Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente revealed its plans to build a 60MW solar plant in Calera y Chozas, located in the province of Toledo, Spain. The plant will not have the support of a FiT and plans to deliver its electric output to the local grid, ensuring that it will compete with traditional energy sources.
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) was awarded the 2012 Investor Owned Utility (IOU) of the Year by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) this week for its leadership and investment in solar energy. TEP has over 45MW of solar generating capacity and expects to have more than 240MW of solar generating capacity by the end of 2014.
A day after reports claimed Hanergy and Q-Cells were in discussion over the sale of the German PV manufacturers' CIGS thin-film subsidiary, Solibro, both companies said in a statement that a deal had been signed. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Continuing to support the development of one of the largest PV module portfolios, Suntech Power Holdings will also introduce a 255 watt polycrystalline module (STP255–20Wd) at Intersolar Europe 2012. The company claims that the polycrystalline module is around 5% more powerful than the industry average, while offering one of the best ‘price to performance’ ratios on the market.
Reports have emerged that Hanergy Solar Technology is considering the purchase of Solibro, the CIGS thin-film subsidiary of Q-Cells. Insolvency firm HWW Wienberg Wilhelm, which is administering the bankruptcy proceedings of Q-Cells had said in April that there had been both foreign and domestic interest in acquiring the bankrupt PV manufacturer.
Having scrapped import duties on solar systems, Pakistan could be become a highly viable emerging market for photovoltaics, due to its high insolation values and growing energy demands. Adding to a string of recent PV power plant projects, Conergy is partnering with developer Ensunt and DACC Power Generation Company (DPGCL) to build a 50MW solar park in Bahawalpur, Cholistan region.
Failure to secure further funding has forced flexible thin-film manufacturer, Konarka Technologies into bankruptcy. The Chapter 7 bankruptcy via a Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court means full liquidation and asset sale to pay creditors. Since its initial venture capital funding in 2001, the company had raised around US$190 million to develop and market its roll-to-roll OPV (organic photovoltaic) technology.
NanoMarkets has released a new report focusing on the BIPV market, “BIPV Roofing Markets.” The report states that by 2016, the total market value for BIPV roofing products will reach US$3.9 billion. NanoMarkets went on to advise that it expects the market for today’s overlay products, such as building-attached PV) to see a steady growth pattern, but fully integrated BIPV roofing panels will hold the market longevity and opportunity.
Transform Solar, a JV established in 2010 between Origin Energy and Micron Technology, advised that it will no longer be manufacturing its Sliver PV modules in Idaho. The company decided to take this route after a review of the global oversupply of PV capacity and the resulting difficult market conditions. Operations and workforce in Idaho will be progressively cut over the next three months.
It was recently announced that Solea AG, Ontario Solar Provider (OSP) and Solar Provider Group have formed Solea SP, a JV with a focus on utility-scale ground mounted solar farms in North America. Head-quartered in Toronto, Canada, with a satellite office in San Francisco, Solea SP advised that additions to its management team will be released in the following weeks.
