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.
Solyndra and Interservice Uzunovi solar division have signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement for a 1MWp installation on the rooftops of Biomet, the Bulgarian logistics company located in Sevlievo.
CBD Energy is on the verge of signing a contract finalising its joint venture with two of China’s biggest renewable energy companies, China Datang Renewable Power and Tianwei Baobian Electric.
Total has signed an agreement with EDF ENR to acquire all of Tenesol’s operations outside of France’s overseas departments and territories, of which it already owns 50%. Tenesol’s operations in the French overseas departments and territories would continue to be equally owned by the Total Group and EDF ENR.
Del Webb will now include solar power alongside other energy-efficient features at its two new home Sun City communities in the Phoenix metro area. Featuring a 1.8kW roof- integrated solar system provided by SunPower, approximately 11,200 new buildings will now generate their own renewable energy, reducing the operational costs of each home.
Solutia has been awarded a contract to supply its Therminol VP-1 synthetic heat transfer fluid for the US$2 billion Solana solar power plant project, which is being developed by Abengoa. Once complete the Arizona-based plant is expected to be the largest parabolic trough concentrating solar plant in the world, and the first large-scale solar plant in the US capable of storing energy for continued power generation during periods of low light.
Solectria Renewables has been selected by Tecta Solar to supply four Massachusetts rooftop installations with SGI series inverters. As part of the 5.3MW deal, Solectria will provide one SGI 300 (300kW) and 10 SGI 500 (500kW) inverters.
Energy Conversion Devices’ (ECD) subsidiary, United Solar, revealed its plans for a 75,347 square foot manufacturing facility in Ontario, Canada. Anticipated to be operational by August, the facility will create up to 80 jobs for the production of the company’s thin-film solar laminates, which will be sold specifically in the Ontario solar market. United Solar plans to modernize the building and organize capital equipment, with total first-year project capital expected of US$4 million.
Solar Junction’s concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cell has achieved a world-record efficiency of 43.5%. The company reported that the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) confirmed the commercial-ready production cell efficiency under their Measurement and Characterization Laboratory.
The Italian Government is considering introducing an installed capacity cap for solar subsidies as part of its new renewable energy legislation, reports Reuters. If confirmed, this latest twist in the subsidy saga is a major blow to the industry and comes just six weeks after reports circulated that the government had dismissed plans to introduce an industry-wide 8GW.
