The Masdar initiative in Abu Dhabi has enlisted the help, expertise and investment of the bidding consortium of energy company Total and Abengoa Solar to collaborate on the construction of the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant. The 100MW plant will be located in Madinat Zayed, southwest of Abu Dhabi, and will be known as Shams 1.
As the first day of the Intersolar tradeshow drew to a close, the prizes were awarded in the fields of 'Photovoltaics' and 'Solar Thermal Technology' and for the first time in the category 'PV Production Technology'. The Intersolar AWARD international technology prize was presented to nine innovative companies as part of the official ceremony at the Innovation Exchange.
Day4Energy’s 1.8MW turnkey ground-mounted PV power plant has entered its construction phase. The Niedereschach-Fischbach, Germany plant is being specifically built for an unnamed private investor group, which happens to be a continuous customer for Day4. Construction completion is expected by the end of this month.
Trina Solar (US) has signed an agreement with Southern California Edison (SoCal Edison) that will see the China-based integrated PV manufacturer supply 45MW of modules for use in SCE's Solar PV Program. The modules, which were purchased for an undisclosed sum, began shipment in May 2010; further deliveries will be made between the second quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011.
Suntech has passed a milestone of sorts with the shipping of its 10 millionth solar module, a Ud-series model that is used primarily for commercial and utility-scale electricity generation. It was manufactured in March 2010 at Suntech’s Wuxi, China facility. The purchaser of the module will be awarded a gift of Suntech solar panels for donation to a charitable cause.
Ontario, Canada, will be home to Silfab’s newest PV module production site. Ramp-up of the 120MW capacity site, capable of producing around 500,000 PV modules, will be conducted in two stages, with the first 60MW to be completed by the second quarter of 2011 and the second 60MW the following year. The plant’s location has yet to be determined, but will be controlled by Silfab International.
Astronergy’s a-Si/μc-Si tandem-junction high-efficiency thin-film PV modules have been awarded both TÜV and UL certification for the IEC 61646 and IEC 61730 standards. The dual certification means that the company’s modules are guaranteed for these standards in both Germany and the U.S.
Confirming that things are indeed on the up for the company, First Solar has released word that it is planning to double production capacity at its Frankfurt (Oder) manufacturing plant. Strong demand from the company’s European customer base has necessitated the expansion from 223MW to around 446MW by the fourth quarter of 2011. The company is in advanced talks with the German regional and federal authorities in regard to the proposal. First Solar’s current (2010) anticipated annual production capacity is in more than 1.3GW in Germany, the U.S. and Malaysia. With three additional factories in different phases of construction in France and Malaysia...
SunPower has agreed to construct what will be its fifth solar power plant for the Naturener Group in Spain. The 9.1MW (AC) plant will be constructed in Alange, Badajoz, and is one of the largest to be commissioned in Spain so far this year. SunPower will install its T0 Tracker systems and Serengeti solar panels at the 38-hectare site, while also providing operations and maintenance services for the plant.
The German Institute for Standardization (DIN) has passed Suntech’s core product range as certified ammonia resistant by awarding the DIN 50916 standard. This standard assures that the panels can maintain a high performance level under exposure to ammonia, most relevant to installations in and around farms that can use ammonia-based products as fertilizer for land, or livestock that emit ammonia.
