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Statkraft opens first solar park in Italy; Announces deal with Siemens Energy for further solar plant developments

March 11th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Statkraft opens first solar park in Italy

Norwegian power generator Statkraft opened its first solar power plant Casale in Aprilia, Italy. At the same time, the company announced an agreement with Siemens Energy to build more solar power plants in Italy.

The new plant has a capacity of 3.3 MW and an annual power production of 4.5 GWh, which is enough for energy needs of about 1200 Italian households.

As for that agreement with Siemens Energy, the two companies plan to build up to 40 MW of new solar power capacity in Italy during 2010. The agreement covers Statkraft's project pipeline in the country and construction of the next solar plant is expected to commence in spring 2010.

Siemens Energy will act as a Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contractor, handling engineering, project management and turnkey construction of the PV plants. The German giant will also be responsible for operation and maintenance for the first five years.

Statkraft's goal is to develop 75 MW of solar power generating capacity by 2012. Their geographical focus is Italy, Spain and France…

[source: Statkraft]

Trina Solar signs 25 + 4 MW sales agreement with U.S. wholesale distributor Essco

March 11th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | Comments (1)

Trina Solar's subsidiary, Changzhou Trina Solar, signed a sales agreement with Essco Wholesale Electric, the southwest US company of Sonepar USA, for supply of approximately 25 MW of PV modules and an additional 4 MW at the option of Essco, to be delivered during 2010.

With this agreements, Trina has now secured a total of approximately 40 MW of PV modules from customers in the United States during 2010, all with agreed prices.

Commenting on the announcement, Essco's President Scott L. Tonn said: "With the addition of Trina Solar modules to our renewable energy equipment portfolio, we truly are able to be a one-stop distributor for our electrical contractors and solar integration companies. With Sonepar's national coverage through its operating companies and encompassing Essco's direct coverage of the Southwest, we are making renewable energy products more available and affordable than ever before to our customers."

[source: Trina Solar]

Southern California Edison orders 200 MW of SunPower panels its large-scale project

March 11th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | Comments (1)

SunPower has won a contract to provide solar technology for generating up to 200 MW or 80% of the solar power capacity needed for Southern California Edison's (SCE) large solar PV installation program.

During the next five years, the utility plans to install, own and operate 250 MW of solar generating capacity, most of it on otherwise unused large warehouse rooftops. The large 1-2 MW solar installations will be connected directly to neighborhood distribution circuits where the leased rooftops are located.

For the purpose, SCE is purchasing the SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile product, which integrates into a single unit a solar panel, frame and roof mounting system, thereby reducing installation time and costs. In addition, it produces more power per installation.

In a related development, on January 21, 2010, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the process to be used for a second track of solar installations that will double the size of SCE's PV program. Previously, regulators directed the company to conduct a competitive solicitation, offering long-term power contracts to independent solar power providers willing to install an additional 250 MW of PV generation. SCE hopes to launch the solicitation later this month. Eventually, the two installation tracks will add a total of 500 MW to the solar generating capacity of Southern California's power resources – the largest U.S. PV program ever undertaken.

[source: SCE, SunPower]

SunPower and K6 to build two 1 MW solar PV plants in Casamassima and Conversano, Italy

March 10th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

SunPower and K6 have signed an agreement to build two 1 MW PV solar power plants in Casamassima and Conversano, Puglia region, Italy.

The plants will be completed by August 2010, when the producing electricity will be provided locally, and contribute to Italy's national electric grid.

SunPower will install SunPower panels along with its SunPower T20 Tracker technology, which follows the sun during the day and delivers up to 30% more energy than fixed-tilt systems. Moreover, the SunPower TMAC Advanced Tracker Controller will be used for real-time, remote monitoring and control…

[source: SunPower]

First Solar signs contract with PG&E for 300 MW PV solar power project

March 10th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

First Solar announced a power purchase agreement to supply Pacific Gas and Electric Company with electricity from a 300 MW (AC) utility-scale PV solar power facility that First Solar is developing in Southern California.

The Desert Sunlight project, to be located near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County, will have a total capacity of 550 MW, which is enough to power approximately 160,000 area homes – or about 480,000 residents. The other 250 MW portion of the project is already under contract to Southern California Edison. First Solar's power purchase agreements with PG&E and SCE are subject to the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission.

The construction is expected to start by the end of 2010 and completion as early as 2013. When completed, the project will displace 300,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road. It will also create approximately 430 construction jobs…

[source: First Solar]

Bergamo Acquisition announces $500 million solar project for Lebanon

March 9th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Bergamo Acquisition announced a new solar power project for the Republic of Lebanon. The company's key management will travel to the country to conclude the Letter of Intent ("LOI") with the Government of Lebanon.

