RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: Off-grid solar photovoltaic applications and hybrid solutions have already demonstrated their technical and economic feasibility in many parts of the world. These applications are even more relevant in Saudi Arabia because of the Kingdom's superlative solar radiation, industrial penetration into remote areas, and the staggering volume of diesel imports.
Nearly a quarter of the Saudi energy grid is currently powered by diesel, which is used extensively as a fuel for transportation and electricity generation despite the high cost of importing it. At least $1 billion is spent every month on diesel imports to the Kingdom, in addition to the cost and emissions from transporting the fuel to remote areas.
"In Saudi Arabia, there are weaknesses in electricity grid connection; the demand is huge and the load as well," says Sabri Asfour, GM of FAS Energy, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Fawaz Alhokair Group with 2,400 MW of GCC-based solar projects in the pipeline.
As a result, the idea of using PV-generated electricity to offset diesel usage - or to replace it altogether as energy storage costs decline - is becoming increasingly appealing for utilities and industrial corporations, especially those keen on eliminating the uncertainty of future energy costs.
"There are many business areas without electricity and they are waiting for their turn to be connected to the grid, but unfortunately, the queue is long. At FAS Energy, we build small, medium and large-scale hybrid power plants. It is well known that Saudi Arabia's solar irradiation is the best in the region so we have to use it," highlights Asfour, who will be speaking at the second edition of the Desert Solar Saudi Arabia conference that will be held from 17-18 September.
Building on the success of the first Desert Solar Conference, the event is once again gathering stakeholders in the Saudi Arabian solar energy market, hosting more than 150 decision makers from across the industry. The distinguished panel of speakers includes executives from Air Liquide MENA, E.ON, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Tokyo Electron Taiwan, as well as Solairedirect and First Solar.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
SunEdison and Los Pelambres Mine (Antofagasta Minerals) to supply solar electric power in Chile
BELMONT, USA: SunEdison Inc. has reached an agreement for the long-term sale of power to Los Pelambres. The mine is owned by Antofagasta Minerals S.A., the largest private mining group in Chile and one of the nine largest copper-producers in the world.
Under the agreement SunEdison will supply the power produced by the Javiera solar photovoltaic project, with a capacity of 69.5 megawatts (MW) DC, for operations at Los Pelambres mine.
This project demonstrates the competitiveness of solar energy in Chile, especially in the Chilean mining and industry market, where SunEdison has innovated to deliver cost savings by transforming how energy is generated.
Jose Perez, president of SunEdison for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, said: "An agreement is being signed between two global industry leading companies that believe in a more sustainable future for Chile. This landmark project reinforces SunEdison's ability to offer competitive, innovative and sustainable energy solutions to its customers and reaffirms SunEdison's leading role in Latin America."
The Javiera power plant, located in the Atacama Region, is already under construction and is expected to be connected to the grid in the first months of 2015. The project will deliver all its electricity to the Central Interconnected System (SIC) and will supply Los Pelambres, a copper concentrate and molybdenum mine located in the Coquimbo Region. The term of the contract between the two companies is 20 years.
Under the agreement SunEdison will supply the power produced by the Javiera solar photovoltaic project, with a capacity of 69.5 megawatts (MW) DC, for operations at Los Pelambres mine.
This project demonstrates the competitiveness of solar energy in Chile, especially in the Chilean mining and industry market, where SunEdison has innovated to deliver cost savings by transforming how energy is generated.
Jose Perez, president of SunEdison for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, said: "An agreement is being signed between two global industry leading companies that believe in a more sustainable future for Chile. This landmark project reinforces SunEdison's ability to offer competitive, innovative and sustainable energy solutions to its customers and reaffirms SunEdison's leading role in Latin America."
The Javiera power plant, located in the Atacama Region, is already under construction and is expected to be connected to the grid in the first months of 2015. The project will deliver all its electricity to the Central Interconnected System (SIC) and will supply Los Pelambres, a copper concentrate and molybdenum mine located in the Coquimbo Region. The term of the contract between the two companies is 20 years.
Dominion Virginia Power adds first solar demo site in Central Virginia
RICHMOND, USA: Dominion Virginia Power continues to add megawatts to its Solar Partnership Program by installing 240 photovoltaic panels on the rooftop of Virginia Union University's Thomas H. Henderson Center.
The system will be capable of generating about 70 kilowatts of electricity – enough to power nearly 18 homes. The Henderson Center serves as the central hub for student activities at the university.
