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A US$646 million US DOE loan and loan guarantee for First Solar’s 230MW Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (AVSR) PV power plant project in northern Los Angeles County, California has hit a snag over an outstanding construction permit issue. The timeframe for initial funding of the loan has been pushed back to February 24, 2012 but if the issue isn’t resolved by that date, First solar said it could have to acquire the project from customer, Exelon for approximately US$75 million.
A petition, sent by 40 representatives of energy and environmental agencies, has fallen on deaf ears.
PV LEGAL has conducted a two-and-a-half-year initiative investigating the extent of renewable energy up-take in Europe. The study found France, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal have all been successful in encouraging access to renewable energy. However, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and the UK are yet to make satisfactory progress.
The European Commission’s Joint Research centre has published a report analysing the potential for renewable energy sources in Africa.
Effective April 1, 2012, Dr. Rolf Merte has been appointed executive VP of technology development division of the medium power solutions of SMA Solar Technology. He will be responsible for the development of electronic automotive power for high temperature applications.
IMS Research believes a PV manufacturing equipment replacement cycle could be the only bright spot in the near-term as suppliers face a lean capital investment year due to overcapacity and industry consolidation. The market research firm said that over the next four years it had identified a 20GW sized and US$25 billion sales opportunity for the upgrade or replacement of existing manufacturing capacity to remain competitive.
The 110MW Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Plant molten salt tower has been completed, thus marking a major milestone in the construction of what will be the largest CSP power plant in the world. Construction on the plant and the 540-foot tower began in September 2011 and is expected to last 30 months in total. The project was the controversial recipient of a US$737 million US DOE loan guarantee in September.
_First_Solar-80x80.jpg "The company has announced to reduce production as declining subsidies reduce European demand.")
Last November, First Solar celebrated the production of its one millionth module at its Frankfurt (Oder) plant. This year, the company has announced plans to reduce production as declining subsidies reduce European demand.
A 1.3MW PV power system has been installed at the US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) complex, a headquarters for high-tech military command, communications and surveillance in San Diego, California.
An undisclosed Chinese investment company that is said to own a portfolio of PV power plants in Italy is planning to recoup the investment in a frame agreement signed with 3Power Energy Group.
