the support for solar photovoltaics (PV) in Germany from April.

Guggenheim Partners to advice on 10 GW Greek solar project

Financial services firm Guggenheim Partners will serve as a strategic and financial advisor along with the National Bank of Greece on financing, structuring and the staged deployment of the 10 GW solar project Helios in Greece.

Microsol buys bankrupt Solon

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) based solar cell manufacturer Microsol has acquired “essential components” of Solon SE and its subsidiaries for an undisclosed sum, creating Solon Energy GmbH.

SMA inverters to power 290 MW solar PV plant in Arizona

SMA America's Sunny Central inverters have been selected for the 290 MW Agua Caliente solar photovoltaic (PV) plant under construction in Yuma County, AZ, USA.

Solar hydrogen filling station opens in Freiburg, Germany Solar hydrogen filling station opens in Freiburg, Germany

A public solar powered hydrogen filling station for vehicles has been opened in Freiburg, Germany, by Fraunhofer ISE.

Thin-film solar industry launches industry coalition

Representatives of the thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) industry value chain have established their own industry coalition: PVthin.

Abound shuts thin-film production to upgrade capacity

Abound Solar is shutting down production of its first-generation CdTe solar thin-film modules, causing temporary lay-offs of 180 employees at its Colorado facilities.

Oerlikon exits solar market – sells Oerlikon Solar

The Oerlikon Group is selling Oerlikon Solar to semiconductor production equipment provider Tokyo Electron Ltd, as the group continues its operational restructuring and cost cutting excercises.

EDF given green light for Photowatt acquisition

EDF has been given the go-ahead to acquire the bankrupted solar company Photowatt.

Solar power to low-income families in CA and CO, USA

Yingli's US subsidiary, Yingli Green Energy Americas, and non-profit solar installer GRID Alternatives have renewed their strategic partnership for 2012, providing solar power to 800 low-income families in California and Colorado, USA.

SMA Solar Technology opens Japanese subsidiary

SMA Solar Technology AG has opened a sales and service subsidiary in Japan, which will offer solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters and communication products for small solar PV plants in Japan.