"Dominion Virginia Power is making important strides in the solar energy arena," said Ken Barker, VP of Customer Solutions. "Businesses and educational institutions in the state, such as Virginia Union University, have shown they are as dedicated to the development of renewable energy as we are. We are thankful for their support and enthusiasm."
The installation at Virginia Union University is considered a demonstration site under Dominion's Solar Partnership Program. Demonstration sites are strategically selected locations that offer community benefits by providing opportunities for customer outreach and education of solar technologies.
PowerSecure, a North Carolina-based company with offices in Virginia, has been selected as the engineering, procurement and construction company.
The system will be capable of generating about 70 kilowatts of electricity – enough to power nearly 18 homes. The Henderson Center serves as the central hub for student activities at the university.
"Dominion Virginia Power is making important strides in the solar energy arena," said Ken Barker, VP of Customer Solutions. "Businesses and educational institutions in the state, such as Virginia Union University, have shown they are as dedicated to the development of renewable energy as we are. We are thankful for their support and enthusiasm."
The installation at Virginia Union University is considered a demonstration site under Dominion's Solar Partnership Program. Demonstration sites are strategically selected locations that offer community benefits by providing opportunities for customer outreach and education of solar technologies.
PowerSecure, a North Carolina-based company with offices in Virginia, has been selected as the engineering, procurement and construction company.
LG Electronics USA and Borrego Solar join forces
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, USA: LG Electronics USA has joined forces with solar industry leader Borrego Solar Systems Inc. to significantly expand the presence of LG's high-efficiency solar modules in the US commercial market.
Under the agreement, LG will supply 24 megawatts (MW) of its popular Mono X series solar panels, led by the award-winning LG Mono X NeON modules, through 2015 to Borrego Solar, which will sell to the commercial sector as an LG preferred strategic commercial integrator in North America.
The collaboration aligns with the market's maturation and the move toward higher efficiency products in the commercial sector, while bringing North American customers the greatest value and highest quality photovoltaic (PV) modules on the market. The agreement also adds a greater number of LG Electronics' bankable products to Borrego Solar's portfolio.
LG's Mono X series modules lead the way in solar panel quality and reliability. The Mono X NeON modules, which already have exceptional market traction, are among the lightest modules on the market, delivering high-efficiency output of up to 305 watts with 18.6 percent module efficiency. The Mono X NeON produces energy from both the front and back, which raises cell efficiency.
Through new semiconductor technology application for doping and surface treatment processes, cell imperfections have been minimized while uniformity has been maximized, resulting in the Mono X NeON's 21 percent increase in cell efficiency.
Under the agreement, LG will supply 24 megawatts (MW) of its popular Mono X series solar panels, led by the award-winning LG Mono X NeON modules, through 2015 to Borrego Solar, which will sell to the commercial sector as an LG preferred strategic commercial integrator in North America.
The collaboration aligns with the market's maturation and the move toward higher efficiency products in the commercial sector, while bringing North American customers the greatest value and highest quality photovoltaic (PV) modules on the market. The agreement also adds a greater number of LG Electronics' bankable products to Borrego Solar's portfolio.
LG's Mono X series modules lead the way in solar panel quality and reliability. The Mono X NeON modules, which already have exceptional market traction, are among the lightest modules on the market, delivering high-efficiency output of up to 305 watts with 18.6 percent module efficiency. The Mono X NeON produces energy from both the front and back, which raises cell efficiency.
Through new semiconductor technology application for doping and surface treatment processes, cell imperfections have been minimized while uniformity has been maximized, resulting in the Mono X NeON's 21 percent increase in cell efficiency.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Trina Solar announces majority stake in Yunnan Metallurgical New Energy
CHANGZHOU, CHINA: .Trina Solar Ltd has entered into a share purchase agreement and acquired a 90 percent stake in Yunnan Metallurgical New Energy Co. Ltd from Yunnan Metallurgical Group Co., Ltd., Kunming Yeyan New Material Co. Ltd, and Kunming Engineering & Research Institute of Nonferrous Metallurgy Co. Ltd.
The remaining 10 percent will be collectively held by the three Parties. Trina Solar obtained the stake by participating in a bidding process conducted through the Yunnan Public Resource Trading Center's online bidding platform after Yunnan Metallurgical New Energy posted an invitation to bid for the majority stake via the Yunnan Equity Exchange.
