Independent Energy Solutions has completed and commissioned a 1.15MW (DC) solar photovoltaic installation for the Capital Group companies' Irvine, CA, campus. The system, which is mounted on shade structures on the roofs of three parking garages, provides nearly 50% of the energy used to power the campus data center and central plant equipment.
The state of Ohio continues to assist in the development of the region’s growing solar photovoltaic sector, with the award of nearly $1.7 million in job training funds to four area companies: First Solar, Xunlight, Buckeye Silicon, and Nextronex. The grants represent the first monies distributed by the state’s Energizing Careers Program, which was launched in June with a budget of $6 million made possible through Recovery Act funds directed through the U.S. Department of Labor.
In what would be one of the largest orders for amorphous-silicon thin-film PV modules to date, Anwell Technologies' subsidiary Henan Sungen Solar Fab has received a deposit from an unnamed leading solar panel distributor/developer for a minimum of 180MW of the company's modules to be delivered over the next three years. The deal would result in more than $300 million in projected revenue on completion of the contract, according to Anwell. The first shipment is scheduled for delivery in October.
The California Energy Commission has given its unanimous approval to Solar Millennium to build and operate the Blythe Solar Power Project in Riverside County, a planned 1GW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant that would be one of the largest solar generating stations in the world. Construction on the first pair of four planned 250MW parabolic-trough CSP sections is scheduled to begin by the end of the year.
Power-One has chosen Phoenix, AZ, as the site for its new manufacturing facility. The plant, which is expected to begin operations in October, will produce the company's PV and wind inverters, including single- (2-6KW) and three-phase string inverters, as well as NEMA 3R 250KW, 300KW, and 400KW central inverters.
German thin-film PV manufacturer Odersun has received state loan guarantees totaling €10 million from the Federal State of Brandenburg. The company said that the credit line will allow it to move forward on its production ramp and facilitate the market entry of its customized solar products.
In a reorganizational move the company says will leverage the advantages of vertical integration, REC will consolidate its REC Wafer and REC Solar units--including all of the company's activities in Singapore--under one management team. The newly restructured group will be headed by John Andersen Jr., current EVP of REC Solar and group COO.
SunSi Energies has signed a letter of intent to buy 60% equity interest in Wendeng He Xie Silicon, a trichlorosilane (TCS) facility with an annual production capacity of 20,000MT located in Weihai City, China. Under the terms of the deal, SunSi will also increase the plant's capacity to 60,000MT.
San Diego Gas & Electric has signed and submitted for approval a second 20-year power purchase agreement with an LS Power subsidiary to buy up to an additional 45MW of solar photovoltaic-based energy from the proposed Centinela Solar Energy facility, which will be located on a 1350-acre site near Calexico in California’s Imperial Valley. The contract is subject to California Public Utilities Commission approval.
Calisolar is the recipient of the first loan approved by the California Energy Commission as part of the Clean Energy Business Financing Program. The Sunnyvale, CA-based UMG solar-cell manufacturer, one of seven companies announced as proposed awardees in July, will receive a $5 million loan to buy equipment to expand production. The CEBFP uses American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to provide up to $30.6 million in 2.75% low-interest loans to private businesses that improve or expand their energy efficiency or renewable energy manufacturing facilities in the state.
