Equipment sales at Roth & Rau reach €268.9 million in 2010: posts loss on impairments
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
Germany-based PV equipment supplier, Roth & Rau posted preliminary consolidated results for the 2010 financial year this week, reporting sales of €268.9 million, despite customer challenges that dogged the company in the later part of the year.
Solar market exceeded Applied Materials expectations in 2010: even better this year
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
In reporting its first quarter fiscal 2011 financial results, Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive officer of Applied Materials cited that the solar market had exceeded its expectations in 2010 and that he expected crystalline silicon solar equipment spending to increase by more than 30% in 2011. He said that over 6GW of PV modules were installed in the fourth quarter of 2010, bringing the total for the year to 17GW.
Business as usual at First Solar: efficiencies up, line run rate up, cost per watt down
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
Although First Solar reported a revenue decline compared to the previous quarter as its released fourth-quarter results, manufacturing data strongly indicated that the quarter and full year were simply business as usual for the CdTe thin-film module leader. Production cost was reduced to US$0.73/watt, down from US$0.75/watt in the previous quarter. Total manufacturing costs also declined to US$0.75/watt. Module efficiencies climbed to 11.6%, up from 11.3% in the third quarter.
Aleo Solar sees stock price rise leading Robert Bosch to possibly increase offer for remaining share
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
According to Bloomberg, Aleo Solar saw its stock rise today 23% to reach €23.50 in Frankfurt’s electronic trading. The increase in share value came after Robert Bosch offered €22 per share in order to acquire the remaining 18% of Aleo Solar it does not currently own or control through share-purchase agreements. Given that Aleo’s stock saw such a swell in price, Bloomberg asserts that Robert Bosch may be solicited to increase its share purchase offer.
Hanwha highlights preliminary results for Q4 2010, provides outlook for 2011
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
Hanwha SolarOne has released the preliminary outcome for the company’s fourth quarter 2010 as well as giving a glimpse into its outlook for 2011’s first quarter and fiscal year. Total revenue for the fourth quarter, which ended December 31, 2010, is expected to be between US$325 and US$330 million. Further, total PV module shipments for the quarter, including PV module processing, are anticipated to surpass the company’s previous guidance of 205 to 215MW and reach beyond 220MW.
Sputnik Engineering to release MaxTalk2; announces new flexibility for SolarMax MT string inverters
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
Sputnik Engineering will be releasing its new communication software, MaxTalk2 at the 26th Symposium on Photovoltaic Solar Energy in Bad Staffelstein taking place March 2 through March 4. The new software edition is said to be able to monitor and manage the measured values of solar plants that use SolarMax inverters while permitting users to survey the status of their solar plant by looking at operating data, statistics, measured values and device parameters.
ECOtality’s Blink Level 2 Home Charging Station (Plug-In Version) Installed in an EV Project Participant’s Garage
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
Feb 25, 2011 – The residential installations set the groundwork for the deployment and installation of Blink commercial charging stations, including the Blink Level 2 Pedestal Charger and Blink DC Fast Charger. In October 2010 ECOtality announced that the company will install approximately 920 publicly available Level 2 charging stations in and around the Phoenix and MAG region, as well as approximately 40 commercial Blink DC Fast Chargers. ECOtality will also install 230 publicly available Level 2 Blink charging stations in the greater Tucson region, and 10 Blink DC Fast Chargers.
“This is an exciting day in our region, with this home installation marking the first in a series of steps that will pave the way for use of electric vehicles throughout the region and the Sun Corridor,” said Litchfield Park Mayor Thomas Schoaf. Mayor Schoaf chairs the Maricopa Association of Governments, which has worked to develop guidelines to support the implementation of electric vehicle infrastructure. “We believe that greater use of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles will complement other regional alternative transportation efforts, such as light rail, bus rapid transit and commuter rail,” he added.
