It was recently revealed that Solyndra’s surplus assets will be auctioned off through a global webcast and in person auction by Heritage Global Partners beginning Wednesday, November 2 through Thursday November 3.
Tigo Energy revealed that Trina Solar, Hanwha Solar and Upsolar are now offering the company’s smart panel technology, which features the Tigo Energy Maximizer for solar PV installations. The Maximizer is said to allow PV project owners to increase the systems power production by reducing the effects of shade, dust, clouds and uneven temperature on system performance.
Oregon-based SolarWorld announced that along with seven other US manufacturers, it had petitioned the US federal government to stop what it calls, “an ever-increasing tide of heavily subsidized solar cells and panels that China’s state-supported solar industry is illegally dumping into the American market.” Spearheaded under the name, The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing, the group filed complaints with both the US Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission.
A 25-year veteran in the business and financial business sectors, Bob Kelly has joined SolarCity as the company’s new chief financial officer. In his new role, Kelly will oversee the company’s financial affairs as well as its corporate, project financing and accounting units.
Founded by SunPower, SolarBridge Technologies, SolarEdge and Tigo Energy, the Universal PV Interface Alliance (UPVI) saw its official launch at Solar Power International 2011 and welcomed Enecsys and T-Conn Precision as its first additional members. The organization is dedicated as an industry association that works toward the development of a standard, universal electrical and mechanical interface between PV modules and embedded module-level electronics or cable assemblies.
SunCap Financial has selected Suniva to supply its high-efficiency panels for the SunCap Solar Lease Program, which aims to allow US homeowners a more economically sound option when it comes to the design, installation and financing of a custom solar array for their home. The companies noted that Suniva’s Optimus modules, powered by ARTisun solar cells, would be offered through the lease program and come with a 25-year linear power performance warranty.
Cupertino Electric has been chosen by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) to design and build the 20MW Huron, California PV project. Engineering for the utility’s solar PV project has begun and construction is dually underway with the project expected to be completed and inter-connected by mid-2012.
Solon advised that it had recently finalized an exclusive worldwide licensing deal with Andersen for the use of its Fibrex material in the PV marketplace. The Fibrex vinyl technology is said to be highly durable, stiff, moisture and heat resistant, non-conductive and provides thermal insulating properties.
Camp Perry Ohio National Guard Base in Port Clinton, Ohio is home to 2,750 of Nanosolar’s utility panels, which are helping to power the recently completed 538kW solar installation. Ramanoff Electric managed the engineering, procurement and construction of the project.
According to a new study by IMS Research, PV component profits are expected to fall by 70% year-on-year in Q4 2011. Furthermore, an examination of the polysilicon, wafer, cell, module and inverter industries led the research organization to conclude that the continuation of dropping prices in 2011 will cause gross margins for the whole PV industry to drop 17% to 12.4% in Q4.
