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>> Current Articles on Renewable Energy Resources and Transmission
>> Solar Energy Articles on Solar Power
- Namibia
in line for first large-scale PV power plant
Nov 19, 2014 - Ben Willis - PV-tech.org
Namibia in southern Africa is expected to see its first large-scale PV plant
come online early next year following a ground-breaking ceremony last week.
- India
commercial rooftops ‘to reach grid parity next year’
Nov 11, 2014 - Lucy Woods - www.pv-tech.org
The chief technology officer of Indian manufacturer and installer,
Tata Power Solar, has said commercial rooftop solar will reach grid
parity before any other solar segment in India, and will be the cheapest
form of energy for customers by 2024.
- EU
sets 2030 renewable energy target of 27%
Oct 24, 2014 - Peter Bennett - pv-tech.org
The European Council has reached an agreement over the 2030 climate and
energy policy framework.
- US
Energy Secretary Tours 6.4-MW Rooftop Solar Array in Las Vegas
Oct 22, 2014 - Jennifer Runyon - renewableenergyworld.com
LAS VEGAS -- With more than 20,000 panels, one of the largest rooftop solar
arrays in the U.S. is about to be commissioned on top of the Mandalay Bay
Convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada. A 6.4-MW solar array, which uses
SMA inverters and panels from Hanwha Q CELLS and JA Solar, covers the 20
acres of roofs on the convention center and its neighboring buildings.
- SolarCity
to supply Walmart with PV facilities across US
Oct 20, 2014 - Conor Ryan - pv-tech.org
SolarCity has agreed to a deal with retailer Walmart that will see the clean
energy provider install PV projects at stores across 36 states over the next
four years.
- Chile will lead Latin America in renewable energy, says president
Oct 20, 2014 - Monique Avila - pv-tech.org
The president of the Republic of Chile, Michelle Bachelet said the
country will aim to become a leader in renewable energy.
- Former Desertec members 'continue to back desert-based solar'
Oct 16, 2014 - Monique Avila - pv-tech.org
Two of the former shareholders in the Desertec Industrial Initiative
(Dii) have said they will continue to invest in the region despite
leaving the project.
- Solar
to beat wind to wholesale grid parity in Europe - report
Oct 7, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
Solar PV will narrowly beat onshore wind to wholesale grid parity in Europe,
according to a new report.
- BNEF: China dominated US$55 billion of global clean energy investment
in Q3
Oct 8, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
Driven to a greater extent by a “solar boom,” China contributed
US$19.9 billion to a global total of US$55 billion invested in clean
energy in the third quarter of this year, according to Bloomberg New
Energy Finance (BNEF).
- IEA
plots path for solar to be world’s largest source of electricity
by 2050
Sep 29, 2014 - John Parnell- pv-tech.org
Solar energy could be the largest single source of electricity in
the world by 2050, according to a new report by the International Energy
Agency (IEA).
- US
earmarks 800,000 hectares of California desert for renewables
Sep 24, 2014 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
A draft plan for the development and conservation of California’s
deserts has proposed setting aside 800,000 hectares of land for renewable
energy projects. Of this 176,000 hectares would be on public land.
- India drafts plan for 20GW of large PV projects by 2020
Sep 15, 2014 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
The government of India has published a draft plan proposing the
development of 20GW in ‘ultra mega’solar power plants
over the next five years.
- US
solar generation and output surge in first half of 2014
Sep 10, 2014 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
New US utility-scale solar installations in the first half of 2014 defied
a general downward trend across all generation types to surge by nearly 70%
year on year, according to official figures.
- Planned 50MW Israel project could send power to Jordan
Sep 8, 2014 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
The Eilat Eilot Renewable Energy Initiative (EEREI) has opened the
tendering process for a 50MW PV project in Israel that could also rovide
power to neighbouring Jordan.
- Rooftop
solar cheaper than coal, says Philippines’ energy minister
Sep 08, 2014 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
The Philippines’ secretary of energy, Carlos Jericho Petilla
said 5 September that rooftop solar is cheaper than coal in the island
state.
- Report charts course to possible 145GW of solar in India
Sep 02, 2014 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
Solar energy in India now has the potential to become a viable alternative
to fossil fuels, according to a report by manufacturer and developer,
Tata Power Solar, and solar analyst, Bridge to India.
- UK takes fifth place in utility-scale PV league table
Aug 15, 2014 - Peter Bennet - PV-tech.org
The UK is now the world’s fifth largest utility-scale solar market,
according to figures published by Wiki-Solar.
ma luuel
- Solar Power Installations Jump to a New Annual Total
Jul 29, 2014 - Max Lander and Xiangyu Wu - worldwatch.org
The year 2013 saw record-breaking growth for solar electricity generation
as the photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar thermal power (CSP)
markets continued to grow.
- Panasonic provides solar power supply container in Indonesia as a stand-alone photovoltaic power package
Jul 23, 2014 - solarserver.com
Panasonic Corporation (Osaka, Japan) announced it installed the “Power Supply Container”,
as a stand-alone photovoltaic power package that it developed, to the
National Elementary School Karimunjawa 01 in Karimunjawa Island, Jepara
District, Central Jawa Province, Indonesia.
- Solar more than doubled share of new capacity in US for
first half of 2014
Jul 21, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
In the first six months of 2014, solar has represented almost a third
of new electricity generation capacity additions in the US, more than
doubling its performance in the same period of 2013, according to US
government statistics.
- Report:
Solar crucial to avoid water-related conflict
Aug 1, 2014 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
A new report analysing water scarcity in the power sector identifies PV
as a major solution for avoiding water-related conflict.
- Inside the Huge Solar Farm That Powers Apple's iCloud
Jul. 28, 2014 - Suzanne Goldenberg and James West - motherjones.com
The skies are threatening to pour on the Apple solar farm but as the
woman in charge of the company's environmental initiatives points out:
The panels are still putting out some power. Apple is still greening
its act.
- Huge
North Carolina Solar Project Could “Move the Needle” for Solar’s Possibilities
Jul 10, 2014 - Jennifer Runyon, Chief Editor - renewableenergyworld.com
New Hampshire -- Coming on the heels of Apple’s announced 17.5-MW solar
project in Maiden, North Carolina, spokespeople for an innovative renewable
energy project involving two universities, a hospital and the largest non-utility
solar PPA in the U.S. have said that it will also begin construction in
North Carolina this summer.
- Apple Widens Its Solar Energy Footprint
Jul 09, 2014 - Meg Cichon -renewableenergyworld.com
Apple has reportedly purchased another parcel of land to build a third solar farm near its Maiden, N.C. data center.
- Sustainable Energy Trade Initiative: International negotiations to eliminate tariffs on “environmental goods” like PV panels, solar water heaters
Jul 9, 2014 - solarserver.com
Officials from 14 governments met in Geneva on July 8th, 2014 announced the launch of international negotiations that will aim to eliminate tariffs on “environmental goods” – products like wind turbines, solar thermal water heaters, filters for wastewater treatment, and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, the Sustainable Energy Trade Initiative (SETI Alliance) reports.
- IHS: Solar PV expectations for Brazil rise as additional auctions are announced
Jul 8, 2014 - solarserver.com
Brazil’s plan to auction 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity through 2018 comes as welcome news for the global solar PV industry as the ambitious goal is expected to catalyze solar growth in Latin America, according to a new report from IHS Technology (El Segundo, California, U.S.).
- Home
of American motor racing embraces solar
Jul 2, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, US motor racing's spiritual home, has been
fitted with what is claimed to be the largest solar power plant at any sporting
facility in the world.
- 4
Lessons Pakistan’s Off-Grid Solar Market Can Teach the World
Jun 20, 2014 - Justin Guay and Vrinda
Manglik - greentechmedia.com
When it comes to the off-grid solar
market, the South Asian countries you
normally hear about are India and Bangladesh.
One is home to the largest potential
market in the world, the other is home
to the world's most successful and
booming market to date.
- Nation's Largest Community Solar Garden Sold Out
June 25, 2014 - SunShare - finance.yahoo.com
DENVER, June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A historic moment for the rapidly
growing Community Solar market, Colorado energy company SunShare has
sold out the nation's largest privately developed and subscribed Community
Solar Garden - before construction begins on the 10,000+ solar panel
installation this fall. A Solar Garden of this size can power over
500 average Colorado homes.
- Hawaii's Solar Conundrum: Can Energy Storage Save the Day?