The total cost for the project will be $500 million, with Lebanese government providing 100% of the total finance package. Bergamo E & A on its end will be responsible for the technical know-how and will provide a turn-key operation for the government under the terms of the LOI and the letter of credit to be issued by the Lebanese government to support Bergamo activities and its involvement in the project.

The Letter of Credit will be issued to Bergamo E & A, the wholly owned subsidiary of Bergamo Acquisition Corp.

[source: Bergamo Acquisition]

Yingli Green Energy announces 300 MW PANDA mono-crystalline manufacturing capacity expansion

March 9th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Yingli Green Energy announced a 300 MW PANDA mono-crystalline silicon-based manufacturing capacity expansion project at its Baoding headquarters. The company will finance the project from a loan of RMB 1.5 billion and a working capital credit facility of RMB 250 million, both granted by the Bank of Communications, Hebei Branch (BOCOM).

The new production lines will be designed to produce next-generation high efficiency PV cells based on the technology developed through Project PANDA – which is a collaboration among Yingli Green Energy, the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands and Amtech Systems.

Commenting on the announcement, Yingli Green Energy's Chairman and CEO, Liansheng Miao, said: "We believe this expansion will allow us to meet the increasing demand for our bankable, cost-effective products and further drive down costs through increased cell conversion efficiency and the larger scale of manufacturing. On the Project PANDA pilot line, we have already successfully produced next-generation cells with an average efficiency rate of 18% or higher. Looking ahead, we expect to increase the average efficiency rate to at least 18.5% on the commercial production lines by the end of this year. Combined with the existing 600 MW production capacity in Baoding and the 100 MW capacity under construction in Hainan Province, this new expansion project is expected to bring our total production capacity to 1 GW by the end of 2010. With this expansion in place, we will be better positioned than ever to solidify our leadership in the global PV market."

[source: Yingli Green Energy]

Kyocera completes construction of new solar cell manufacturing plant in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture

March 4th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | Comments (1)

Kyocera’s new solar cell manufacturing plant in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Kyocera has recently completed construction of a new solar cell manufacturing plant, further increasing capacity on its way to reach annual production target of 1 GW by March 2013. The new facility is located in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture, representing the largest Kyocera Group manufacturing plant in Japan.

The new plant is also the company's second solar cell manufacturing plant along with the existing Shiga Yohkaichi Plant. When compared to the existing one, the new plant employs an enhanced manufacturing line, which increases productivity by 20%.

The main product to be manufactured at the Yasu Plant is the company's newly enhanced cell with an average energy conversion efficiency of 16.9%. These cells are used in Kyocera's 215-watt solar module, which is sold around the world.

And if you didn't know, Kyocera was the first company in the world to start mass production of multicrystalline silicon solar cells in 1982.

[source: Kyocera]

Toshiba signs to order 32 MW of solar panels from SunPower this year

March 1st, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Toshiba will order 32 MW of high-efficiency solar panels from SunPower in 2010. The panels ordered will form the cornerstone of Toshiba's new residential solar offering in Japan, to be launched on April 1st.

Commenting on the announcement, Toshiba's Shoji Takenaka said: "Toshiba's residential solar power business will offer homeowners the most efficient solar power systems available, with a focus on quality and reliability. We are very pleased to work with SunPower, as their solar photovoltaic panels achieve high levels of performance and reliability, and their excellent efficiency supports space-saving solutions that directly meet the needs of consumers in Japan."

[source: SunPower]

SolarWorld acquires 29% of Qatar Solar Technologies to establish the first silicon production on the Arabian Peninsula

March 1st, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Rashid Al Naimi, Vice President (Administration) of Qatar Foundation for Education Science and Community Development, Vorstandsvorsitzender der SolarWorld AG Frank H. Asbeck

SolarWorld announced that it has acquired a 29% stake in the newly founded Joint Venture Qatar Solar Technologies (QST) headquartered in the Emirate of Qatar. The Joint Venture will establish the first production facility for poly-silicon on the Arabian Peninsula. Partners are the Qatar Foundation (70%) and the Qatar Development Bank (1%).

QST will invest a total of more than $500 million in the construction of the new production facility with a planned annual capacity of around 3,600 tons of high-purity polysilicon in its first stage of expansion. Start of production is planned for Q3 2012. At the Ras Laffan Industrial City location in the North East of Qatar the Joint Venture has access to an excellent chemicals infrastructure with favorable energy prices.

With this project, SolarWorld is further securing its supply of solar-grade silicon in addition to the company's own production, its own raw materials recycling activities and its long-term delivery contracts.

[source: SolarWorld]