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3 Jan 2013Bentek Solar to Support the 170MW Utility-Scale Centinela Solar Energy Facility Project
Bentek Solar will supply 170MW of 1000VDC Ungrounded String Combiners and Cable Harnesses for the Centinela Solar Energy Facility project located in Calexico, CA. Shipments are scheduled to begin in early 2013 and will extend throughout the year. -
3 Jan 2013
MidAmerican Solar Acquires World's Largest Solar Development from SunPower
MidAmerican Solar, a subsidiary of MidAmerican Renewables, and SunPower Corp.announced MidAmerican Solar's acquisition from SunPower of the 579-megawatt Antelope Valley Solar Projects (AVSP), two co-located projects in Kern and Los Angeles Counties in Calif. Together, the two combined projects will form the largest permitted solar photovoltaic power development in the world and will create an estimated 650 jobs during construction. "We are pleased to be working with SunPower on this project. MidAmerican Renewables, a subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, has a total portfolio of more than 1,830 megawatts of owned assets, including wind, geothermal, solar and hydro assets," said Bill Fehrman , president of MidAmerican Renewables. "We are excited about these projects because they support our core business principle of environmental respect. We are very proud to add SunPower technology to our portfolio of projects." The Antelope Valley Solar Projects will provide renewable energy to Southern California Edison (SCE) under two long-term power purchase contracts approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. "The Antelope Valley Solar Projects mark a historic milestone for the energy industry," said Howard Wenger , SunPower president, regions. "We are delivering highly reliable low-cost renewable energy at a very large scale. SunPower is proud to partner with MidAmerican Solar and SCE, recognized leaders in clean energy development, bringing critically needed jobs and economic opportunity to California and helping the state achieve its renewable portfolio requirement." "SCE appreciates the opportunity to work with SunPower and MidAmerican Renewables to meet California's renewable energy goals," said Nicole Neeman Brady , SCE's director of contracts, renewable and alternative power. SunPower developed the co-located Antelope Valley Solar Projects over the last four years. At the 3,230-acre site, SunPower will install the SunPower® Oasis® Power Plant product, fully integrated, modular solar technology that is engineered to rapidly deploy utility-scale solar projects while minimizing land use. The Oasis product uses high-efficiency SunPower solar panels mounted on SunPower® T0 Trackers, which position the panels to track the sun during the day, increasing energy capture by up to 25 percent. In addition, SunPower will be the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and will operate and maintain the facility via a multiyear services agreement. Construction of the solar project is scheduled to begin in first quarter 2013, with the plants expected to be complete by year-end 2015. AVSP has secured final conditional use permits and has completed full environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. According to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the project is expected to offset more than 775,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is equivalent to removing almost three million cars from California's highways over 20 years of the plant's operation. MidAmerican Solar's projects also include the 550-megawatt Topaz Solar Farms in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., and a 49 percent ownership interest in the 290-megawatt Agua Caliente solar project in Yuma County, Ariz. "We are pleased to be working with SunPower on this development and look forward to establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with Southern California Edison as our customer for energy generated by this project. As we have done at our other solar project locations, we will work hard to establish positive and productive relationships with community and county neighbors and stakeholders," said Paul Caudill , president, MidAmerican Solar. SunPower has more than 1,000 megawatts of solar power plants operating worldwide, including the first 130 megawatts of the 250-megawatt California Valley Solar Ranch, which is under construction in San Luis Obispo County, Calif. -
2 Jan 2013
Alexander & Baldwin and KIUC Announce Completion of Port Allen Solar Facility On Kaua`i
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (A&B) and Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) today jointly announced the completion of construction of A&B's 6‑megawatt solar PV (photo-voltaic) facility at Port Allen, Kaua'i. The facility is located on a 20-acre parcel of land owned by A&B adjacent to KIUC's Port Allen Station power plant. The facility, which commenced delivering power to KIUC on December 7, is currently the largest solar generation facility in Hawai'i. The solar facility is expected to generate, on average, approximately 10,200 megawatt hours of electricity per year, and will provide KIUC and its members with clean, renewable solar energy for at least the next 20 years. -