Jun 18, 2014 - Charles Thurston - Renewable Energy World.com
Hawaii’s lead utility Hawaiian Electric (HECO) and other utilities
in the islands have found that solar photovoltaics installations have
grown far faster than their isolated grids can adapt to the intermittent
flood
of peak time energy. With an electricity tariff at least double the U.S.
average, fuel-constrained Hawaii is a rare and now leading U.S. market
where solar has reached parity with other energy costs.
- Texas utility chooses solar, claims it will be ‘coal free’ by 2016
Jun 16, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
A utility company in Texas that serves nearly 400,000 people has declared that it is not only ready to meet recently issued Environment Protection Agency (EPA) carbon standards but will be able to go entirely ‘coal-free’ by 2016.
- IRENA: 12 times more solar needed to avoid 'climate catastophe'
Jun 10, 2014 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
Solar deployment needs to increase 12 times over by 2030 to avoid "climate
catastrophe", a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency
(IRENA) has warned.
- Namibian energy minister pushes for solar expansion
Jun 10, 2014 - Ben Willis - pvtech.org
The energy minister of Namibia, southern Africa, has called for greater
deployment of solar to provide power in off-grid locations.
- Deutsche Bank to lend US$1 billion for Japan solar projects
Jun 10, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
A director at Deutsche Bank has revealed that the company plans to lend
around US$1 billion for the construction of up to six solar power projects
in Japan over the next 12 to 18 months.
- In Kenya, schools lead renewable energy surge in remote areas
Jun 9, 2014 - Kagondu Njagi - trust.org
SAMBURU, Kenya (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The tolling of the evening bell signals the end of the day’s
classes at Donyo Wasin primary school. For a
few adept pupils like Sotik Leleno, however,
it ushers in the time for their private studies
under the glow of solar powered lighting.
- World first: Australian solar plant has generated "supercritical" steam that rivals fossil fuels'
Jun 5, 2014 - sciencealert.com.au
A CSIRO test plant in Australia has broken a world record and proved solar power could efficiently replace fossil fuels.
- Guatemala's first utility-scale solar plant complete
May 30, 2014 - Lucy Woods - PV-tech.org
The first utility-scale solar power plant in Guatemala, and reportedly the largest in Central America, is now online.
- Largest solar plant in Central
America inaugurated in Guatemala
May 28, 2014 - globalpost.com
Guatemala City, May 28 (EFE).- Spanish developer Gran Solar, Guatemala's
Grupo Green and Swiss investor Ecosolar on Wednesday inaugurated Guatemala's
first solar power plant.
- Friday Focus: Modi's solar 'to-do' list
May 23, 2014 - Lucy Woods - PV-tech.org
After winning a huge majority, Narandra Modi is now leader of the globe's largest democracy.
- Middle Eastern Money Oils Wheels of Solar Expansion
May 22, 2014 - Jeremy Bowden - renewableenergyworld.com
Next time you fill your gas tank, be reassured that some of the profits, at least, are going towards developing and expanding renewables in the developing world.
- Solar Energy Versus the Grid: This Map Shows Where PV Makes the Most Sense
May 20, 2014 - Stephen Lacey - theenergycollective.com
Large corporations are turning into the biggest solar consumers. Last year, 25 of the biggest companies in the U.S. cumulatively installed nearly a half a gigawatt of solar at stores, warehouses and manufacturing plants.
- Mexican government wants 33% of electricity capacity to come from renewable sources by 2018
May 20, 2014 - Conor Ryan - pv-tech.org
The Mexican government has set lofty goals for the future, as energy secretary Pedro Joaquin Coldwell announced that the current administration wants 33% of the country’s installed electricity capacity to come from renewable sources by 2018.
- In
India, solar surge aims to reshape the country's energy future
May 20, 2014 - Saket S. - trust.org
DHURSAR, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The deserts of Rajasthan
have long been known for their spare beauty and their intense sunshine.
Now that sun is being turned into a surge of solar power expansion that
may one day power not just Rajasthan but a wide swath of India with clean
energy.
- Conergy connects Philippines’ first utility-scale solar park
May 15, 2014 - renewableenergyfocus.com
22 MW solar plant will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 13,000 local homes per year.
- Philippines' first utility-scale solar power plant comes online
May
15, 2014 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
The first phase of the Philippines’ first utility-scale solar
power plant is now online.
- Why Green Jobs Are Booming
in Bangladesh
May 14, 2014 - Todd Woody - theatlantic.com
Bangladesh is known for its apparel manufacturing industry—and for the
conditions faced by garment workers toiling in Dickensian factories for a dollar
a day. But according to a report released Sunday, the South Asian nation has
become a top hot spot for renewable energy jobs, creating a green workforce
as large as Spain’s in 2013.
- Germany's
storage subsidy yields 4,000 systems in first year
May 13, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
In the year that has passed since Germany began offering subsidies for
lithium-ion battery systems for residential use, around 4,000 solar-plus-batteries
have
been installed, the country's Federal Solar Industry Association
(BSW Solar) has announced.
-
Solar power to the people: green energy could boost African development
Apr 30, 2014 - John Vidal - theguardian.com
Sub-Saharan Africa's lack of electricity is hindering development but this can be reversed if countries turn to ambitious, large-scale renewable energy projects, an environmental thinktank suggests.
-
Morocco turns to US in effort to kick start US$12 billion solar plans
30 Apr, 2014 - John Parnell - pvtech.org
Senior Moroccan officials will tour the US this June as they look to kick start the North African country’s ambitious US$12.4 billion solar plans.
- More Than 120 Large-Scale Solar PV Farms Approved for Construction in the UK
Apr 29, 2014 - World of renewables
Santa Clara, Calif., April 28, 2014—The United Kingdom is forecast to be the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) market in Europe in 2014, fuelled by the rapid growth in ground-mounted solar PV farms. More than 120 large-scale solar PV farms in the UK have recently received project-planning approval, and many of them are targeting completion within the next 12 months, according to the new NPD Solarbuzz UK Deal Tracker report.
- Utilities responsible for 80% of US solar in 2013 - SEPA
Apr 28, 2014 - Ben Willis -
pv-tech.org
California-based Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has topped the list of US utilities that added most new solar capacity to their systems in 2013.
- Smart Wind and Solar Power
Apr 28 2014 - Kevin Bullis - technologyreview.com
Wind power is booming on the open plains of eastern Colorado. Travel seven miles north of the town of Limon on Highway 71 and then head east on County Road 3p, a swath of dusty gravel running alongside new power lines: within minutes you’ll be surrounded by towering wind turbines in rows stretching for miles. Three large wind farms have been built in the area since 2011. A new one is going up this year.
- Solar Power Grows 400 Percent in Only 4 Years
Apr 24, 2014 - Daniel Cusick - scientificamerican.com
Driven by an explosion in photovoltaics, the U.S. solar sector has emerged "from a relatively small contributor to the nation's total electric capacity into a one of comparative significance," the Energy Information Administration reported this week in its latest Electricity Monthly Update.
- The Solar Battlefield: How the US DOD Will Bring Solar Technology Mainstream
Apr 23, 2014 - Vince Font - renewableenergyworld.com
Utah, USA -- When it comes to driving the development of renewable energy technology, no greater facilitating force exists than the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).
- Jordan turns to the sun to meet energy demand - Vahid Fotuhi
Apr 15, 2014 - Bea Gonzalez - pv-insider.com
The government of Jordan executed the power purchase agreements (PPA) related to the first phase of its direct proposal program involving 200MW of solar power.
- The Solar Industry Has Been Waiting 60 Years For This To Happen - And It Finally Just Did
Apr 10, 2014 - Rob Wile - businessinsider.in
It is now a question of how and where, not if, solar becomes a dominant force in energy markets.
-
UN report: Solar beats trend of falling renewables investment
Apr 08, 2014 - Lucy Woods - PV-tech.org
Solar bucked a trend of falling investment in renewables last year, accounting for nearly half of the US$11 billion total for all new investments for renewables in 2013, according to a United Nations report.
-
Chile Installs Record-Breaking 150MW of PV in Q1, 380MW Under Construction
Apr 7,2014 - Mike Munsell - greentechmedia.com
Four major projects came on-line, giving Chile a promising start to the year.
- UK launches Europe’s first dedicated solar strategy
Apr 4, 2014 - Peter Bennett - pv-tech.org
The UK has become the first European government to publish a dedicated solar PV strategy.The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published the long-awaited Solar Strategy today, designed to enact a “further step change in deployment” for solar in the UK.
- NEC provides Enel with 2MWh battery system for grid trials
Apr 3, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - PV-tech.org
NEC Corporation has commissioned a 2MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system designed to ease the integration of renewable energy into the grid for Italian distribution system operator (DSO) Enel Distribuzione.
