First Solar has completed its first 10-MW ground-mounted photovoltaic power plant for Sempra Generation near Boulder City, NV, a project said to be the largest thin-film solar power plant in North America. Under the terms of a 20-year power purchase agreement with the El Dorado Energy subsidiary of Sempra, Pacific Gas and Electric will buy the solar-generated electricity produced by the plant, with first power deliveries expected by Jan. 1.
Yingli Green Energy has signed separate solar module sales agreements with two leading German PV system integrators, City Solar and Wirsol. The City Solar deal calls for the supply of 20 MW of modules in 2009, while the Wirsol contract commits the Chinese company to provide 15 MW of panels.
German manufacturer aleo solar has already signed 25 MW worth of solar PV module contracts with a number of European customers for 2009. The company says it has deals with specialist dealers, installers, and solar technology specialists in core markets throughout the continent.
BP Solar says it has completed the final three photovoltaic systems specified under the terms of its solar power construction program agreement with Wal-Mart. The company recently finished building a 493.7-KW system at the Sam's Club in La Habra, a 605.9-KW array at the Wal-Mart Super Center in Palm Springs, and a 675.2-KW system at the Beaumont Super Center.
According to Greentech Media’s report, it seems that First Solar has managed to achieve grid parity with its 12.6MW system in the Nevada desert, installed for Sempra Generation. Mark Bachman, a senior research analyst with Pacific Crest and a specialist in cleantech energy, has aggregated the numbers in the Greentech Media report.
Nanjing-based China Sunergy Co., Ltd. has brought four high-efficiency SE solar cell manufacturing lines into commercial production at a ceremony held to celebrate the commencement of China Sunergy’s 3rd stage production. The door of the 3rd stage production lines was opened to visitors on the day, with attendees including China Sunergy executives Tingxiu Lu, Chairman, Dr. Allen Wang, CEO, and Dr. Jianhua Zhao, CTO.
Solar Fabrik has named semiconductor industy veteran Günter Weinberger to replace Christoph Paradeis as the company's CEO, effective Dec. 31. Weinberger comes to the solar module and systems manufacturer from Sandbridge Technologies, where he was president/CEO.
Suntech Power Holdings has secured more than 130MW in orders from Italy in 2009 and has now established a sales office in Milan to support its growing customer base. The booked orders indicate that the Italian market is finally picking up pace after only 12.5MW was installed in 2006 and 50.2MW installed in 2007, according to a recent EU-funded report.
Masdar City, Abu Dhabi is aiming to be the world’s first zero carbon, zero waste, car-free city powered entirely by renewable energy sources. This ambitious goal is being driven by the Masdar Initiative, a strategic endeavour by Abu Dhabi to spread the dogma of sustainability and clean energy throughout the city’s dwellers, industries and utilities.
SolFocus has announced that it has signed an agreement that will see the concentrated phovotoltaic technology company work with engineering company Samaras Group on the construction of a 1.6MW installation. SolFocus’s Madrid-based European operation base is expected to expand to incorporate a subsidiary in Greece following the announcement.
