Stuart Stott will be bringing his experience developing large-scale power projects and his ability to create industry partnerships to his new role as Spire’s VP of solar systems; a role which will see him manage the expanding solar systems unit for the company. Stott comes to Spire from Public Service Enterprise Group where he served as the global and renewable category manager.
Emmvee, DelSolar and Jurawatt are the latest companies to announce their solar modules will be stamped “Made in Europe” and eligible for a 10% premium over normal Italian feed-in tariff rates.
SpectraWatt willo auction off its 140,000 square-foot crystalline silicon cell manufacturing and research facility in Hudson Valley at the end of the month. In August the cell manufacturer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the bulk and piecemeal auction, to be carried out by Heritage Global Partners, Counsel RB Capital and Silicon Valley Disposition, marks the first stage of financial restructuring.
The European association implementing a voluntary, industrywide program to recycle expired solar modules, PV Cycle, elected as president Sanyo adviser Wilfried Taetow at a special meeting last week in Hamburg during EU PVSEC.
Constellation Energy has initiated its solar panel leasing program for residential customers in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Customers in Maryland will have the solar offer conducted through Constellation’s subsidiary, BGE Home.
The German government could impose harsher-than-expected cuts to solar energy subsidies next year due to a rise in solar panel installations, according to a Reuters report. In June and July, around 1.25GW of PV capacity was installed in Germany, a figure higher than the figure achieved in the preceding five months of the year combined, and while Germany's network regulator declined to comment on these reported figures, government sources have indicated this will prompt a 15% cut to incentives in January.
Less than a week after shutting down manufacturing operations, Solyndra followed through on its announced intention to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The beleaguered CIGS thin-film PV firm said it hopes to reorganize and find a buyer and would like to avoid liquidating its assets.
MEMC Electronic Materials and its solar subsidiary, SunEdison, revealed that they had completed the acquisition of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, Inc. (FRV US), the US subsidiary of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures. MEMC paid a the disclosed consideration of US$112 million plus repayment of nearly US$19 million in intercompany loans and capital contributions. An additional consideration of up to US$103.6 million may be paid if FRV US reaches specified performance targets.
Clean Power Finance (CPF) is in the midst of what is shaping up to be quite a promising month. The company recently closed a US$25 million investment led by new investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), received a US$3 million US Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot award and appointed three new board members and a new CEO.
Canadian silicon metal producer Timminco has promoted its executive management team following the recent resignations of President and Chief Operating Officer, John Fenger, as well as Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Rob Dietrich.