-
Solar set for ‘disruptive’ future as costs fall, says McKinsey
Apr 2, 2014 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
A report by influential consultancy McKinsey has painted an upbeat assessment of solar’s future prospects despite recent problems from overcapacity, subsidy cuts and a global financial crash.
- SunEdison announces financial close on largest merchant solar project in Latin America
Apr 1, 2014
- Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
SunEdison has announced financial close on a 50MW solar plant in Chile, which it claims is Latin America’s largest operational PV plant and also one of the biggest PV projects in the world operating without subsidies.
-
Report: Commercial solar hits grid parity in Spain, Germany and Italy
Mar 26, 2014 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
Solar PV has reached grid parity in Spain, Germany and Italy according to a new report by the consultancy Eclareon.
- Former US energy secretary Chu: Utilities need to respond to 'disruptive' solar-plus-batteries
Mar 25, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
Former US energy secretary Steven Chu has claimed battery storage technology used in combination with solar could be “as disruptive to electricity distribution and generation as the internet”.
- Global PV deployment set to surge by 2018 as profitability returns: Solarbuzz
Mar 21, 2013 - Ben Willis - PV-tech.org
Falling module prices and system costs will help propel global PV deployment to 500GW by 2018 as the industry returns to profitability, new analysis suggests.
- 'Two-thirds of German PV installers now offering storage'
Mar 13, 2011 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
Over two-thirds of German PV installers are now offering their customers energy storage options, while their British and Italian counterparts are beginning to follow suit, according to a new report from EuPD Research.
- IHS: Mexico joins South Africa and Turkey in top three emerging PV markets
Mar 12, 2014 - Andy Colthrope - PV-tech.org
Several hundred megawatts of PV projects currently under construction in Mexico are driving the country to third place in the world for attractiveness to investors, developers and manufacturers in the solar industry, according to analysis firm IHS.
- HCPV cell efficiencies to exceed 45% by 2017, says IHS
Mar 10, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
High-concentration PV (HCPV) systems will reach cell efficiencies exceeding 45% by 2017, while the world’s biggest regional markets for HCPV will be in the United States and central America, according to a new report by analysis firm IHS.
- Google, 3TIER colloborate on wind and solar data project
Mar 3, 2014 - Renewable Energy Focus
3TIER’s global wind and solar datasets now freely available through Google’s popular Map Gallery platform.
- California solar power hits new production record
Mar 11, 2011 - Conor Ryan - pv-tech.org
Solar power production in California hit a new record on 8 March 2014, as output reached 4,093MW. The mark broke the previous record of 3,926 MW set just a day before on 7 March, according to California Independent System Operator (ISO).
- Solar with batteries could allow US 'grid defection' by 2030: Rocky Mountain Institute
Feb 26, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
The Rocky Mountain Institute has published a report which claims it could be possible, using PV coupled with storage, for portions of the USA to "defect" away from using grid networks entirely by 2030.
- Any country can reach high shares of wind, solar power cost-effectively, study shows
Feb 24, 2014 - iea.org
Transformation of power systems is necessary to guarantee flexibility over long term, but this will be more difficult in some markets than in others
- Solar Energy: Stacking the deck
Feb 22, 2014 - economist.com
A way to double the efficiency of solar cells is about to go mainstream
-
East Africa: Rwanda to Build East Africa's Largest Solar Plant
Feb 19, 2014 - allafrica.com
Rwanda has started the construction of a new 8.5 MW solar PV plant, the first utility-scale solar power field in East Africa. The plant will be built on land belonging to Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village.
- Mega projects make up 68% of 95GW global project pipeline: NPD Solarbuzz
Feb 18, 2014 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
PV projects in excess of 50MW now represent 68% of the global project pipeline, however their enormous scale means they may not be the most interesting segment for developers.
- Commissioning underway on Crescent Dunes CSP plant
Feb 13, 2014 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
Commissioning has begun on Crescent Dunes, a concentrated solar power (CSP) project in the US claimed to be the largest of its kind in the world with molten salt storage capability.
- A Third Of The Nation's Solar Industry Jobs Are Found In California
Feb 11, 2014 - Lydia O'Connor - huffingtonpost.com
California is home to nearly one-third of the nation’s solar industry jobs, with almost five times the number as any other state, according to a report from The Solar Foundation.
- Storage system powered by used Nissan batteries installed at Japanese solar farm
Feb 7, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
A large-scale storage system made by reusing electric vehicle batteries has been developed and deployed at a 10MW solar farm in south western Japan by Sumitomo Corporation.
- World’s largest solar thermal plant comes on line near state line
Feb 3,2014 - Jim Steinberg - The Sun
NIPTON >> The world’s largest solar thermal electric plant has begun operating its three generating units, which will soon deliver enough clean energy to power more than 140,000 homes in Northern and Southern California, officials said.
- U.S. solar industry employs more than coal, gas combined
Jan 31, 2014 - Sustainable Business News - greenbiz.com
The annual census of U.S. solar jobs is in — and as of 2013, the industry now employs about 143,000 Americans.
-
Jan 30, 2014 - nrel.gov
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released new solar resource
data for India. The 10-km hourly solar resource data were developed using
weather satellite (METEOSAT) measurements incorporated into a site-time
specific solar modeling approach developed at the U.S. State University
of New York at Albany.
- Former uranium site turning into solar farm mecca
Jan 30, 2014 - Bob Fowler - marcellus.com
OAK RIDGE — A former uranium enrichment site is becoming a green-power mecca. Two companies that have already built solar power facilities at East Tennessee Technology Park — formerly the sprawling K-25 site — are teaming up to construct what will be one of Tennessee’s top 10 solar farms.
- Solar Jobs Climb Almost 20% in 2013
Jan 28, 2014 - insideclimatenews.org
Solar jobs in the U.S. climbed nearly 20% in the 14 months through November as cheaper panels and rising electricity rates spurred people to turn to solar.
- US Solar Jobs Growing Ten Times Faster than National Average Employment Growth
Jan 27, 2014 - Jennifer Runyon - Renewable Energy World.COM
New Hampshire, USA -- Today The Solar Foundation (TSF), a non-profit organization that seeks to further the understanding of solar energy through research and public education, released its 4th National Jobs Census report, which shows remarkable growth in the U.S. labor market as it pertains to solar energy employment.
- PPA approved for California’s first large-scale solar plant with energy storage
Jan 30, 2013 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has unanimously approved an amended 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between SolarReserve, a US PV project developer, and utility firm Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) relating to the Rice Solar Energy Project.
- Greece reaches over 1GW of installed capacity in December 2012
Jan 30, 2013 - Nilima Choudhury - pv-tech.org
Greek grid operator, Hellenic Transmission, has announced the country installed 1.126GW of solar PV capacity, while rooftop capacity was 298MW in December 2012.
- Solar power has role in transforming Sub-Saharan economy: Commerzbank
Jan 24, 2013 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
The relatively quick deployment time of solar power could help to fix energy supply issues and get Sub-Saharan economies back on track, according to a new report by Commerzbank.
- Report: MENA solar to be worth US$50 billion by 2020
Jan 20, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
The Middle East and North Africa could see investment in solar reach US$50 billion by 2020 as governments push to exploit the region’s huge resources, research claims.
- Top 10 US states offer more than 40GW of solar PV pipeline capacity
Jan 14, 2014 - Michael Barker - pv-tech.org
At the end of 2013, based on annual market demand, the top 10 states for solar PV in the US had an aggregate project pipeline of approximately 2,000 non-residential projects. This represents almost 40GW of potential PV capacity.
- Abengoa To Develop South America's Largest Solar Thermal Plant
Jan 10, 2014 - Solar Industry
Abengoa has been selected by the Ministry of Energy of the Chilean Government and Corporacion de Fomento de la Produccion (Corfo) to develop a 110 MW solar plant in Chile.
- Chile to build 110MW CSP tower
Jan 10, 2014 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
Chile’s Ministry of Energy and government agency for entrepreneurship, COFO, has awarded a tender for South America’s first concentrated solar power (CSP) plant.
- Bolivia plans first megawatt-scale PV plant
Jan 08, 2014 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
The Bolivian government has announced that US$11 million will be invested to build the country’s first megawatt-scale solar power station.
- Deutsche Bank hails second solar ‘gold rush’
Jan 07, 2014 - Mark Osborne - pv-tech.org
In a new detailed report by Deutsche Bank’s US-based solar industry analysts, the PV industry is said to be heading into its “second gold rush” with a base demand of 46GW in 2014, topped by an expected 56GW of demand in 2015.
