Less than four months after being struck by a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, the T?hoku region of Japan is in line to receive ¥10 billion (US$123.7 million) in solar investment. The funds will be used to build at least 10 solar systems, which are all likely to have capacities ranging from 1-2MW and help to meet the electricity shortfall that has hit the region in the aftermath of March’s disaster.
SunBorne Energy is joining forces with the University of South Florida, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and IMDEA Energy to develop a 1MW solar power tower. Research and development for the cutting-edge project will draw upon the expertise of Dr Yogi Goswami, Dr Manuel Romero and Dr Aldo Stienfeld, with funding coming primarily from the Indian Government’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and SunBorne.
The final adaptation of Italy's deficit-reduction plan has imposed further reductions on renewable energy incentives. If confirmed, the new legislation could see incentives to renewable energy companies paid for by consumers on their electricity bills slashed by as much as 30%.
KLNE has increased its manufacturing capacity in China by opening a new facility and research and development centre in Changzhou. The 100-acre site was officially unveiled on June 29 at a ceremony attended by the company’s sales director, Wison Qi, and marketing director, Paul Nicholson, as well as dignitaries from the Changzhou local government and staff representing the Wujin Economic Development Zone.
Australia’s Sunshine Coast Regional Council has granted planning permission to Energy Parks Australia (EPA) for its new solar plant in Valdora, Queensland. With a capacity of 10MW, the development dwarfs Australia’s current largest system – Liddell’s 3MW concentrating solar power (CSP) facility – and will cost AU$40 million (US$43 million) to build.
Semprius has secured US$20 million in its first tranche of Series C venture fundraising for a pilot high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) module production plant. Siemens Venture Capital led the investment round and was joined by Arch Venture Partners, Applied Ventures, Illinois Ventures, Intersouth Partners, In-Q-Tel and GVC Investment.
Spanish regulators have suspended subsidies for 360 solar plants after they failed to prove their eligibility for the feed-in tariff. The sanctioning brings the number of projects punished by the regulators to 1,919 and concludes the investigation into fraudulent subsidy claims within the country’s solar industry.
Serbia will soon become the latest member of Europe’s burgeoning PV industry after state utility EPS began construction of the country’s first solar power plant. The 5MW system, located in the western Zlatibor region, is the first of 50 renewable ventures planned by EPS as it attempts to revamp the Balkan country’s energy network.
IKEA has connected the 573kW solar array at its West Sacramento store to the Californian electricity grid. The 65,000-square foot rooftop array was installed by Gloria Solar and it will generate nearly 800,000 kWh of electricity a year.
The Antaris Solar Group has appointed Gerhard Steinebrunner to its senior management team. Steinebrunner joins company founder Michael Goede and Thomas Perr on the expanded team, which is looking to strengthen the company’s presence in both the German and worldwide markets.
