The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has revealed two new initiatives that promote tribal energy development and a better partnership between the DOE and tribal nations. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu advised that up to US$10 million will become available this year for the DOE’s Tribal Energy Program, which will go towards the evaluation, development and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on tribal lands.
Martifer Solar has entered into a binding agreement with Sunflower for the engineering, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance for 13MW of PV plants throughout the Piedmont regions of Italy. Martifer and Sunflower have previously worked together on two recently completed 2.1MW PV plants in the Province of Alessandria.
Constellation Energy is in the process of developing two rooftop solar installations in Maryland, both funded partially by grants through the Maryland Energy Administration’s Project Sunburst initiative. The first installation is a 750kW project at Anne Arundel County’s Combined Support Services Complex in Millersville. The roof-mounted system will have around 3,060 crystalline PV solar panels and produce around 900,000kWh of electricity every year.
Centrosolar Group is to issue a five-year bearer bond in Austria and Germany with a value of up to €50 million. The corporate bond will accrue interest at 7% per annum, and the securities prospectus required for the bond is expected to be approved by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BAFin) on January 20, 2011.
Jiangsu Guoxin New Energy and Jiangsu Sainty Solar System have joined forces to build a 4MW rooftop array in Siyang, China. The system, which cost US$14.5 million and covers an area of 52,000 square metres, has the potential to generate in excess of 4.64 million kWh of electricity per annum during its 25-year lifespan.
In an attempt to consolidate its position as one of the world’s leading integrated solar companies, BP Solar has decided to enlist the help of a specialist partner to help manage some of its portfolio of off-grid projects. Control of French BP Solar’s off-grid operations has been handed over to Phaesun.
SMA America has opened its new service center in Rocklin, California, that has been dedicated to provide customers with technical support over the phone, internet and on-site throughout the U.S. and Canada. SMA America assures that every call is received by a live person at the new service center, which also offers its customers that ability to email service representatives for help.
Alternate Power International, in conjunction with Sustainable Energy Technologies, has announced a partnership between the two companies that will see API bundle Sunergy inverters with its Sun-Spy SST-10 solar tracker for the micro-FIT and FIT markets. Taking into account API’s forecasted 2011 demand, Sustainable Energy will produce up to 5MW of Sunergy inverters and offer its technical support in order for API to achieve the most advantageous tracker performance.
Southwest Solar Technologies (SST) has completed the first stage of its solar park in Phoenix, Arizona. The focal point of the 18-acre facility is a 75-foot wide solar dish, which plays a key role in SST’s solar dish turbine technology.
According to a new report from market research firm Photon Consulting, the PV industry is looking at a supply-driven price crash on the back of expected strong feed-in tariff cuts in Germany over the next two-years, which will dampen demand sufficiently to cause a glut in modules and impact the entire supply-chain.