- Solar Energy - Opportunity in Africa
Dec 20, 2013 - solarenergyevents.com
We have gathered together some of the Africa features, news and product coverage from our network of websites and journals
- Zimbabwe plans to build three solar power plants
Dec 9, 2013 - Reuters - timeslive.co.za
Zimbabwe plans to construct three solar-powered plants in the west of the country at a cost of $540 million in a bid to ease electricity shortages in the country, an official with the state power company said.
- 3TIER makes wind and solar data open access
Dec 9, 2013 - renewableenergyfocus.com
Renewable energy forecaster 3TIER has made its wind and solar annual averages available via the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)’s Global Renewable Energy Atlas, an open-access online platform.
- We need to talk about utility-scale solar…
Nov 26, 2013 - Felicity Carus - PV-tech.org
Residential solar may steal the headlines and commercial solar show great promise, but utility-scale solar really is the 800lb gorilla in the room. In the US, utility-scale PV increased from just 5% of total annual PV installations in 2008 to 54% in 2012.
- US third largest market as solar project pipeline passes 43GW, says NPD Solarbuzz
Nov 25, 2013 - Mark Osborne - pv-tech.org
New data from NPD Solarbuzz highlights the growing significance of the US solar market and the booming large-scale PV project sector, making it the third largest end market in the world.
- Japan hits 3.9GW of PV installations since FiT introduction
Nov 19, 2013 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has announced that around 3.9GW of solar power generation capacity has been installed in Japan since July 2012, when the country introduced feed-in tariffs (FiTs) for renewable energy.
- Solarbuzz: PV polysilicon and wafer costs set to drop to record low
Nov 18, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
Manufacturing costs for tier one integrated polysilicon and PV wafer makers are set to hit a record low of US$0.20 per watt in 2014, according to analysis by NPD Solarbuzz.
- Japan's Solar Market Surge Blows Away Earlier Forecasts
Nov 7, 2013 - Herman K. Trabish - greentechmedia.com
The newly projected 350 percent growth of Japan's solar market from 2012 to 2013 dwarfs estimates made earlier this year
- Huge US-Backed Solar Plant Now at Full Power
Nov 5, 2013 - Earthtechling, Pete Danko - greentechmedia.com
You can call it another loan-guarantee success story: One of the world’s biggest solar PV plants is now fully operational in California.
- Report card grades US states by solar friendliness
Nov 4, 2013 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
The latest ranking of US states for the solar friendliness of their utilities and grids has been released, with California, Massachusetts, Oregon and Utah picked out for special praise.
- Apple files for solar power management system patent
Nov 1, 2013 - Lucy Woods - PV-tech.org
Technology manufacturing giant Apple applied to the US patent and trademark office on Thursday for the patent of a power management system to utilise portable solar panels.
- Renewable energy transition behind ‘remarkable’ slowdown in CO2 emissions
Oct 31, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
The increase in global carbon dioxide emissions slowed last year because of a shift towards renewable energy usage, a major new study claims.
- US Solar Surge: Flipping Switches on a Hoover Dam of Utility-scale Concentrated Solar Power
Oct 29, 2013 - Susan Kraemer, Correspondent - renewableenergyworld.com
During this month’s U.S. government shutdown, an astonishing 1.3 GW of CSP began commercial operation, thanks to the Department of Energy’s former loan guarantee program for clean energy. Another several gigawatts is in construction.
- DoE’s Minh Le: Preparing for solar’s ‘giant leap’ to $1/W
Oct 28, 2013 - Felicity Carus - pv-tech.org
Sunpower, First Solar, Sunrun and Clean Power Finance are such firm fixtures in solar that it's hard to imagine a US industry without these companies, their technology innovations and disruptive business models.
- India’s Madhya Pradesh targets 1,200MW of solar by 2015
Oct 28, 2013 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has set a new solar target for 1,400MW of solar by 2015. The state’s principal secretary for new and renewable energy, Shri Sudhi Ranjan Mohanty, plans 2,600MW by June 2015, to be generated through renewable sources.
- Gulf nations beginning to prove their solar demand is no mirage
Oct 25, 2013 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
High profile solar developments have taken place recently in Dubai, Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as lofty ambitions begin to bear fruit.
- Breaking the 50GW barrier in 2014: the dawn of a new solar PV landscape
Oct 25, 2013 - Finlay Colville - pv-tech.org
Global PV demand during 2014 is set to represent a new phase of growth for the solar PV industry. Not just because end-market demand is now forecast by NPD Solarbuzz to grow significantly to reach 45-55GW, but because the fundamental issues driving end-market demand appear to be shifting away from legacy demand constraints.
- Nigeria plans 500MW of PV in joint German project
Oct 23, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
Nigeria is planning to deploy up to 500MW of solar power capacity across nine of its states in a joint programme with the German government, according to reports.
- China extends distributed solar target to 20GW by 2015
Oct 21, 2013
- John Parnell - PV-tech.org
China has extended its distributed solar capacity target to 20GW by 2015.
Wu Xinxiong, head of the National Energy Administration said during a recent
speech that the country would look to build on the 2GW already installed
- Cheap
African solar energy could power UK homes in 2018
Oct 20, 2014 - Matt McGrath - bbc.com
Investors are seeking funding from the UK government for an ambitious plan
to import solar energy generated in North Africa.
- New Report Shows Top U.S. Companies Investing Big In Solar
Oct 16, 2013 - Rhone Resch - RenewableEnergyWorld.com
As the world’s largest retailer and biggest private employer, Walmart commands attention from Wall Street to Main Street. But it’s not what’s happening inside Walmart stores making news this week — it’s what’s
happening on top of them.
- Toyota, Apple and Intel among big business in US embracing solar
Oct 16, 2011 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
Car manufacturers and high-tech firms Apple and Intel are among the most noticeable additions to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) list of commercial PV customers.
-
EU fast tracks grid and storage projects
Oct 15, 2010 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
The European Commission has announced a list of 140 electricity projects that will be fast tracked and have access to a funding pot of €5.85 billion (US$7.9 billion).
- Exclusive: World Bank arm plans US$250 million
backing for developing-world PV
Oct 14, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
The International Finance Corporation (IFC),
an arm of the World Bank, is planning to launch
a new financing facility to pump-prime PV development
in emerging markets, PV Tech has learned.
- India Announces World's Largest Solar Plant By Far
Oct 10, 2013 - SustainableBusiness.com News
Below we say that India's auction on 750 MW of solar has been delayed. The government is now calling for bids (due Nov. 29) in the first
national auction since 2011. Lowest bidders win
and will receive as much as 30% of project costs
from government grants.
- Abengoa's Solana, the first large-scale solar plant with a thermal energy storage system in the U.S., begins commercial operation
Oct 9, 2013 - PRNewswire
The project is a game-changer in U.S. renewable energy.
- New Arizona Solar Plant Keeps Producing Electricity After Sun Goes Down
Oct 3, 2013 - wsj.com
Solana Generating Station Can Supply Power for up to Six Hours After Dark
- Solar turns tide against fossil fuels in Southeast Asia
Oct, 2013 - solarbusinessfocus.com
Led by Thailand, Southeast Asia has become a key solar region. With regulation improving and the cost of financing decreasing, Edward Douglas says solar power will continue to grow and become a significant energy provider over the coming decade
- "Story.headline">PNM modeling shows solar power is a good, economic choice
September, 2013 - from ABQJournal Online - cleantech.tgdaily.com
- China could install 15GW in 2014 says Deutsche Bank; polysilicon supply constraints loom
Sep 30, 2013 - Mark Osborne - pv-tech.org
In a detailed research report from Deutsche Bank, China’s PV demand, driven by the utility-scale market is growing significantly faster than previously expected.
- Solar to add more megawatts than wind in 2013, for first time
Sep 27, 2013 - in Industry Roundup - pv-tech.org
Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that 33.8GW of new onshore wind farms, plus 1.7GW of offshore wind, will be added globally in 2013. This compares with its median forecast of 36.7GW of new photovoltaic, or PV, capacity.
- California solar policy costing all utility customers -report
Sep 26, 2013 - Nichola Groom - Reuters
(Reuters) - California's non-solar homeowners are paying a growing share of maintaining the power grid under a controversial state policy, while ratepayers with solar rooftops are paying less, a report commissioned by the state's utility regulator said on Thursday.
- NREL starting road mapping initiative on PV ‘soft costs’
Sep 26, 2010 - Mark Osborne - PV-tech.org
I In tandem with a new report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on PV installation ‘soft costs’, an NREL and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) supported cost reduction roadmap with industry participation is to be launched.
