GERMANY: Two thirds of the German population supports the continuing of a robust expansion course for solar power, in the future as well. As a recent representative Emnid survey commissioned by the German Solar Industry Association shows, 65 percent of those surveyed think it is a mistake to cut the annual expansion of solar power generation by more than half, compared to the past two years. Asked if they agree with reductions in support of between 30 and 40 percent for solar power generated by PV system operators, 65 percent of those surveyed said they do not. The survey was carried out by TNS Emnid on February 24 and 25 among 1006 representatively selected citizens.
"In Germany there is a clear civic majority that stands firmly behind clean solar power," emphasizes Carsten Körnig, CEO of the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar). "The population has come to understand that the transformation of the energy system cannot succeed without a citizen-friendly energy such as solar power. Photovoltaics turn citizens into electricity producers, thereby giving them autonomy and protecting them from the financial influence of major energy companies."
The German Federal Government, however, is disregarding the will of the population by trying to implement radical cuts in support for solar power. As early as Tuesday of next week, the government intends to introduce draft legislation to the Bundestag, Germany's Upper House of Parliament. The legislation proposes a reduction by more than half, in comparison to the past two years, of newly installed solar power capacity in 2012, and further reductions in subsequent years.
In the eyes of the solar industry, therefore, this draft legislation amounts to a "solar phase-out law." The industry fears not only a wave of bankruptcies, but also the loss of thousands of jobs.
Resistance to these moves is growing. At 1 p.m. this coming Monday, a broad alliance made up of unions and industry associations will join in a demonstration against the "solar phase-out law." The rally, which will be held in front of the Brandenburg Gate, has been called by the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), the Industrial Union of Steel Workers (IG Metall), the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE), the German Environmental Aid Association (DUH) and the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar). Numerous other initiatives and association have already pledged their support.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Foresight boosts UK PV solar portfolio to 16MW with acquisition of Somerset power plants
KENT, UK: Foresight Group (Foresight), the alternative asset manager, is pleased to announce the acquisition of two ground based PV Solar plants amounting to 6 MW from Element Power.
The two sites, located in Puriton (4MW) and Bridgewater (2MW), are both fully operational generating electricity at pre August 2011 Feed-in Tariff (FiT) rates and the acquisition brings Foresight’s portfolio of ground mounted PV Solar assets in the UK to 16MW. Following the acquisition, Solarwatt will continue as Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contractor for both sites.
Foresight is one of Europe’s leading managers of operational ground mounted solar assets with more than £300m of solar assets under management accounting for more than 85MW across the UK, Italy and Spain.
Ricardo Pineiro, Investment manager at Foresight, said: “We are delighted to have strengthened our UK portfolio with this latest acquisition which achieves economies of scale across our UK and European portfolio. Having raised more than £65m for the Foresight Solar VCT and Foresight Solar EIS in the past 15 months we will continue to add quality ground based PV assets to our portfolio.”
Foresight Group last year launched a £30 million fundraise in Foresight Infrastructure VCT Shares, a new share class offering similar risk and return characteristics to the Solar VCT through a diversified portfolio of assets targeting secondary PFI, onsite power and energy efficiency projects. Based on funds raised to date, the £30 million target is likely to be reached before the end of this current tax year. Foresight’s recently launched inheritance tax fund, Foresight ITS, is also targeting ground based UK solar PV and secondary PFI assets.
The two sites, located in Puriton (4MW) and Bridgewater (2MW), are both fully operational generating electricity at pre August 2011 Feed-in Tariff (FiT) rates and the acquisition brings Foresight’s portfolio of ground mounted PV Solar assets in the UK to 16MW. Following the acquisition, Solarwatt will continue as Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contractor for both sites.
Foresight is one of Europe’s leading managers of operational ground mounted solar assets with more than £300m of solar assets under management accounting for more than 85MW across the UK, Italy and Spain.
