Eric Daniels will be leading the Solar Energy North American division of Robert Bosch as the department’s first solar energy regional president. In his new role, Daniels will supervise the company’s solar business in North America while specifically focusing on business development opportunities. Daniels is a 14-year veteran of the solar industry who joins Bosch from BP Solar where he served as CTO for seven years.
Fraunhofer ISE is reveling in the afterglow of the first SiliconPV-International Conference on Silicon Photovoltaics. The even took place April 17 through 20th in Freiburg, Germany and brought 540 scientists from 21 countries together to discuss and focus on silicon technology. The theme for the three-day long event was “Advanced Cell and Module Concepts” and included over 130 presentations that were designed to promote communication between all the participants.
Despatch Industries patent-pending VOC Thermal Oxidizers have already been making an impact at the company. Despatch reports that in the past six months it has collected orders to upgrade over 1.2GW of its installed base of CF series firing and drying services with its VOC technology.
Construction at the FVE Kresandra and FVE Power Plant 1 in Mokra Luka, Slovakia has begun according to Efektim. Development for the two power plants, which have a power output of 984.96kW and 974.70kW, respectively, began earlier this month and is expected to reach completion this June.
Chevron Mining, a sister company to Chevron Technology Venture and a subsidiary of Chevron, has completed a 1MWconcentrated photovoltaic solar plant (CPV) near its molybdenum mine in Questa, New Mexico. The Questa solar project is spread over 20 acres and utilizes 173 solar trackers and Soitec’s CPV system to generate solar electricity. The energy produced at the site will be sold under a PPA to the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) revealed plans to offer up to US$150 million in credit guarantees to local and foreign commercial banks to encourage the development of solar power as a renewable energy in India. The credit will cover 50% of the payment default risk on bank loans made to solar project developers with an aim to secure long-term funding for solar energy development in the country.
Boeing and South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) will be working together to make Boeing’s South Carolina facility a 100% renewable energy site. The North Charleston site will produce renewable energy with the help of a 2.6MW rooftop solar installation. Both companies maintain that the solar system at the Boeings 787 Final Assembly site will be the largest solar installation in the Southeast and the sixth largest in the US.
Under a new agreement between TPG Capital and Comtec Solar Systems Group, TPG will invest a total of US$150 million through newly issued convertible bonds and warrants. TPG has subscribed for unsecured convertible bonds, which are due in 2016 with an aggregate principal of US$100 million. The bonds are zero interest and will be able to transfer into Comtec’s new ordinary shares at an initial conversion price of US$0.50 per ordinary share. If the bonds are not exchanged after five years, they will be redeemed at par.
OPEL Solar International has finalized its financial statements for 2010 declaring increased revenues for both the fourth quarter 2010 and full 2010 year. Revenue for Q4 2010 was finalized at US$375,747, which contributed to its 2010 revenue total of US$1,647,638. Both the Q4 and full year results show an increase in revenue over figures for the same period in 2009.
AU Optronics’ (AUO) multi- and mono-crystalline solar modules have been added to the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) List of Solar Eligible Equipment. The company’s EcoDuo PM220P00, EcoDuo PM240P00 and GreenTriplex PM250M00 modules are now all eligible for sale to residential users, solar system integrators and local distributers in US states that have adopted the CEC standards, which include California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