- Solar Growth Outpaces Wind for First Time - Sep 26, 2013
Tildy Bayar, Associate Editor - renewableenergyworld.com
LONDON -- A strong showing from global solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, coupled with a sharp fall in new wind capacity, has led to solar growth outpacing wind this year – for the first time ever.
- Solar panels make inroads in Cameroon's cities
Sep 24, 2013 - Elias Ntungwe Ngalame - trust.org
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (Thomson Reuters) – The use of solar energy to power lighting in the home is fast gaining ground in Cameroon’s two main cities, Yaounde and Douala, following persistent and sometimes deadly outages in the power supply provided by the country’s sole hydroelectric company.
- Quadruple III-V bonded CPV cell hits 44.7% record conversion efficiency
Sep 24, 2013 - Mark Osborne - pv-tech.org
A solar cell with 50% efficiency is no longer a pipe dream after researchers at at Fraunhofer ISE, CEA-Leti, Helmholtz Center Berlin and commercial CPV firm, Soitec reached a world record 44.7% conversion efficiency for a novel III-V-based solar cell.
- Kuwait’s first solar park to be built for US$3.27 billion
Sep 23, 2013 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
A contract has been signed for the first solar power plant to be built in the Gulf state of Kuwait, a 280MW solar thermal power plant in Al-Abdaliya.
- FERC: US connected 578MW of large-scale PV in August
Sep 19, 2013 - Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
According to the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC), 578MW of solar capacity from large-scale projects was added in the US during August 2013.
- Soitec solar-energy module efficiency “highest of any commercial module”
Sep 13, 2013 - renewableenergyfocus.com
Soitec says that its new concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) module has a record power-generating efficiency of 31.8%, the highest efficiency of any commercial product available for multi-megawatt installations.
- Africa’s largest PV project set for construction in early 2014
Sep 18, 2013 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
Construction is due to start in the first quarter of 2014 on a 155MW PV project in Ghana, said to be Africa's largest PV power plant to date.
- Development banks finance record amount of clean energy: BNEF
Sep 11, 2013 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
Development banks have achieved record levels of investment in the clean energy sector breaking through the US$100 billion a year mark for the first time, according to a new report.
- Coupled Solar and Energy Storage Market to Grow
Sep 10, 2013 - David Appleyard, Senior Editor - renewableenergyworld.com
LONDON -- The symbiotic match between the solar and energy storage sectors shows significant market promise and could see the sector yielding a US $2.8 billion market over the next five years
- Latin America Report: Chile's Road To Solar Grid Parity
Sep 11, 2013 - James Montgomery, Associate Editor - renewableenergyworld.com
New Hampshire, USA -- Chile has become one of the planet's most promising solar markets, leading a wave of regions that will begin achieving grid parity, where solar is at equal cost or cheaper than traditional energy sources, in the near future. High electricity prices ($0.15-0.25/kWh), high irradiation, and rising energy demand all play in Chile's favor, but connection and policy hurdles remain if the country wants to really start tapping into that resource.
- Report: Europe must take lead on Desertec project
Jun 26, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
Europe needs to intensify its support for the Desertec plan to import cheap solar and wind power from desert areas or face escalating energy prices, the body behind the initiative has warned.
- Kilowattsol to provide monthly UK irradiance anomaly data free of charge
Sep 9, 2013 - By Andy Colthorpe - pv-tech.org
Kilowattsol, a yield assessment provider for photovoltaic projects, is to provide monthly solar irradiance abnormality maps for the UK, following the launch of similar services in Germany, France and Spain in February 2013.
- South Africa’s Gauteng province plans US$1 billion rooftop PV spree
Sep 3, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
The provincial government of Gauteng in South Africa is to spend over ZAR11 billion this year (US$1 billion) installing solar on all state-owned buildings in the province.
- Pakistan’s Punjab government approves 700MW solar plan
Sep 3, 2013 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
Plans to develop 700MW of desert PV capacity in Punjab, Pakistan, have been approved.
- Saudi Arabia, UAE lead race to deploy solar projects
Sep 3, 2013 - Dubai: ARAB NEWS
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have emerged as the biggest markets among GCC states for the deployment of solar power, accounting for most of the projects. The six GCC countries altogether have sanctioned solar power installation projects worth approximately $155 billion, which will generate more than 84 GW of power when complete in 2017.
- Japan Set to Overtake Germany as World’s Largest Solar Market
Jun 3, 2013 - By Chisaki Watanabe - bloomberg.com
Japan is set to overtake Germany as the world’s largest solar market by annual installations this year as government incentives to encourage clean energy after the Fukushima nuclear crisis attract investment.
- Desertec vision in trouble as founder body quits
Jul 1, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
The DESERTEC Foundation, the body behind an ambitious plan to power Europe with huge renewable energy plants in the deserts of North Africa, has quit the industrial consortium seeking to implement the vision.
- FERC Chair Jon Wellinghoff: Solar ‘Is Going to Overtake Everything’
Aug 21,2013 - Herman K. Trabish - greentechmedia.com
One of the country’s top regulators explains why he is so bullish on solar.
- Pentagon awards US$7 billion of solar contracts
Aug 28, 2013 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded US$7 billion of contracts to 22 companies for the right to develop and sell solar energy to the US Army.
- Ukraine aims to boost share of wind energy and solar power to 10% by 2030
Jun 16, 2009 - evwind
Ukraine plans to increase the capacity of power plants that use renewable and alternative sources of energy to 10% of the country’s total installed generating capacity by 2030, according to the draft of an updated version of the country’s energy strategy for the period to 2030
- Selling Solar Panels on the Installment Plan in Africa
May 30, 2013 - By Nick Leiber - Businessweek.com
An estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide live without electricity. Many depend on kerosene lamps to light their homes—a fuel that has ill effects on health and is costly.
- Moniz: solar will be bigger industry sooner than expected
May 29, 2013 - Felicity Carus - pv-tech.org
In his first remarks on renewables as the new US Energy Secretary, Ernest Moniz, said that he was bullish on the solar industry and expected it to become a bigger industry sooner than many people expected.
- Russian government greenlights renewable energy subsidy programme
May 24, 2013 - by Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
The Russian government has reportedly approved a subsidy programme for renewable energy projects including solar developments.
- Mexico offers tantalising prospect of a dawning major market
May 21, 2013 - By Felicity Carus - pv-tech.org
Solar investors in the US and further afield would really love to get their hands on Mexico's solar market: great resource on cheap desert land located squarely in the southern sun-belt. Some experts estimate that it would only take PV panels spread over just 25km2 of land in Chihuahua or the Sonoran desert to supply Mexico’s electricity demand.
- Europe’s largest solar rooftop complete
Aug 15, 2013 - Lucy Woods- pv-tech.org
Eleven hectares of PV roof solar has been installed in Germany with the project becoming the largest self-consumption solar plant in Europe.
- Sharing Renewable Energy: Solar Power Co-operatives in the UK
Aug 8, 2013 - Andrew Williams, International Correspondent - renewableenergyworld.com
Solar power co-operatives are fast emerging has an innovative way for local communities to gain access to renewable energy generation. Over the last few years, several such initiatives have been successfully launched in the UK — with new schemes opening in a number of cities including London and Bristol. So, how do such schemes work? And what benefits can they provide to local people?
- Germany installs 309MW new solar capacity in June
Aug 6, 2013 - John Parnell - pv-tech.org
Germany installed 309MW of PV capacity in June according to the network authority Bundesnetzagentur.
- Chile continues solar growth with land concesions for 604MW
Aug 6, 2013 - Lucy Woods - pv-tech.org
Seventeen applications for solar projects have received approval for land concessions from the Chilean government.
- Georgia legislators introduce bill for up to 2GW of rural solar
Mar 28,2013 - Felicity Carus - pv-tech.org
Georgia could be poised to build up 2GW of large-scale solar if a bill introduced last week passes the state legislature.
- Record breaking start to 2013 puts UK on solar world map
Mar 27, 2013 - Finlay Colville - pv-tech.org
According to recent NPD Solarbuzz channel checks, supplier surveys, module shipment analysis and updated project pipeline data, the UK is forecast to be the fifth largest PV market globally during quarter one of this year.
- Solarpack breaks ground on two PV plants for Chilean mining firm
Mar 21, 2013 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
Spanish solar developer Solarpack has commenced construction on two PV plants with a combined capacity of 25MW for Chilean mining company Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi.
- Materials scientists make solar energy chip 100 times more efficient
Mar 20, 2013 - Mike Ross - phys.org
(Phys.org) —Scientists working at the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES) have improved an innovative solar-energy device to be about 100 times more efficient than its previous design in converting the sun's light and heat into electricity.
