Several of Europe’s leading solar institutions have placed follow-up orders with Meyer Burger subsidiary Pasan SA for its sun simulators. The simulators will be used to assist the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI), Fraunhofer ISE and TÜV Rheinland to test, calibrate and certify PV modules for use in Europe.
Q-Cells SE is set to increase its presence within the U.K. solar industry by opening a new office in London. The exact opening date for the office has not been revealed but it is likely to take place before the end of Q2.
Baraclit, an Italian prefabricated roofing developer for industrial and commercial industries, is sporting a new 2.5MW solar installation at its SolarLAB2 open-air solar laboratory in Bibbiena, Italy. Canadian Solar and Energy Resources partnered for the project, which aims to be a laboratory used to study the incorporation of photovoltaic technology on prefabricated roofing.
Parabel has been commissioned to develop one of Europe’s largest solar systems, the 41MW park in Brandenburg, Germany. The park, situated on the site of a former military training ground, is currently in the first planning and approval phase, with construction expected to take place between June and August; the final phase will increase output to 90MW.
The 9REN Group recently closed on a funding lease from UniCredit Leasing that will go towards the financing of the Pacione 1 PV power plant. The Italian PV plant, located in the Taranto province, is complete and holds a 6.5MW capacity. Grid connection is expected to occur in the next few weeks.
Scatec Solar has signed on with Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and Italgen to build a 6.16MWp solar project in a former quarry close to Guiglia, Italy. The solar installation should be connected to the grid by this fall and generate over 7.5 million kWh yearly. The companies did not release the financial terms for their agreement nor any information about the 26,000 modules or BOS that will be used for the installation.
The backlash to the U.K. Government’s decision to launch a comprehensive review of its feed-in tariff on Monday has begun. Dissenting voices are becoming increasingly audible, with ministers publically bemoaning the coalition’s decision and airing fears about its long-term impact on the solar industry.
Bisol has completed a 1MW rooftop solar power plant installation in the Koroška region, a northern part of Slovenia. Working with Intereuropa and Volksbank International the company began the PV system installation in November 2010 and, as noted during the system’s opening ceremony last week, was able to connect the solar project to the grid a month and a half later.
Integrated U.K. PV firm Sundog Energy has hired Bill Roberts as its new managing director and reshuffled the rest of its management team. Roberts will take over the managing director role from Sundog’s founder Martin Cotterell, who has moved into the role of chairman and technical director.
A select group of Q-Cells employees will be presented with certificates for solar cell production monitoring by the German Minister of Finance, Dr. Reiner Haseloff, today after attending a training seminar organised by IHK Bildungszentrum Halle-Dessau.
