2011 is being looked back on in the global solar power industry for many negative qualities. Primarily, a collapse in profitability in solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing led to companies restructuring, layoffs, plant closures, and even a number of bankruptcies. Late in the year a vicious trade dispute sharply divided the U.S. PV industry, which also … Continue reading Advances in the solar energy
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Solar power in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Over the last century, economic development in MENA has hinged on the region’s petroleum and natural gas deposits. The region produces more than a third of the world’s petroleum, at roughly 2.5 million barrels of crude oil per day, as well as 55 billion cubic feet per day of dry natural gas, 20% of the … Continue reading Solar power in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
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Germany has five times as much solar power as the U.S.
The main point here: Germany doesn’t get an enormous amount of sunlight, relatively speaking. Its annual solar resources are roughly comparable to Alaska’s. Just about every single region in the continental United States has greater solar potential, on average, than Germany. Yet despite those limitations, Germany has still managed to be the world leader in … Continue reading Germany has five times as much solar power as the U.S.
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Schott seeks partner to take majority of CSP (Concentrating Solar Power) unit
German glass maker Schott expects preliminary bids for a majority stake in its concentrated solar thermal unit within the next two weeks. Schott has mandated BNP Paribas to look for a partner to take the lead at its Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) unit to cut its exposure to a sector that has not lived up … Continue reading Schott seeks partner to take majority of CSP (Concentrating Solar Power) unit
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Global Solar PV capacity to more than triple by 2020
Constantly evolving and more efficient technology provided at lower prices, combined with a need for energy security and independence, will ensure the continued rise of solar photovoltaic (PV) power across the world, states research and consulting firm GlobalData. The company’s latest report* forecasts global solar PV to continue its meteoric rise in the near future, … Continue reading Global Solar PV capacity to more than triple by 2020
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Infinia to start its largest Parabolid Dish CSP plant
Infinia Technology Corp. is working on an energy-efficient and compact heat pump based on the Stirling cycle. Infinia Corp., a developer of power systems that convert solar heat to electricity, won also a contract to supply equipment to a 114 million-euro ($143 million) project in Cyprus. Infinia will install the first PowerDish on site, and … Continue reading Infinia to start its largest Parabolid Dish CSP plant
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Zambia to build solar energy plants
Government plans to set up solar power plants in all thermal powered districts in North-western province. Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) North-western Regional Manager, Isaac Kambangu confirmed that the Ministry of Energy plans to set up solar plants to beef up power in the diesel powered districts. Mr. Kambangu said the solar power plans are … Continue reading Zambia to build solar energy plants
Continue readingChina, Africa, Latin America to lead solar photovoltaic market growth in 2013
Bloomberg New Energy Finance has stated that China, Africa and Latin America will drive solar photovoltaic (PV) industry growth in 2013, in CEO Michael Liebreich’s top 10 clean energy predictions for 2013. BNEF also expects overall clean energy investment to recover to around 2011 levels of USD 302 billion. Using a metaphor from Napoleon’s doomed … Continue reading China, Africa, Latin America to lead solar photovoltaic market growth in 2013
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SEIA Supports U.S. Challenge to India’s Solar Energy Trade Restriction
Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®), today released the following statement in support of the U.S. government’s decision to initiate World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement proceedings challenging India, which was today announced by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative: “We fully support today’s decision by the U.S. … Continue reading SEIA Supports U.S. Challenge to India’s Solar Energy Trade Restriction
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China’s solar power companies forecast losses
More than 40 percent of China’s listed PV (photovoltaic) companies forecast losses for 2012, raising delisting concerns amid efforts to restructure the industry. A total of 13 out of 32 listed companies that have core business in the PV industry forecast losses for 2012 in their recently released financial reports, while another 12 said they … Continue reading China’s solar power companies forecast losses
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Qatar mulls concentrated solar power (CSP) plants