- First Solar to become Desertec shareholder
Mar 11, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
PV manufacturer First Solar has become a shareholder in the Desertec Industrial Initiative, the industry consortium looking to tap the renewable energy potential of desert regions.
- Government of Uruguay signs decree for 200MW of PV
Apr 30, 2013 - Julia Chan - PV-tech.org
Uruguay’s energy minister Roberto Kreimerman has signed a decree which seeks to install 200MW of solar projects in the country.
-
Apr 24, 2013 - nrel.gov
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) have calibrated the significant value that
concentrating
solar power (CSP) plants can add to an electric grid.
- World's Largest Solar Plant is in the Middle East (PHOTOS)
Apr 19, 2013 - Sean Breslin - wunderground.com
Behold -- a way to capture a maximum amount of solar power in one of the sunniest regions on the planet.
- California Solar Project Includes Energy Storage
Jan 28, 2013 - Susan Graybeal - news.yahoo.com
On Monday, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved the sale of power from SolarReserve's 150-megawatt Rice Solar Energy Project to Pacific Gas & Electric via a 25-year power purchase agreement.
- Huge potential to exploit solar energy, says study
Feb 6,2013 - By Santhosh V Perumal/Business Reporter - gulf-times.com
With every square kilometre of land in Qatar receiving solar energy equivalent to 1.5mn barrels of crude oil in a year, Qatar is geographically well positioned to exploit significant solar energy, hence should consider setting up concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, according to top officials of Qatar Petroleum (QP).
- AEG to install 450MW of PV capacity in Pakistan
Feb 25, 2011 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
AEG will construct a 400MW and a 50MW PV project in Cholistan, Pakistan, media reports have revealed.
- A near miss for Earth: Solar flare that could have knocked out power, cars and phones came so close two weeks ago
Aug 01, 2013 - By Ellie Zolfagharifard - Dailymail.co.uk
An electromagnetic pulse that could have knocked electrical equipment over continent-scale regions barely missed Earth two weeks ago, it has been revealed.
- UAE solar power capacity to reach 20GW by 2030
May 29, 2013 - JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS
The UAE could economically deploy solar power generation capacity of more than 20GW by 2030 if avoided and opportunity costs of new fossil power generation are fully considered and transparent, stable, predictable and enforceable regulatory and policy frameworks are implemented, said a senior industry expert.
- Report: Central American Solar Markets Spurred On by High Electricity Prices
Jul 23, 2013 - Nicholas Rinaldi - greentechsolar
GTM Research publishes a new report on growth in unsubsidized Central American PV markets.
- U.S. and European PV Developers Hold Lead, as Chinese Advance
Jul 31, 2013 - David Appleyard, Chief Editor, Renewable Energy World
American and European companies still lead the latest ranking of utility-scale solar project developers to be published by Wiki-Solar. However, Chinese players are leaping up the rankings.
- Solar Mandate Embraced by a Second California City
May 14, 2013 - Earthtechling, Pete Danko
Sebastopol, in Sonoma County, Calif., joins Lancaster in backing a solar mandate for new construction, with an ordinance that is much stronger
- NREL Report Firms Up Land-Use Requirements of Solar
Study shows solar for 1,000 homes would require 32 acres
Jul 30, 2013 - nrel.gov
- How Bangladesh became the world’s biggest off-grid solar user
Jul 05, 2013 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
Either it’s a particularly well kept secret or the people involved just don’t like shouting about it, but Bangladesh has quietly become the world’s biggest domestic off-grid solar user.
- How Graphene and Friends Could Harness the Sun's Energy Hitting Walls
May 2, 2013 - sciencedaily.com
Combining wonder material graphene with other stunning one-atom thick materials could create the next generation of solar cells and optoelectronic devices, scientists have revealed.
- Wind to Double and Solar to Triple in 6 Years, Says IEA
Chris Nelder - July 10, 2013
And a lot of it will be deployed in developing countries.
- LA mayor flips switch on solar feed-in-tariff
27 June 2013 - Colin Marrs - pv-tech.org
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) FiT scheme is set to generate 150MW of energy through rooftop panels.
- Another Banner Year for California Rooftop Solar as Successful Rebate Program Winds Down
July 11, 2013 - Renewable Energy World, Susannah Churchill, Vote Solar
Yesterday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) released its annual progress report for the California Solar Initiative, and it’s more good news for solar in the Golden State
- Solar power to be main energy source by 2017
JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS - Thursday 4 July 2013
Gulf countries are increasingly turning their focus toward clean renewable sources of energy for their power generation, with solar energy set to emerge as one of the region’s main sources of energy by 2017. Already solar power installation projects worth approximately $ 155 billion are in the pipeline with capabilities to generate more than 84 GW of power.
- Solar PV Atlas: Solar Power in Harmony with Nature Towards 100 per cent renewable energy
WWF Report Int 2012
Renewable energy requires land. But just how much? This atlas illustrates some answers for one sector, solar photovoltaic electricity,in seven different regions.
- An Analysis of Concentrating Solar Power with Thermal Energy Storage in a California 33% Renewable Scenario
Paul Denholm, Yih Huei Wan, Marissa Hummon, and Mark Mehos - March 2013
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have quantified the significant value that concentrating solar power (CSP) plants can add to an electric grid.
- 100 GW of Solar PV Now Installed in the World Today
Feb 12, 2013 - James Montgomery - renewableenergyworld.com
New
Hampshire, USA -- Cumulative global installed solar PV capacity has topped
the 100-gigawatt (GW) milestone, according to preliminary numbers from
the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). Roughly 30 GW
worldwide was connected to the grid in 2012, about the same as in 2011;
there could be another 1-2 GW added to that 2012 total once final numbers
come out in May.
- White Sands becomes US Army’s largest solar power system
Kizzi Nkwocha - January 16, 2013 - pvtech.org
The US Army today dedicated its largest solar photovoltaic system at White Sands Missile Range. The ceremony was led by Brigadier General Gwen Bingham, who was joined by the Honorable Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment.
- FERC proposes reforms to fast-track small-scale PV interconnection
Julia Chan - January 17, 2013 - pvtech.org
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has proposed reforms which will enable certain small-scale power generation projects including solar to qualify for a faster interconnection process.
- IRENA and Fraunhofer ISE sign MOU to increase renewable energy deployment
Kizzi Nkwocha - January 18, 2013 - pvtech.org
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing their cooperation while increasing the deployment of renewable energy systems worldwide.
- Energy Department announces US$12 million to bring solar technologies to market
Kizzi Nkwocha - January 17, 2013 - pvtech.org
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has today announced the availability of US$12 million to accelerate solar energy innovation that could help reduce manufacturing and installation costs for homes, businesses and utilities.
- Germany set to launch incentives for PV storage systems
Julia Chan - January 18, 2013 - pvtech.org
The German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) is expected to introduce incentives for PV energy storage systems in February 2013.
- Empa achieves record 20.4% efficiency for flexible thin film
By Kizzi Nkwocha - January 18, 2013 - pvtech.org
Scientists at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have developed thin film solar cells on flexible polymer foils with a new record efficiency of 20.4% for converting sunlight into electricity.
- Crowd-sourced solar investment allows ‘mass participation’ in clean-tech financing
By Ben Willis - 09 January 2013 - pvtech.org
A new online marketplace that crowd-sources investment for solar schemes in the US has sold out four projects in less than 24 hours.
The scheme's archtiects, California-based Mosaic, said the model offered the promise of mass public participation in the financing of renewable energy projects.
- Chilean environmental authority approves 3.1GW of PV projects
By Julia Chan - 09 January 2013 - pvtech.org
Chile has 3.1GW worth of approved PV projects in the pipeline, according to a report published by Centro de Energías Renovables, the country's renewable energy body.
The report reveals that there are a further 908MW worth of PV projects currently under consideration for approval by Chilean environmental authority Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (SEA).
- Solar Powered prisons helps cut costs in not time?
By Kizzi Nkwocha - 20 December 2012 - pvtech.org
Officials in Merced County, California, recently celebrated the launch of a 1.4 megawatt solar complex that will generate enough electricity to power two full-size correctional facilities.
-
McCoy Solar Energy Project seeks approval from Obama Administration
By Julia Chan - 24 December 2012 - pvtech.org
The 750MW project will represent one of the largest PV projects on public lands in the Californian desert and will be developed, owned and operated by McCoy Solar, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, on 1,780 hectares of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Riverside County.
- Kuwait University joins imec's silicon solar cell industrial affiliation program
By Mark Osborne - December 24, 2012 - pvtech.org
Ludo Deferm, Executive Vice-President Business Development at imec said, “The need and importance of renewable energy is dominantly present in the Middle East region. With this collaboration we feel that Kuwait is taking a new and strategic step in establishing a key position in the field of silicon solar cell technology in the region.”