“Chandler has always been a strong supporter of innovative technology and regional transportation. We’re fortunate to have citizens that care deeply about our community, and thrilled to know it’s a Chandler resident who has taken the initiative to support sustainability here at home,” said Vice Mayor Trinity Donovan.
Home Charging Stations are available now to EV drivers and are free of charge to EV Project participants. The smart Blink Home Charger allows for increased cost-savings through improved power management and boasts an intuitive set of features, including a 7-inch color touch-screen control panel, and a stylish, easily configurable design. The units can be installed inside or outdoors at commercial locations, with both hardwire and plug-in versions available. For more information, including product spec sheets, please visit www.blinknetwork.com.
As part of The EV Project, the largest rollout of EV infrastructure in history, ECOtality will monitor the energy usage and output of charging stations to determine a viable method for mass adoption of electric vehicles and empower the smart grid. ECOtality will work with utilities like the Salt River Project, an EV Project partner, to determine how smart EV infrastructure can be supported.
ECOtality is the project manager of The EV Project, and will oversee the installation of commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and major metropolitan areas throughout six states and the District of Columbia. The project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant of $114.8 million made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of 8,300 EVs. The grants are matched by private investment, bringing the total value of the project to approximately $230 million.
Siemens Cuts Charging Time for Electric Cars by 50%
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
Feb 25, 2011 – Normal electric cars are charged in an hour at a maximum charging power of 22 kW. Siemens is launching a charging point Charge CP700A on the European market which can charge electric cars with a normal battery capacity within an hour. The charging power has been doubled to 22 kW in the new series, which cuts the charging time in half. “When developing the new charging point, we set ourselves three objectives: Charging must be fast, easy to do and safe. And these objectives were achieved in full”, said Ralph Griewing, Head of the electrical mobility team of Siemens Energy.
The Siemens Charge CP700A charging point can be used to charge electric cars of different power ratings. In the fastest operating mode, the vehicle is supplied with a three-phase AC voltage at a current of 32 A, and is therefore charged at a power level of 22 kW. Charging is, however, also possible at 20 A in the three-phase mode. The charging point communicates with the vehicle over the charging cable to determine whether the electric car supports charging at maximum current or only at a reduced current level. The standardized IEC-62196 Type 2 connector is used for this. For vehicles such as electrically powered two-wheelers which are currently charged through a household plug, single-phase charging is also possible in Mode 1 and 2 in accordance with the IEC/EN standard 61851 at 3.7 kW maximum.
“To make charging as easy as filling a car with fuel, we have equipped the charging point with a screen that guides the user through the process. The ambient lighting indicates whether the charging point is in use or available”, said Griewing. The user can log on for charging and subsequent billing by means of contact-free radio chips compatible with various RFID standards. The customer can decide which variant of the charging point is to be installed and how the stainless-steel housing is to be painted. The Charge CP700A charging point is of modular design and its user prompting is programmable and available in different languages. The charging point can also be linked to a control center over Ethernet or a GSM/GPRS modem that can be built in, meaning it is ready for remote monitoring and remote maintenance. The charging behavior of the charging point can also be remote controlled to support implementation in a Smart Grid. For this purpose, among other features, dynamic load shedding is supported.
“Siemens remains uncompromising as far as safety is concerned: In addition to normal locking of the connector as protection against unauthorized removal during the charging process, the charging flap on the column is also locked”, said Griewing. When opened, the internal space behind the flap is illuminated to ensure that the user can plug and unplug the cable safely even in darkness. The Charge CP700A charging point carries the CE mark and has been approved by an accredited laboratory. It complies both with the currently applicable standards for electric vehicle supply equipment, including IEC/EN 61851-1 and IEC/EN 61851-22, and with the well-proven low-voltage standards such as EN 61439. The temperature of the socket outlets and the internal space of the charging point is monitored. In the event of a fault, or in the case of unfavorable ambient conditions that would result in overheating, the charging point automatically interrupts the charging process safely and reliably.