Ricardo Pineiro, Investment manager at Foresight, said: “We are delighted to have strengthened our UK portfolio with this latest acquisition which achieves economies of scale across our UK and European portfolio. Having raised more than £65m for the Foresight Solar VCT and Foresight Solar EIS in the past 15 months we will continue to add quality ground based PV assets to our portfolio.”
Foresight Group last year launched a £30 million fundraise in Foresight Infrastructure VCT Shares, a new share class offering similar risk and return characteristics to the Solar VCT through a diversified portfolio of assets targeting secondary PFI, onsite power and energy efficiency projects. Based on funds raised to date, the £30 million target is likely to be reached before the end of this current tax year. Foresight’s recently launched inheritance tax fund, Foresight ITS, is also targeting ground based UK solar PV and secondary PFI assets.
Scheuten Solar files for suspension of payment for certain entities
THE NETHERLANDS: Scheuten Solar operates in the fast growing and dynamic solar photovoltaic (PV) market environment. Dramatic oversupply of standard PV modules in the European market during the last 12 to 18 months has led to a price fall of more than 50%. As a result, margins have been under tremendous pressure for a prolonged period.
Due to this market situation, and the large negative financial impact of several onerous supply contracts in its portfolio, Scheuten Solar’s financial situation has weakened despite continuous cost reduction measures. From the middle of last year, the company has made serious efforts to attract investments from another PV company to live through this very difficult period in the industry. Unfortunately in the end, these negotiations did not succeed.
Because of all these unfortunate developments, Scheuten Solar is now entering into a situation where it can no longer serve its creditors. As a consequence, Scheuten Solar filed today for suspension of payment for certain solar entities.
The activities of Scheuten Glass are completely separate and will therefore continue unaffected.
Due to this market situation, and the large negative financial impact of several onerous supply contracts in its portfolio, Scheuten Solar’s financial situation has weakened despite continuous cost reduction measures. From the middle of last year, the company has made serious efforts to attract investments from another PV company to live through this very difficult period in the industry. Unfortunately in the end, these negotiations did not succeed.
Because of all these unfortunate developments, Scheuten Solar is now entering into a situation where it can no longer serve its creditors. As a consequence, Scheuten Solar filed today for suspension of payment for certain solar entities.
The activities of Scheuten Glass are completely separate and will therefore continue unaffected.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Satcon launches Equinox LC inverters for light commercial solar market
BOSTON, USA: Satcon Technology Corp., a leading provider of utility-scale power conversion solutions for the renewable energy market, is expanding its product portfolio to include best-in-class inverter solutions for the light commercial solar market segment with the launch of Equinox LC. The new product line will include four UL certified power ratings of 12kW, 16kW, 20kW and 24kW, and five CE certified power ratings of 8kW, 10kW, 13kW, 17kW, and 20kW. These lightweight, high efficiency inverters come in NEMA4/IP65 enclosures, and offer the industry’s best Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for the light commercial inverter market segment.
“The Light Commercial sector has been one of the highest growth segments within the worldwide solar inverter market,” said Ash Sharma, senior research director for Photovoltaics at IMS Research. “IMS Research forecasts shipments in this segment to reach almost 5 GW in 2012 and this inverter sector to grow to over $1.5 billion by 2015. The addition of Equinox LC to Satcon’s solution portfolio positions them to take advantage of the significant opportunities in this category.”
Building on an industry leading product portfolio, Equinox LC strengthens Satcon’s offerings for commercial solar PV inverters by adding several new power ratings that meet the growing market demand for high efficiency, low cost, lightweight, highly reliable solutions. This new transformerless design incorporates the same industry leading system intelligence and advanced command and control capabilities that have made Satcon’s inverters the leader in the utility solar PV market.
“With industry leading performance and design, Equinox LC is a very exciting product line to bring to the global light commercial solar PV market.” said Pete DeGraff, Satcon's executive VP of Worldwide Sales, Services and Marketing. “As a leader in utility scale inverter solutions, with over 2 Gigawatts installed worldwide in the last four years, Satcon brings critical experience and industrial grade engineering to this high growth market segment.”