-
Friday Focus: Is South Africa a solar hotspot or long-shot?
By Julia Chan - December 21, 2012 - pv-tech.org
South Africa’s solar market has had a relatively successful year in 2012. Currently, South Africa’s installed PV market is made up of a few small-scale projects. In terms of large-scale projects, the market has only really just begun.
- Japan reaches 1.4GW of PV installed capacity
By Nilima Choudhury - December 17, 2012 - pv-tech.org
Japan’s renewable energy capacity has reached a total of 1.443GW, according to figures released by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
- Greenpower Capital and Wirsol Solar create JV for large-scale Japanese PV projects
By Julia Chan - 07 December 2012 - pv-tech.org
US renewable energy firm Greenpower Capital and Wirsol Solar, an international PV developer based in Germany, have established a joint venture which focuses on financing and building solar projects in Japan which have a capacity of 10MW or more.
- Friday Focus: Has Desertec Had Its Day In The Sun?
By Ben Willis - 07 December 2012 - pv-tech.org
In Europe the Desertec concept, as it was dubbed when it was officially launched in 2009, gained the strongest traction, spawning the Desertec Industrial Initiative (Dii), a consortium of companies working towards realising the vision in Europe and North Africa.
- Chile proposes national solar research centre
Dec 05, 2012 -Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
The Chilean Solar Research Centre, or SERC-Chile,
will have a particular emphasis on exploring the potential of developing
solar power in the Atacama Desert, and the organisations behind the
initiative hope it will establish itself as a world leader in solar
research.
- ‘Groundbreaking’ proposals
to cut power station pollution
Dec 05, 2012 -Kizzi Nkwocha - pv-tech.org
Experts at the New York-based environmental advocacy group the Natural Resources
Defence Council (NRDC) have issued what it
claims is a groundbreaking proposal to sharply
cut carbon pollution from America's power plants.
- India announces draft strategy for Phase II of Solar Mission
Dec 05, 2012 - Nilima Choudhury - pv-tech.org
India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a draft solar
policy for Phase II of the country's Jawaharlal
Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), outlining
its strategy to install 10GW by 2017 through
mostly utility-scale projects.
- Blue
Energy to develop Africa’s largest PV project
Dec 04, 2012 -Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
UK renewable energy company Blue Energy will finance and develop a US$400 million
large-scale 155MW PV plant in Ghana which, when
complete, is said to represent Africa’s largest
PV project.
- US Bureau of Land
Management proposes Solar Zone in California
Dec 04, 2012 -Kizzi Nkwocha -pv-tech.org
The Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) has released its final analysis of the environmental impacts
of opening up an area of the Californian desert to testing and developing
renewable energy.
- SMA sales and service companies in Chile and South Africa start operations
Dec 04, 2012 -kizzi Nkwocha - pv-tech.org
German PV manufacturer SMA Solar Technology has expanded its global presence
with new sales and service companies in South Africa and Chile.
The company said that in the current market conditions,
it would initially concentrate on installations in the power plant
category, while at the same time offering PV inverters and system
technology for all other plant sizes.
- Solar panels heat up in Afghanistan
Dec 04, 2012 - kizzi Nkwocha - pv-tech.org
Sunnyside hears that the delivery is the first of
a series of 21 installations which will be set up
in and around the capital. The private customer is
using solar thermal technology to ensure a primary
heat supply for his buildings.
- SunPower inks Chinese
JV agreement
Dec 03, 2012 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
US PV manufacturer SunPower has entered into a definitive joint venture agreement
with three of its partners based in Mongolia
and China.
The agreement was signed with Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor (TZS), Inner Mongolia
Power Group (IMP) and Hohhot Jinqiao City Development
Company (HJCD).
- Aberdeen streets
to get Wi-Fi bins powered by solar
Nov 30, 2012 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
From 2013, solar-powered litter bins offering wireless internet will be
placed on the streets around the city of Aberdeen
in Scotland.
The £246,500 Big Belly bins project is being funded by the Aberdeen City Council
and Aberdeen Inspired, which represents the
city’s Business Improvement District.
- Orix begins developing
82MW of PV capacity across 17 Japanese sites
Nov 29, 2012 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
Orix
Corporation, a Japanese financial services group,
has announced it will begin developing 81.6MW
worth of “mega-solar” PV plants at 17 sites across
Japan.
The 17
projects include four joint projects with Kyudenko
Corporation, three of which will be constructed
in Kagoshima and one in Fukuoka. They are expected
to come online between July 2013 and December
2014.
- Orix and Kyudenko Corporation plan 8.5MW PV plant at former Japanese
airfield
Nov 29, 2012 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
Orix Corporation, a financial services company based in Tokyo, Japan, has entered
into a strategic partnership with Kyudenko
Corporation to jointly launch a “mega-solar”
power generation business on the Japanese island
of Kyushu.
Under this new business, the companies will develop an 8.5MW “mega-solar” plant
on the former site of Makurazaki Airport in
Makurazaki City in the Kagoshima Prefecture.
The project represents the first time that
a solar operation will be built on a former
airport site in Japan.
- NREL updates US solar radiation database
Nov 28, 2012 - Syanne Olson - pv-tech.org
The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
has released an updated 20-year version of
its US National Solar Radiation Database.
- SunEdison secures financing for 58MW South African PV projects
Nov 28, 2012 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
US PV project developer SunEdison, Chint Solar, the Public Investment Corporation
and the Kurisani Youth Development Trust have
obtained US$314 million in long-term debt and
equity financing for two large-scale solar
projects in Limpopo province, South Africa.
- Report:
China’s CSP market may reach 3GW by 2015
Nov 28, 2012 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
China’s CSP capacity could increase to 3GW by 2015, although more conservative
estimates predict it will only grow to 1GW,
according to a paper by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- Report: Dramatic fall in US installed PV costs
Nov 28, 2012 - Ben Willis - pv-tech.org
The installed cost of solar power systems in the US fell substantially last
year and in the first half of this year, according
the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory.
- Solar’s
soaring job growth keep boots on the roof
Nov 27, 2012 - Felicity Carus - pv-tech.org
The National
Solar Jobs Census 2012 published earlier this
month revealed that solar companies are hiring
faster than the
general economy. The Solar Foundation's review
of the US solar workforce found that as of
September 2012, the solar industry had grown
to 119,016 workers under its definition of
those "who spend at least 50% of their time supporting solar-related activities"
- Grid parity within reach in Europe, says consortium
Nov 27, 2012 -kizzi Nkwocha - pv-tech.org
Grid parity for residential and commercial consumers is within reach in many
European countries, according to the PV Parity
project consortium.
- Report:
Emerging solar markets hold 20GW of PV project potential
Nov 27, 2012 - Mark Osborne - pv-tech.org
A slew of emerging markets for PV have been identified in a weighty new report
from market research firm IHS, which has identified 20GW of PV projects across
Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle-East, Africa and "emerging Europe".
- Costa Rica inaugurates largest solar plant
Nov 26, 2012 -Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
The President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla has officially inaugurated a 1MW
solar park in Miravalles which is said to be
the country’s largest PV plant to date and
the largest project of its kind in Central
America.
- World
Bank’s US$12 billion ‘better invested in desert power
than in fossil fuels’
Nov 23,2012 - Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
The more than US$12 billion which the World Bank has invested in fossil
fuels over the last six years would have been “better invested in desert power”, claims Desertec’s
Foundation Director Dr. Thiemo Gropp.
- MASEN
and ACWA-led group sign US$1 billion PPA for Morocco’s first CSP
plant
Nov 21, 2012 -Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
The Moroccan
Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) has signed
a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with
a consortium led by Saudi Arabia-based ACWA
Power International for electricity generated
by a proposed 160MW CSP plant in Morocco. The
deal is worth US$1 billion.
- Megalim Solar Power wins contract for 121MW Israeli solar thermal plant
Nov 20, 2012 -Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
Megalim Solar Power, a company established by BrightSource Energy and Alstom,
has won the bid to build a 121MW solar thermal power
plant in Israel. The construction contract was awarded
by Israel’s inter-ministerial Tender Committee.
- EU
offers US$32 million to develop Africa’s largest power plant
Nov 19, 2012 -Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
Speaking at the Conference of African Energy Ministers and All Africa Energy
Week, EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs
pledged EU support for the construction of
a 22MW PV power plant in Zagtouli, Burkina
Faso.
- Tokelau islands shift to solar energy
Nov 7,2012 -BBC NEWS
Tokelau has become the first territory able to meet all its electricity needs with solar power, officials say.