New Power Plant Uses GE Aeroderivative Gas Technology to Help Italy Achieve Its Energy Goals
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
Feb 25, 2011 – TEI S.p.A., a leading Italian environmental engineering company, has purchased an LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine from GE (NYSE: GE) for a second combined-cycle power plant to be located in the Chianti region of Italy, near Tuscany. This project follows the success of the first mid-merit project between the two companies, which is located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Earlier this month, GE announced that it has shipped its 1,000th LM6000 gas turbine, which has more than 20,000 million hours of operational experience.
Mid-merit units are modern, efficient power plants that can come online quickly in response to increases in the demand for power. The plant will be operated as a “merchant” facility, meaning that it sells power into the spot market rather than having a long-term contract for the output.
“In alignment with the needs highlighted by the business and by Terna, the National Grid operator, we are committed to investing in a flexible plant to meet current levels of demand in real time,” said Vincenza Vadacca, managing director, Tei SpA “Moreover, this will allow for an increase in power generation from renewables and not planned/programmed sources.”
This project will allow TEI S.p.A. to further support the European Union’s 20/20/20 initiative to combat climate change and increase energy security. GE’s innovative aeroderivative technology is highly efficient, reliable and flexible, allowing customers to increase productivity and cut energy costs.
At the heart of the new, 50-megawatt (MW), combined-cycle plant, which will be operated by VOLTA, is a GE LM6000-PF aeroderivative gas turbine generator package. GE Oil & Gas is supplying a Thermodyn steam turbine for the project. The plant is owned by VOLTA srl, which is a company created by SACCI and TEI.
“Our LM6000-PF aeroderivative gas turbine features high efficiency, superior fuel gas consumption and fuel flexibility, coupled with lower emissions and water usage in both the 50 and 60 Hz segments. It is approved under ecomagination, GE’s commitment to invest in a future that creates innovative solutions to global environmental challenges,” said Darryl Wilson, vice president—aeroderivative gas turbines for GE Power & Water. “In addition, the LM6000-PF is the industry leader in the 35-60-MW range, with environmental and operational benefits that allow our customers to meet and, in some cases, exceed governmental regulations while providing full generating capacity within 10 minutes.”
GE’s LM6000-PF has the highest reliability (more than 99 percent) and availability (more than 97 percent) in its range. It has high fuel efficiency, versatile operational flexibility and proven dry low emissions technology that can guarantee nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions as low as 15 ppm. The higher efficiency enables lower fuel consumption per unit of power output than competitive technologies, yielding fuel cost savings and NOx and carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions for turbine operators.
When compared to a typical simple-cycle gas turbine in the 35-60 MW range, operating at 50 Hz with 35 ppm NOx, GE’s LM6000-PF avoids 15,000 metric tons of CO2, equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of more than 7,600 cars on European Union roads. It also can reduce natural gas consumption by more than 278,000 gigajoules (GJ), equivalent to the amount of natural gas consumed annually by more than 7,600 Italian households, which can yield annual fuel cost savings of €1.9 million at €5 per GJ.
In addition GE’s LM6000-PF dry low emissions technology eliminates the need of water as a diluent, avoiding the use of over 50,000 cubic
meters of water for a typical 4,000 hours of mid-merit operation. This is equivalent to the amount of water needed to fill 20 Olympic-size swimming pools.
The LM6000-PF aeroderivative gas turbine generator package is scheduled to be shipped in the first quarter of 2011 with commercial operation planned for the third quarter of 2011. The steam turbine from GE Oil & Gas will be commissioned in 2012.
Oil Prices Continue to Spike; Libya Protests Escalate
February 26, 2011 | Comments Off
Feb 24, 2011 – Oil price spiked over $100 today and closed slightly under. Please comment with your projection for peak oil price in the next month. Alternative energy stocks and oil stock prices are both increasing due to the Middle East turmoil.