Equinox LC joins the world's most widely-deployed large-scale solution portfolio including Satcon's industry-leading PowerGate Plus, Equinox, Solstice and Prism Platform inverter families, and is now generally available worldwide.
“The Light Commercial sector has been one of the highest growth segments within the worldwide solar inverter market,” said Ash Sharma, senior research director for Photovoltaics at IMS Research. “IMS Research forecasts shipments in this segment to reach almost 5 GW in 2012 and this inverter sector to grow to over $1.5 billion by 2015. The addition of Equinox LC to Satcon’s solution portfolio positions them to take advantage of the significant opportunities in this category.”
Building on an industry leading product portfolio, Equinox LC strengthens Satcon’s offerings for commercial solar PV inverters by adding several new power ratings that meet the growing market demand for high efficiency, low cost, lightweight, highly reliable solutions. This new transformerless design incorporates the same industry leading system intelligence and advanced command and control capabilities that have made Satcon’s inverters the leader in the utility solar PV market.
“With industry leading performance and design, Equinox LC is a very exciting product line to bring to the global light commercial solar PV market.” said Pete DeGraff, Satcon's executive VP of Worldwide Sales, Services and Marketing. “As a leader in utility scale inverter solutions, with over 2 Gigawatts installed worldwide in the last four years, Satcon brings critical experience and industrial grade engineering to this high growth market segment.”
Equinox LC joins the world's most widely-deployed large-scale solution portfolio including Satcon's industry-leading PowerGate Plus, Equinox, Solstice and Prism Platform inverter families, and is now generally available worldwide.
APS seeks renewable energy projects from solar
PHOENIX, USA: Arizona Public Service Co. announces a Request for Proposal (RFP) from solar developers and installers to construct a 14-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility – financed by APS through the company’s AZ Sun Program. The RFP will commence on March 15. Interested parties are encouraged to participate in a bidder’s webinar on March 22.
Projects must employ commercially proven technology. When completed in 2013, the new solar facility, part of the AZ Sun Program, will be owned and operated by APS and is expected to provide electricity to more than 3,500 Arizona homes.
With AZ Sun, APS is investing in the development of 200 MW of solar photovoltaic power plants across Arizona. APS is partnering with third-party developers and equipment providers to design and construct the facilities, increasing the opportunity for more developers to participate since project financing is provided by APS.
The AZ Sun Program was approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2010, and expanded to include another 100 MW in January 2012. The five-year program is expected to have at least eight solar facilities online by 2015 and create more than 2,400 Arizona construction jobs.
Projects must employ commercially proven technology. When completed in 2013, the new solar facility, part of the AZ Sun Program, will be owned and operated by APS and is expected to provide electricity to more than 3,500 Arizona homes.
With AZ Sun, APS is investing in the development of 200 MW of solar photovoltaic power plants across Arizona. APS is partnering with third-party developers and equipment providers to design and construct the facilities, increasing the opportunity for more developers to participate since project financing is provided by APS.
The AZ Sun Program was approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2010, and expanded to include another 100 MW in January 2012. The five-year program is expected to have at least eight solar facilities online by 2015 and create more than 2,400 Arizona construction jobs.
Magnetek’s 1 MW E-Force solar inverter receives ETL listing to UL 1741
MENOMONEE FALLS, USA: Magnetek Inc. announced that it has received ETL certification to the UL 1741-2010 and CSA C22.2 No. 107.1 standards for its 1 megawatt (MW) 1000 Volt solar inverter. The E-Force Solar Inverter was tested and certified by Intertek and is now qualified to display the ETL certification mark. The ETL mark indicates the E-Force Solar Inverter meets product safety requirements for connection to a United States or Canadian utility power grid or a grid in any country where UL and CSA standards are accepted.