- Installed PV capacity in Italy surpasses 16GW
Nov 7, 2012 - Julia chan - pv-tech.org
Italy has a total of 456,575 grid-connected PV plants currently in operation,
benefitting from the country’s Conto Energia V incentive programme, according
to figures published by Italian energy agency GSE. Combined, these plants have
a total PV capacity of 16.6GW.
- Southern Solar to create 100MW solar project in India
Nov 2,2012 - pv tech.org
According to RTT News, Gestamp and Zynergy's joint venture (JV), Southern Solar, will complete the first 25MW of the project by March. It has been noted that Rohit Rahindernath, CEO and MD of Zynergy stated that the Southern Solar will buy 202 hectares in the Madurai and Ramnad districts, with the JV planning to sell the power generated by the plants directly to industrial consumers.
- MX Group SEE unveils plans for 1GW of PV projects across Serbia
Oct. 31, 2012 - Julia Chan- pv-tech.org
The Serbian government and Luxembourg-based investor Securum Equity Partners have signed a binding framework agreement for a 1GW PV deal.
- Tenaska and SDG&E install first module on 130MW PV project
Oct. 31, 2012
-julia chan - pv-tech.org
US PV project developer Tenaska has installed the first PV module for its 130MW Tenaska Imperial South solar project located at the company’s Imperial Solar Energy Center South facility near El Centro, California.
- Swiss energy provider to launch residential rooftop leasing programme
Oct. 30, 2012 - Nilima Choundhury - pv-tech.org
Swiss energy provider Energie de Sion-Région (ESR) has launched a residential rooftop leasing programme for PV installations in the Swiss canton of Valais.
- DBSA approves US$980 million of loans for South African solar projects
Oct. 24,2012 -
Julia Chan - pv-tech.org
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has approved loan facilities worth R9,668.50 billion (US$980 million) earmarked for 13 solar projects in South Africa. Combined, the projects have a total capacity of 762.6MW.
More panels, cleaner power goal
of project
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday signed
a bill that completes his "million solar roofs plan," a move he says
will put California on the cutting edge of renewable energy while also boosting
the economy. - Let
it shine, let it shine
Aug 14, 2006 - Jon Ortiz - Sacramento Bee
How's this for irony? A massive West Sacramento cold-storage
warehouse is being powered by one of California's biggest privately owned solar
energy systems. - BP
Teams with Caltech to Explore Game-Changing Solar Technology
Jun 27,
2006 - Press Release - BP Solar
BP and The California
Institute of Technology have teamed up in a multi-million dollar research program
that could open the door to a radical new way of producing solar cells, making
the cost of solar electricity more competitive and increasing current efficiency
levels.
- Notice
the sunshine in the desert
Jun 21, 2006 - Sanjay Suri
- IPSnews
A recent United Nations report suggests that
the Sahara desert could capture enough solar energy to eventually supply all of
the world's electricity needs. The report also points to some of the threats such
as declining water resources which threaten delicate desert ecosystems.
- Club
of Rome wants deserts to become source of renewable energy
Jun 14,
2006 - Refocus Weekly
Hannover, Germany - The world’s deserts could serve
as an "overabundant source of clean energy through solar thermal power plants,"
according to the president of the Club of Rome.
- Solar
Flares Imperil Grid (PDF)
May/Jun, 2006 - EnergyBiz Magazine
Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research predict that during
the next several years solar activity will be unusually high — and this could
bring down power systems.
- Former
Soviet President Calls for Global Solar Fund
May 1, 2006 - renewableenergyaccess.com
Geneva, Switzerland and Washington, DC: Calling on leaders
of the world's largest industrialized nations (G8) to invest in renewable energy
and energy efficiency, former Soviet President Gorbachev marked the 20th anniversary
of the world's largest nuclear power plant disaster in Chernobyl with a request
for the creation of a $50 billion Global Solar Fund over 10 years.
- Forget
Computers. Here Comes the Sun
Apr 14, 2006 - John Markoff - nytimes.com
SAN JOSE, Calif. — T. J. Rodgers is surrounded by a sea of silicon
wafers on the roof of his company's headquarters in a Silicon Valley industrial
park.
- SA
solar research eclipses rest of the world
Feb 11, 2006 - Willem Steenkamp
- Saturday Argus
In a scientific breakthrough that has stunned the world,
a team of South African scientists has developed a revolutionary new, highly efficient
solar power technology that will enable homes to obtain all their electricity
from the sun. This means high electricity bills and frequent power failures could
soon be a thing of the past.
- Here
comes the sun
Oct 25, 2005 - Anthony Doman - Popular
Mechanics
Despite a soaring oil price and a panic-stricken planet
scrambling to counteract its profligate use of energy resources, there is a glimmer
of sunshine. And sunshine is all it takes, says an enterprising South African
academic who is sitting on potentially one of the biggest solar energy breakthroughs
to date.
- SDG&E
to buy solar electricity
Sep 8, 2005 - Craig D. Rose - Union-Tribune
San Diego Gas & Electric announced yesterday it had contracted with
a Phoenix company to buy electricity from what could be the largest solar power
generating project in the world.
- Solar
Pedaflo Creates Potable water for Remote Areas
Aug 23, 2005 - renewableenergyaccess.com
Communities of people living in remote villages around the globe often endure
scarcity of safe water for drinking and cooking, jeopardizing health and hygiene.
- Rooftops
Could Support Vast U.S. Market for Solar Power (PDF)
Mar 1, 2005 -
The Energy Foundation
A new study released today by the Energy Foundation,
and undertaken by Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:NCI), describes the vast market
potential for rooftop solar photovoltaic systems (PV) in the United States. The
study, “PV Grid Connected Market Potential in 2010 Under a Cost Breakthrough Scenario,”
provides an estimate of the market for PV systems in the United States based on
available rooftop space for residential and commercial solar PV.
- Energy
from the Desert
May 2003
The world's deserts
are sufficiently large that, in theory, covering a fraction of their landmass
with PV systems could generate many times the current primary global energy supply.
Moreover, the energy produced is from solar radiation - a clean and renewable
source - hence such systems would have the potential to contribute massively
to the protection of the global environment.
- Solar
Power Alone Can Solve West Coast Power Crunch
Aug 9, 2001 - PRNewswire
BERKELEY, Calif. -- PowerLight Corporation (http://www.powerlight.com)
today announced shipment of a 100 kWac solar electric PowerGuard system for installation
on the Anaheim Convention Center. Owned by the City of Anaheim, the system is
the largest solar power system on a convention center in North America.
- EDITORIAL:
Solar eclipse
Jan 12, 2001 - Staff Editorial - The Technician - North
Carolina State U.
According to researchers at the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., photovoltaic units — or solar
panels — spanning only 10,000 square miles could provide all the electricity
the United States needs based on the current solar energy technology of 10-percent
system efficiency. With next-generation 15-percent efficiency models, that land
space would be decreased by 30 percent. An area roughly equivalent to 1 percent
of the continental United States could supply enough electricity to charge the
world.
- Shea
Homes and AstroPower Announce Premium Power Partnership
Jan 3,
2001 - PrNewswire
Leading US Home Builder to Adopt Solar Electric Technology
As a Standard Feature, Increasing Performance, Home Efficiency and Value NEWARK,
Del. - Shea Homes, Inc. of San Diego, CA and AstroPower, Inc. (Nasdaq: APWR) jointly
announced today that they have signed an agreement to make solar power a standard
feature in new Shea communities. The partnership kicks off with the construction
of 100 solar powered homes in San Diego, CA this year. The companies have a goal
to build a total of 200 solar powered homes in the next 18 months, as new development
phases roll out.
- Alternative
sources of power are in business
Nov 5, 2000 - Dan Weisman - North
County Times
San Diego County's status as an energy disaster area has
propelled the few North County alternative energy companies into seeing green
---- green as in environmentally-friendly systems and green as in increased income.
- New
Sandia control method opens doors for more photovoltaic systems being safely linked
to electric grid
Sep 26, 2000 - Sandia
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.
A new way to safely, simply and effectively connect electricity-producing photovoltaic
(PV) solar systems to utility company power grids has been developed by the Department
of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories. Already several manufacturers have
adapted it into their systems.
Related GENI Resources
Definition
Solar Energy
Renewable
Energy Resource Maps
National
Energy Grid Maps
GENI Transmission Library Links
IREC Connecting to the Grid
(Interstate Renewable Energy Council)
CIGRE:
International Congress on Large High-Voltage Electric Systems
IEEE/PES
International Practices Committee panel sessions
Solar Tribune — Solar News, Analysis, Education
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