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The Japanese Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) announced figures for Q4 and fiscal 2011, finding that total quarterly shipments fell 23% to 554.2MW from Q3, while shipments of PV cells and modules increased by a small percentage point during Q4. Domestic and import sales of thin-film also took a hit, falling by 68% while import of PV materials for the period went up 3%. Monocrystalline products increased 16% while multicrystalline products dropped 13%.
Dominion Virginia Power filed a petition with the Virginia State Corporate Commission (SCC) today asking for permission to buy solar-generated electricity from residential and small commercial customers at US$0.15/kWh for a five-year demonstration period. The power company aims to encourage solar electricity through a proposed new rate that includes a premium, so that customers are more likely to install solar panels and sell the electricity to the company.
The proposed 3MW, US$20 million Ponterril solar project has received its final approval from the zoning board of appeals. The project will be developed across 22 acres of what used to be the Pittsfield Family YMCA’s recreation camp overlooking Pontoosuc Lake. The Berkshire Eagle advised that electricity produced by the project would be sold and transported to Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) as part of the power gird on North Street. The report confirmed that project officials want to begin work on the project this year, but actual construction timelines will depend on WMECO since it needs to advise what it would cost CTC Electric to make upgrades to the WMECO system in order for it to accept electricity from the new solar project.
Earlier this month, Chinese vice premier Wang Qishan and state councillor Dai Bingguo met with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, in Beijing to discuss Sino-American strategic and economic relations. On May 17, the US Department of Commerce announced in a preliminary hearing that China had been exporting to the US at less than fair value.
The regional authority of the Spanish region of Extremadura has singed an agreement to fast-track permit the developemnt of a 400MW solar park in Calzadilla de los Barros, Spain, developed by SAG Solarstrom and Valsolar, it has been announced. The region will back the construction of the €450 million PV plant, which will be the third project in the region and at least the fifth project in Spain that does not rely on subsidies. SAG and Valsolar expect to commence construction of the plant in 2014 and complete the project 2015.
On May 17, 2012, the Department of Commerce has announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from the People’s Republic of China. Brought forward by SolarWorld last October, the DoC has determined that Chinese producers/exporters sold solar cells in the United States at dumping margins ranging from 31.14% to 249.96% citing this as “less than fair value”.
Satcon will supply 30MW of its Equinox Prism Platform to Western Wind and Lord Electric. The inverters will be installed at a solar power park in Puerto Rico, the company has announced.
Walmart will install PV panels on 27 of its 50 stores in Massachusetts, the company has announced. The projects will generate a total of 10.5MW and, according to the Boston Globe, are currently in the engineering stage.
China Sunergy has announced that it has supplied the Bulgarian Yerussalimovo solar park with 5MW of VP modules. In total, China Sunergy has shipped 22.32MW of panels to Bulgaria since the beginning of 2012, exceeding the company’s 18MW shipments to Bulgaria in 2011. The panels were sold to Mitsubishi and Helios Power acted as installer of the modules.
Welspun Energy has won the bid for a 250MW PV project in Madhya Pradesh.
Welspun won the bid by quoting a tariff of Rs8.05 per unit, compared to the current feed-in tariff in Madhya Pradesh, which is Rs15.35 per unit. Welspun will develop one 100MW PV plant and another 25MW plant in the region in only 19 months, the company has announced. The investment in the PV plant will be US$225 million.