Magnetek’s 1MW, air-cooled E-Force photovoltaic inverter is designed for grid-tied large solar applications, such as ground mount installations. E-Force PV-1000 integrates two 500kW inverters in a single enclosure which can reduce the skid footprint by as much as 30 percent compared with independent 500kW competitive inverters. E-Force units achieve peak and CEC efficiencies of 97.9 percent and 97 percent, respectively, with total current harmonic distortion of less than 5 percent.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to offer solar developers a 1 MW solar inverter ETL certified to UL and CSA standards,” said Peter McCormick, Magnetek’s CEO. “We have made considerable investments in our solar inverter program and this certification is a significant step in our entry into the utility scale marketplace, where we see our greatest opportunity for growth in the renewable energy sector.”
Ed Butte, Magnetek’s director of renewable energy, added; “Magnetek has been in the renewable energy business for nearly twenty years, and has shipped over 850MW of power conversion systems, including 700MW of the second generation E-Force power conditioning system for wind applications. The E-Force 1 MW solar inverter is based on our field-proven wind inverter platform. As a result we are confident this platform will provide the long service life solar customers seek, while its shelter-ready construction allows for faster installation at a lower cost.”
Magnetek’s 1MW, air-cooled E-Force photovoltaic inverter is designed for grid-tied large solar applications, such as ground mount installations. E-Force PV-1000 integrates two 500kW inverters in a single enclosure which can reduce the skid footprint by as much as 30 percent compared with independent 500kW competitive inverters. E-Force units achieve peak and CEC efficiencies of 97.9 percent and 97 percent, respectively, with total current harmonic distortion of less than 5 percent.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to offer solar developers a 1 MW solar inverter ETL certified to UL and CSA standards,” said Peter McCormick, Magnetek’s CEO. “We have made considerable investments in our solar inverter program and this certification is a significant step in our entry into the utility scale marketplace, where we see our greatest opportunity for growth in the renewable energy sector.”
Ed Butte, Magnetek’s director of renewable energy, added; “Magnetek has been in the renewable energy business for nearly twenty years, and has shipped over 850MW of power conversion systems, including 700MW of the second generation E-Force power conditioning system for wind applications. The E-Force 1 MW solar inverter is based on our field-proven wind inverter platform. As a result we are confident this platform will provide the long service life solar customers seek, while its shelter-ready construction allows for faster installation at a lower cost.”
KYOCERA brings power of the sun to SDG&E’s Energy Innovation Center
SCOTTSDALE, USA: Kyocera Solar Inc. has joined local energy leaders as a Technology Sponsor of the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) Energy Innovation Center, which was recently dedicated in a ceremony with San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. The Center is designed to be a LEED Platinum building that will be open to the public and is the embodiment of SDG&E’s commitment to sustainability and renewable energy design for homes and businesses.
Drawing inspiration from nature, the parking lot at the Center is planted with six Solar Tree arrays — unique structures that model the life processes of real trees by converting sunlight into clean electricity, helping to offset carbon emissions, providing shade to 48 parking spaces, and providing locally generated renewable energy to the electric grid.
Designed by Envision Solar International, the Solar Tree arrays are comprised of 312 Kyocera KD240 solar panels for a total of 75kW and employ Envision Solar’s proprietary EnvisionTrak technology, a hybrid multi-axis tracking system that enables the panels to track the movement of the sun and monitors system performance for optimal efficiency — generating up to 20 percent greater output than a stationary array.
Further enhancing the output of the system is the “zero negative tolerance” of Kyocera’s KD240 modules, which are guaranteed to produce a minimum of 240 watts upon delivery. With the adaptability to be outfitted with integrated electric vehicle charging stations, the Solar Tree arrays exemplify how businesses can improve the real estate value of their properties.
