Anne Zimmermann

A car carrier equipped with Panasonic’s hybrid power supply system has been finished, the company has announced. Panasonic supplied the Emerald Ace with a 160kW PV system as well as lithium-ion batteries. The system is primarily used to power the ship while it is at anchor so the diesel generator can be turned off.

SPI Solar has purchased Italy-based EPC company Solar Green Technologies (SGT) from LDK Solar Europe Holdings and the founders of Solar Green Technologies, the company has announced. SPI invested US$5 million, consisting of approximately 13,400,533 SPI shares with a value of US$0.45 and circa US$250,000 in cash, paid to the two founders of Solar Green Technologies. The transaction adds 20MW in EPC contracts to SPI Solar’s portfolio.

SMA Solar Technology has received Japan Electrical Safety and Environment Technology Laboratories (JET) certification, the company has announced. The company has opened sales and service subsidiaries in Japan at the beginning of 2012 and has obtained the JET certification for its Sunny Boy 3500TL-JP-22 and Sunny Boy 4500TL-JP-22 inverters. SMA will commence selling the two inverters on the Japanese market from October this year. The PV inverters have been modified for the Japanese market and for the requirements of Japanese PV plants.

Banyan Energy has announced the appointment of Rusty Schmit as its new CEO. Schmit has over 30 years of experience in the solar industry and has been a member of Banyan’s board of directors where he served as the company’s vice president of business development in his most recent role. Before joining Banyan Energy, Schmit was involved in the foundation of PV companies like Advent Solar and Matrix Solar Technologies, where he served as CEO.

New Jersey has passed a law that requires companies to purchase more solar energy, it has been announced. According to the bill, companies have to obtain 2.05% of their total energy from solar in the energy year (EY) 2014 under the new renewable portfolio standard. After that, the amount of solar energy required will be raised every year to 4.10% by 2028.

Chinese PV company Sky Solar is planning to invest in a 300MW PV project in Chile, according to a report by Reuters. Sky Solar, in collaboration with Chilean Sigdo Koppers and the Chinese Development Bank, has announced the signing of an agreement on Tuesday, under which Sky Solar is looking to invest US$900 million to construct the 300MW solar power park over three years.

Global Solar Energy Deutschland has begun insolvency proceedings at a German court, the company has announced. Global Solar Energy Inc., based in Tucson, Arizona, announced the news that the German executive team’s decision will not influence its Tucson production line. The company will cease operation of its 35MW German facility in Berlin, though.

Canadian Solar and solar installer Real Goods Solar have entered a supply agreement, it has been announced. Canadian Solar will provide approximately 40MW of PV modules to Real goods Solar under the agreement. The modules are intended for commercial as well as residential PV systems in the US. Canadian Solar recently acquired 122MW of US projects and the company has announced that it intents to expand onto the US market.

REC’s board of directors has proposed an offering of NOK1.300 million through a private placement, it has been announced. The board of directors will propose an issuance of 866,666,667 new shares to existing shareholders and new investors at a subscription price of NOK1.50 to the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), scheduled for July 18, 2012. The price was determined by book building processes carried out by DNB Markets, Nordea Markets and Arctic Securities. The funds from the private placement will be utilized for a partial repayment of the €100 million convertible bonds. Umoe AS and Canica AS are among the primary insiders that have been allocated new shares. Conditions have been set and will have to be met by July 31, 2012, in order to complete the private placement.

First Solar has reached an agreement regarding the DoE loan funded AV Solar Ranch One in Antelope Valley, the company has announced. The company has resumed the installation of its PV modules at the PV plant after being forced to cease construction in order to deal with module code certification issues. First Solar and the Los Angeles Country Department of Public Works have now reached an agreement about the PV module installation and First Solar is able to continue constructing the 230MW project. Construction of the PV plant began in August 2011 and the project is expected to be completed in 2013.