Yunnan Metallurgical New Energy is committed to developing downstream solar power projects and currently has a 300 MW project under development in southern Yunnan province. Upon operation, it will become the largest single utility scale solar power plant in Yunnan and one of the largest in China. Construction of the 300 MW project is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2014. By combining the resources of strategic partners, Yunnan Metallurgical New Energy will also actively seek new project opportunities to expand its downstream pipeline.
The remaining 10 percent will be collectively held by the three Parties. Trina Solar obtained the stake by participating in a bidding process conducted through the Yunnan Public Resource Trading Center's online bidding platform after Yunnan Metallurgical New Energy posted an invitation to bid for the majority stake via the Yunnan Equity Exchange.
Yunnan Metallurgical New Energy is committed to developing downstream solar power projects and currently has a 300 MW project under development in southern Yunnan province. Upon operation, it will become the largest single utility scale solar power plant in Yunnan and one of the largest in China. Construction of the 300 MW project is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2014. By combining the resources of strategic partners, Yunnan Metallurgical New Energy will also actively seek new project opportunities to expand its downstream pipeline.
ReneSola to develop 13MW solar farm project in UK
JIASHAN, CHINA: ReneSola Ltd will develop a 13MW solar project in Dorset, England. The company expects the solar farm to be fully operational and connected to the national energy grid by end of this year.
The company has identified a number of potential buyers for the project, which received planning consent in January 2014 and is eligible for the United Kingdom's support scheme to promote renewable electricity-generating technologies. The project will feature ReneSola PV modules exclusively, specifically the Company's top-rated Virtus II.
"While we remain focused on our retail and residential-oriented business development, we selectively pursue project opportunities across our key markets when we identify good value and when the projects are in line with our broader strategic objectives," said Xianshou Li, ReneSola's CEO.
"The United Kingdom is one of our best-performing markets, and one of the world's fastest-growing major solar markets, while the new project will further strengthen our leading market position in UK. The 13MW Dorset project will be one of a series of selective projects we plan to build in the coming quarters."
The company has identified a number of potential buyers for the project, which received planning consent in January 2014 and is eligible for the United Kingdom's support scheme to promote renewable electricity-generating technologies. The project will feature ReneSola PV modules exclusively, specifically the Company's top-rated Virtus II.
"While we remain focused on our retail and residential-oriented business development, we selectively pursue project opportunities across our key markets when we identify good value and when the projects are in line with our broader strategic objectives," said Xianshou Li, ReneSola's CEO.
"The United Kingdom is one of our best-performing markets, and one of the world's fastest-growing major solar markets, while the new project will further strengthen our leading market position in UK. The 13MW Dorset project will be one of a series of selective projects we plan to build in the coming quarters."
Clean water key to delivering reliable power to Canadian residents
EDINA, USA: High-quality water is of paramount importance to power generation. It helps facilitate efficient and reliable operations, protect critical equipment, and minimize environmental impact.
Source water for many power plants, however, is far from ideal. That is certainly the case for a power station in Alberta, where an innovative two-pass reverse osmosis (RO) design was used to optimize the plant’s existing configuration.
The design includes DOW FILMTEC ECO 440i Reverse Osmosis elements and DOW FILMTEC XFRLE-400/34i Reverse Osmosis elements. Since their installation, FILMTEC ECO elements have resulted in 30 percent more energy savings in the system’s second pass and FILMTEC XFRLE has improved overall pressure drops and fouling.
The lake source water at the power station is derived from a combination of the North Saskatchewan River, mine drainage, plant site drainage, sewage effluent and chemical neutralization ponds. Due to the highly variable nature of source water, the system requires thicker feed spacer elements to reduce fouling rates, and to lower the pressure drop in the first pass.
Source water for many power plants, however, is far from ideal. That is certainly the case for a power station in Alberta, where an innovative two-pass reverse osmosis (RO) design was used to optimize the plant’s existing configuration.
The design includes DOW FILMTEC ECO 440i Reverse Osmosis elements and DOW FILMTEC XFRLE-400/34i Reverse Osmosis elements. Since their installation, FILMTEC ECO elements have resulted in 30 percent more energy savings in the system’s second pass and FILMTEC XFRLE has improved overall pressure drops and fouling.
The lake source water at the power station is derived from a combination of the North Saskatchewan River, mine drainage, plant site drainage, sewage effluent and chemical neutralization ponds. Due to the highly variable nature of source water, the system requires thicker feed spacer elements to reduce fouling rates, and to lower the pressure drop in the first pass.
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