2 Jan 2013Yingli Green Energy Powers Tibetan Families with Off-grid PV Systems
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited ("Yingli Green Energy" or the "Company")today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Yingli Energy (China) Company Limited (" Yingli China ") has partnered with Longyuan (Tibet) New Energy Company Limited ("Longyuan") to supply 22,209 sets of off-grid PV systems to families with limited access to electricity in Tibet. In addition, Yingli China has supplied an extra 12MW of PV modules for a Chinese customer who also cooperates with Longyuan to provide off-grid PV systems to Tibetan families. These modules are expected to power more than 48,000 families in this area. -
31 Dec 2012
Canadian Solar Completes Purchase of Two Solar Power Projects Totaling 24MW from SunEdison
Dec. 28, 2012 - Canadian Solar Inc. today announced that they have completed a purchase and sale transaction wherein Canadian Solar's direct subsidiary Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. has acquired a majority interest in two utility-scale solar power projects in Ontario with a total capacity of approximately 24MW DC. Subject to certain contractual conditions, Canadian Solar has the ability to complete a purchase of two additional utility-scale solar power projects in Ontario with a total capacity of approximately 22.5MW DC, and an option to purchase a fifth solar project at a later date from SunEdison. Each of the five solar power projects was awarded a 20-year power purchase contract (a "FIT Contract") by the Ontario Power Authority under Ontario's Feed-In-Tariff Program (FIT version 1.0). The two projects purchased have each received Renewal Energy Approvals and are expected to commence construction in early 2013 and be fully operational by late 2013. The remaining solar energy projects are in the advanced permitting stage and are expected to commence construction in early to mid-2013 and be fully operational by late 2013 and early 2014. -
31 Dec 2012
Sullivan Solar Power Announces the Close of Its Countywide Solar Rebate Program
December 27, 2012 - San Diego is the solar capital of the nation, with more capacity and number of rooftops than any other city in the nation. Locally headquartered Sullivan Solar Power launched a countywide solar rebate program in April of this year to expand the adoption of solar technology in the region and keep the title of America's top solar city. Today, the company announced that its cash-back incentive program will close with the end of the year on December 31, 2012. -
31 Dec 2012
Yingli Green Energy's Multicrystalline PV Module Passes TUV SUD's PID Test
Dec. 28, 2012 - Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited today announced that its multicrystalline PV modules passed the Potential Induced Degradation ("PID") test conducted by TUV SUD. -
31 Dec 2012Masdar Sets Sights on Building the Middle East's Largest Solar Farm
Abu Dhabi has been pushing ahead with clean-power initiatives – and its efforts are starting to bear fruit. -
28 Dec 2012
LDK Solar Announces Arbitration Ruling
Dec. 27, 2012 - LDK Solar Co., Ltd. today announced that the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) stated that the wafer equipment supply contract entered into in July 2008 between LDK Solar and JYT Corporation of Beijing (JYT) is valid and effective through the duration and at terms and conditions related to quantities and prices set forth therein. Under this contract, LDK Solar agreed to purchase furnaces used in the manufacturing of multicrystalline and monocrystalline ingots for installation in its manufacturing facilities in Xinyu City, China. -
28 Dec 2012Qsolar Reaches Milestone Event to Make Its Solar Panels Project Bankable
December 27, 2012 - QSolar Limited is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, QSolar Ltd., has received a confirmed offer for Willis Electronic Plus Photovoltaic Power Plant insurance ("Willis insurance") for its range of solar panels from German insurer Gaede & Glauerdt, Assecuradeur GMBH & Co KG, Hamburg, Germany through insurance broker, Willis GMBH & Co KG, Frankfurt, Germany. The significance of QSolar Ltd. executing this performance warranty insurance is that this will allow for QSolar photovoltaic ("PV") solar panels to be project bankable by third party purchasers and installers of QSolar products. Upon execution of definitive contracts by QSolar, the Willis insurance offering will expand the Corporation's potential selling market and allowing QSolar to compete for larger projects and sales orders. The insurance on QSolar's range of solar panel products may be offered to the project end user, and if accepted by the end user's financial institution, will provide in many cases, sufficient collateral for end user PV power plant financing. It ultimately gives operators of solar projects additional economic security in the event of an unforeseen loss in performance of the PV modules and installation. This event marks another major developmental milestone for the Corporation.