Qatar is considering setting up concentrated solar power plants, according to top officials at Qatar Petroleum (QP). Every square kilometer of land in Qatar is receiving solar energy equivalent to 1.5m barrels of crude oil in a year. The country also has an average daily sunshine time exceeding 9.5 hours and abundant free land space … Continue reading Qatar mulls concentrated solar power (CSP) plants
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Hopeful outlook for China’s solar energy industry
The National Energy Administration said last week that China will increase its solar energy supply target from 21 gigawatts (GW) to 35 GW by 2015. The new target, revised for the fourth time in five years, will represent massive growth from the 6.5 gw of solar power installed in 2012. The smog that choked Beijing … Continue reading Hopeful outlook for China’s solar energy industry
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Floating solar islands to test viability of offshore solar power plants
In lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, three solar-powered floating laboratories are to be constructed by the Swiss energy company Viteos SA and project developer Nolaris. The laboratories are intended to act as research facilities that demonstrate the efficacy of floating concentrated solar power plants, and also whether this concept can be applied to typical PV solar panels. (For a … Continue reading Floating solar islands to test viability of offshore solar power plants
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Solar pioneers: Alferov, Andreev to receive 2013 Karl Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit
Zhores I. Alferov, Nobel Laureate, professor and president of the St. Petersburg Academic University of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Viacheslav M. Andreev, professor and head of the laboratory of the A.F. Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute in St. Petersburg, will receive the 2013 Karl Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit during a ceremony to be … Continue reading Solar pioneers: Alferov, Andreev to receive 2013 Karl Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit
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Solar Energy To Beat Coal Prices in New Mexico
A new solar power plant opening in New Mexico will be selling electricity at record low prices. First Solar, a large thin-film solar manufacturing company based in Tempe, Ariz., recently announced that it had bought a large solar power plant that was being developed in New Mexico. When completed, the 50-megawatt Macho Springs Solar Park … Continue reading Solar Energy To Beat Coal Prices in New Mexico
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Yingli Green Energy announces its first photovoltaic order in Jordan
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) (“Yingli Green Energy” or the “Company”), a leading solar energy company and one of the world’s largest vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturers, which markets its products under the brand “Yingli Solar,” today announced that the Company has supplied 65 kilowatts of PV modules for Kawkabuna for Energy Solutions … Continue reading Yingli Green Energy announces its first photovoltaic order in Jordan
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Saudi Arabia: Producing electricity with solar power
Saudi Arabia has reached an important milestone in the development of its solar power industry (planned investment: $109 billion) with the completion this week of a 3.5 megawatt photovoltaic plant in Riyadh. Located on the grounds of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in the capital city, this is the Kingdom’s biggest … Continue reading Saudi Arabia: Producing electricity with solar power
Continue reading2013: An important year for Concentrating Solar Power in the United States
Between now and early 2014 the total generation capacity of concentrated solar power in the United States will increase by more than 120%. Currently, 571.16MW of Concentrated Solar Power capacity has been commissioned in the United States, but with five large-scale projects scheduled for completion in 2013-14 this capacity is set to increase by 120%, a … Continue reading 2013: An important year for Concentrating Solar Power in the United States
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Concentrated Solar Power: Parabolic Trough or Solar Tower?
At the crux of this pursuit is understanding the associated costs of the CSP technologies themselves, whether it be Parabolic Trough, Solar Tower, Linear Fresnel or Dish Sterling. Delving even deeper, the ability to identify and successfully implement cost reduction strategies is dependent on understanding where exactly the bulk of costs currently rests within these … Continue reading Concentrated Solar Power: Parabolic Trough or Solar Tower?
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South Africa’s Solar Power Market Finally Heating Up
Solar energy, one of our most abundant locally sourced energy resources, plays a critical role in South Africa today. Experts are, therefore, welcoming the growing interest by developers and investors. The full potential of solar power and its competition position as an alternative energy source still requires extensive exploration. Local companies need to determine how … Continue reading South Africa’s Solar Power Market Finally Heating Up
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