Architect Robert Noble designed the world’s first Solar Grove for Kyocera’s North American headquarters in San Diego in 2005. “Designing the Solar Grove for Kyocera was a life-changing experience and proved to be the genesis of Envision Solar, a company I founded shortly after the success of the project,” stated Noble, chairman of Envision Solar. “Continued innovations of this nature will benefit society by bringing sustainable solar energy solutions to the world.”
Recognizing the need and to meet the increasing demand for US-made products, Kyocera began manufacturing solar panels in June 2010 at its San Diego facility, located just a few miles from the Energy Innovation Center. With 37 years of experience in the solar industry, Kyocera continues to set standards for quality and longevity as demonstrated by repeatedly breaking records for cell efficiencies, and its distinction of producing the world’s first modules to have passed the Long-Term Sequential Test performed by TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd.
“Kyocera strives to remain at the forefront of environmental preservation by providing sustainable, innovative energy solutions for homes and businesses,” said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar. “Creative partnership opportunities like the Energy Innovation Center allow us to work with industry leaders and contribute to public awareness and understanding of how to integrate solar energy for high-quality, long-term energy results.”
This project brought together numerous San Diego-based partners and American-made products to create a dynamic solar system and illustrate the impact of renewable energy. The Center utilizes locally made Kyocera modules and the products and services of many other San Diego area companies.
The Energy Innovation Center is a showcase facility where customers can learn about energy efficiency, alternative fuel transportation, Smart Grid, and clean generation. The Energy Innovation Center will offer an array of seminars and demonstrations to help customers find the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions.
Drawing inspiration from nature, the parking lot at the Center is planted with six Solar Tree arrays — unique structures that model the life processes of real trees by converting sunlight into clean electricity, helping to offset carbon emissions, providing shade to 48 parking spaces, and providing locally generated renewable energy to the electric grid.
Designed by Envision Solar International, the Solar Tree arrays are comprised of 312 Kyocera KD240 solar panels for a total of 75kW and employ Envision Solar’s proprietary EnvisionTrak technology, a hybrid multi-axis tracking system that enables the panels to track the movement of the sun and monitors system performance for optimal efficiency — generating up to 20 percent greater output than a stationary array.
Further enhancing the output of the system is the “zero negative tolerance” of Kyocera’s KD240 modules, which are guaranteed to produce a minimum of 240 watts upon delivery. With the adaptability to be outfitted with integrated electric vehicle charging stations, the Solar Tree arrays exemplify how businesses can improve the real estate value of their properties.
Architect Robert Noble designed the world’s first Solar Grove for Kyocera’s North American headquarters in San Diego in 2005. “Designing the Solar Grove for Kyocera was a life-changing experience and proved to be the genesis of Envision Solar, a company I founded shortly after the success of the project,” stated Noble, chairman of Envision Solar. “Continued innovations of this nature will benefit society by bringing sustainable solar energy solutions to the world.”
Recognizing the need and to meet the increasing demand for US-made products, Kyocera began manufacturing solar panels in June 2010 at its San Diego facility, located just a few miles from the Energy Innovation Center. With 37 years of experience in the solar industry, Kyocera continues to set standards for quality and longevity as demonstrated by repeatedly breaking records for cell efficiencies, and its distinction of producing the world’s first modules to have passed the Long-Term Sequential Test performed by TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd.
“Kyocera strives to remain at the forefront of environmental preservation by providing sustainable, innovative energy solutions for homes and businesses,” said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar. “Creative partnership opportunities like the Energy Innovation Center allow us to work with industry leaders and contribute to public awareness and understanding of how to integrate solar energy for high-quality, long-term energy results.”
This project brought together numerous San Diego-based partners and American-made products to create a dynamic solar system and illustrate the impact of renewable energy. The Center utilizes locally made Kyocera modules and the products and services of many other San Diego area companies.
The Energy Innovation Center is a showcase facility where customers can learn about energy efficiency, alternative fuel transportation, Smart Grid, and clean generation. The Energy Innovation Center will offer an array of seminars and demonstrations to help customers find the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions.
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