Solar power is coming back to Adrano, home of the one of the first CSP systems. Enel Green Power is starting construction on a new 9MW photovoltaic power plant on the Sicilian site where the historic Eurelios CSP array once operated.
9REN has obtained a new order from Helios to develop, build, and manage a 1MW PV power plant of 1MW in Buseto Palizzolo in the Italian province of Trapani.The location of the new project is close to a 1.9MW system previously contracted with Helios and already under construction.
Despite the confusion over the GSE’s PV installation figures for 2010, Barclays Capital PV analyst Vishal Shah said in an investors note that no matter what the actual installation figure will be for 2010, it is increasingly likely that the Italian government would have to pay for 6GW worth of subsidies at the 2010 FiT rate.
Enecsys has become the first company in the world to receive UL certification for a micro inverter without electrolytic capacitors. The 240-watt inverter has also been certified for use in Europe, thus helping Enecsys to establish itself as one of the few truly global inverter manufacturers.
Scheuten Solar has signed 10MW of new contracts for its turnkey projects in Belgium. The contracts relate to mostly large-scale PV systems on industrial rooftops and include the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) along with operation and maintenance on the systems.
GE Capital, NRG Energy and ConocoPhillips have jointly committed US$300 million in capital for a new joint venture: Energy Technology Ventures. The JV will fund around 30 venture-and growth-stage companies over the next four years, including the next generation photovoltaics developer Alta Devices. Although details about financial details of the JV and the initial investments have not been disclosed, the JV will focus early investments in companies developing “game-changing” technologies.
Two of IKEA’s German stores have recently been fitted with solar installations and connected to the grid thanks to the partnership between the home furnishing company and REC Solar. IKEA selected REC Solar out of 200 solar installation providers, who then provided the modules and installed the solar systems on IKEA’s store roofs.
Siemens Energy and Suntech Power Holdings have entered into a framework agreement wherein Suntech will provide solar PV modules for various European solar installations. Siemens notes that over the past seven months, the company has received orders for PV plants that have a combined capacity of over 80MW in six countries.
Green Earth Energy and Technology has signed a contract with Ascent Solar to distribute its CIGS thin-film modules in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany.
The exotic animals and plants at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden will soon be vying for visitor attention with a new attraction – America’s largest publicly accessible urban solar panel array.
