Venture capital to the tune of US$350 million in 33 deals was handed out to solar-based firms in the third quarter of 2011, according to the latest roundup by Cleantech Group. Also of note was a reported US$812 million raised four China-based solar cell/module manufacturers via IPOs.
Following on from the recent Solyndra debacle, the head of the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Program, Jonathan Silver, has resigned his post. Although the two incidents might well be unrelated, media reports are hinting at the two being linked, following the DOE’s bestowal of a loan of US$535 million to the now-bankrupt Solyndra.
No surprises after announcing it was entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US, Evergreen Solar has been officially delisted from Nasdaq. Evergreen Solar stock was suspended from the exchange on August 24, 2011 and has not traded on NASDAQ since that time.
SolarEdge Technologies has gained certification for its module-embedded power optimizers, rendering them ready for commercial deployment. The optimizers, now recognized and listed for use in North America, are embedded as a junction box in smart modules and are capable of arc detection and termination.
KDC Solar has joined forces with SunDurance Energy and the County of Middlesex, New Jersey to build a 6.7MW solar array. The ground-mounted system will generate 8.45 million kWh of solar electricity a year, catering for all of the energy requirements of the Middlesex Apple Orchard Complex in North Brunswick where it is being built.
Renewvia Energy advised that it had commissioned its 1.26MW solar system at the Northport Industrial Centre in New Jersey. Working with Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) and two of Renewvia’s partners, , the solar project has brought PSE&G’s Solar Loan program over the US$100 million mark for solar financing in New Jersey.
Bringing more than 60 years combined experience in the solar, semiconductor and power electronics industries, ArrayPower, a Silicon Valley-based power electronics company, announced the appointment of three members to its core leadership team.
The US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has officially certified an aperture efficiency of 17.1% for a solar cell fabricated using Nanosolar's non-vacuum, flexible foil technology. The tests were carried out on September 1 under standard test conditions of 1000W/m2 at 25°C.
Despite global oversupply and plummeting demand for PV modules and components, the UK solar market is still experiencing large install figures and has had an explosive year with 900% growth. Over 300MW has already been installed and forecasts suggest that 550MW could be deployed by the end of the current FiT period.
Martifer Solar has signed a contract to install a 22MW PV project in Portugal. The system, which will be the largest in Portugal when completed next year, is being commissioned by an unnamed client of BNP Paribas Clean Energy Partners.
