SunEdison’s 53.5MW multi-site solar PV project in New Mexico looks set for completion by the end of this year, and has been buoyed by the news that it has secured financing of over US$200 millions from financier Wells Fargo. MEMC subsidiary company SunEdison has now activated three of the five power plants that together make up the 53.5MW total, and the remaining two plants are scheduled for completion before year’s end.
Two top executives of controversial thin-film PV company Solyndra won't be offering any substantive testimony before a Congressional subcommittee hearing scheduled for Friday. The company has issued a statement that, because of the ongoing investigation and on the advice of their lawyers, president/CEO Brian Harrison and CFO Bill Stover will invoke their constitutional Fifth Amendment rights, which protects citizens from self-incrimination.
Cleantech finance company De Lage Landen has finalized an agreement that will see the company’s Clean Technology Group team up with Tioga Energy to provide long-term financing for an 856kW solar project in Honolulu, Hawaii. Built for Oceanic Time Warner at its Mililani Tech Park, the project is a combination rooftop and solar parking canopy and is said to be the largest of its kind in the state of Hawaii.
OPEL Solar has advised of its recent agreement with Energi Insurance Services, which will see the solar company buy Energi’s Manufacturer’s Product Warranty (MPW) Insurance for its TF-800 solar tracking systems. The additional insurance will supplement the company’s five-year limited, or optional 10-year extension, warranty, for material and equipment.
California-based EPC and project developer, Premier Power expects 2011 revenue of between US$100.0 million and US$120.0 million, up from US$87 million in 2010. Growth was attributed to growth in the EU and US. Premier Power noted that it had a project pipeline of over 100MWp in Bulgaria and a deal with Teichert to build large scale utility solar power plants in the US put at 300MW.
Manz has terminated the contract of its chief operating officer Volker Renz by mutual agreement. The decision stems from a difference of opinion between Renz and the management board over the future direction of the company and is effective from September 30.
Solar module encapsulant materials specialist, Solutia has guided lower revenue for the third quarter on the back of weaker than expected demand across its served markets including PV module manufacturing. Despite fallen module prices, PV installations have not rebounded to the degree envisioned and overcapacity remains an issue, reducing material demand.
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.
