The first megawatt: SolFocus, Victor Valley College dedicate North America’s only 1MW CPV array
May 29, 2010 | Comments Off
As solar PV project sizes increasingly reach double-digit megawattage with triple-digit just around the temporal corner, a single-megawatt system doesn’t have quite the allure it had just a few years ago. But sometimes a megawatt’s more than just a measure of installed generating capacity—reaching the million-watt mark can have potent symbolic as well as practical value, especially for a technology transitioning into the commercial realm. Case in point: SolFocus’s just-dedicated 1MW (AC) high-concentrator photovoltaic installation located on the campus of Victor Valley College in the high desert of Southern California northeast of Los Angeles, which is the largest (H)CPV deployment in North America to date and the Mountain View, CA-based company’s biggest project as well.
Project Focus: IES building 1.15MW solar PV system on Capital Group’s Irvine campus
May 29, 2010 | Comments Off
Independent Energy Solutions has begun design and construction of a 1.15MW solar photovoltaic system using Kyocera modules for the Capital Group’s Irvine, CA, campus. The PV project, which is expected to be completed by mid- to late summer, will be mounted on shade structures on the roofs of three parking garages and will provide nearly 50% of the energy used to power the campus data center and central plant equipment, the companies said.
Taiwanese PV manufacturer DelSolar signs long-term wafer deal with GCL-Poly
May 29, 2010 | Comments Off
DelSolar and GCL-Poly have signed a silicon wafer supply deal to establish a long-term strategic alliance. The agreement calls for GCL-Poly to provide local supplies of wafers to meet the needs of DelSolar’s Wujiang, China, plant’s expansion from May 2010 through December 2013.
Suntech’s modules receive UK MCS certification
May 29, 2010 | Comments Off
Suntech has received official certification under the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for its modules. The British Board of Agreement (BBA) certifies that Suntech’s modules meet or exceed relevant standards for sales in the UK.
Eco Supplies Europe to buy Gällivare PhotoVoltaic
May 29, 2010 | Comments Off
Eco Supplies Europe announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to purchase Gällivare PhotoVoltaic (GPV), a Scandinavian PV module company. GPV was most recently owned by Borevind and from 1999-2007 was a unit of Solar World.
Solar Thin Films completes acquisition of Atlantis Solar shares
May 29, 2010 | Comments Off
Solar Thin Films has completed its acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding share of Atlantis Solar and will retain Atlantis as a wholly owned subsidiary. Atlantis is led by James Molinaro, who is the former head of Akrion Systems.
Project Focus: National Grid celebrates Massachusetts generation facility opening
May 29, 2010 | Comments Off
On hand to celebrate the ribbon cutting for National Grid’s 1MW solar generation facility in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, was the state’s Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles, and the DOER Commissioner Phil Giudice. Located on the roof of their New England Distribution Center warehouse, the solar project is the first utility-owned solar generation facility in service under the 2008 Green Communities Act.
Munich Re to cover Astronergy’s modules
May 29, 2010 | Comments Off
Astronergy, also known as Chint Solar, has selected Munich Re, a reinsurance company, to cover its crystalline silicon and amorphous- and microcrystalline-silicon thin-film PV modules for the 25-year warranty on its solar panels.
Day4 enters into agreement with Enersis
May 29, 2010 | Comments Off
Day4Energy and Enersis of Slovenia have signed an agreement for a 25MW turnkey manufacturing solution of Day4 products, specifically marketed for the Eastern European PV market.
Wolfgang Lange joins Solar Frontier Europe
May 28, 2010 | Comments Off
Solar Frontier Europe has announced Wolfgang Lange as its new managing director. Effective immediately, Lange is overseeing the set up of German operations, based in Munich, and will take leadership over the company’s expansion into other European markets. In addition, he will be responsible for building the German team, including the sales and marketing departments.