Premier Power Renewable Energy announced that they have finalized a US$27.6 million agreement with the US subsidiary of Shanghai Solar Energy Science and Technology, Chaori Solar US, to build a number of utility-scale solar power plants in the United States.
Milwaukee-based high-efficiency monocrystalline PV module manufacturer, Helios Solar Works is the first founding member of the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), outside SolarWorld to declare itself a supporter of actions that will lead to duties being applied to solar cells and modules from China. Seven firms with manufacturing operations in the US were said to have formed CASM and petitioned US agencies to investigate module dumping allegations, though until now, only SolarWorld, which has led the campaign had declared involvement.
New Jersey-based Petra Solar has opened its doors to the procurement arm of the US federal government with the signing of a Schedule 70 contract with the General Services Administration (GSA). This action will allow US military customers to purchase Petra Solar’s products and services, building on the company’s existing presence in the military sector.
juwi has issued a press release to celebrate its success of 2011 and to increase public participation to make the transfer to renewables from fossil fuels more manageable. Thanks to this, the German company has been able to expand its management structure in a financially difficult climate.
Tioga Energy advised that it had completed the installation of a 249kW solar system at BJ Wholesale Club’s Deer park, New York location. This is the first of two projects Tioga is developing through an incentive from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Combined, the two projects will provide 850kW of renewable energy.
The 290MW Agua Caliente solar project in Arizona, being built by First Solar, will be utilizing over 400 SMA Sunny Central 720CP inverters. SMA American advised that its technology had been chosen for the plant, which is expected to reach operation in 2014. The company notes that its Sunny Central CP inverters were designed for use in large, open-field PV plants and are able to withstand ambient temperatures up to 50?C.
Concentrating solar power companies, Abengoa, BrightSource Energy, and Torresol Energy announced the formation of the Concentrating Solar Power Alliance (CSPA). Market research group SBI Energy predicts a rise in the CSP market for 2012 and with the PV industry in such turmoil, there is a hole just waiting to be filled.
Premier Power Renewable Energy advised that construction on its 16.2MWp Zdravetz utility-scale solar plant in Bulgaria has begun with completion expected during Q2 2012. The company originally entered into an agreement, along with its JV with Plaan Czech, in September 2011 to build the solar plants in Bulgaria. The project is being installed on land that was once a coal mine and will receive around US$0.30 for every kWh generated over the next 20 years from the energy administration.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has revealed that it has commissioned a total of 13MW of grid-connected solar power plants throughout India for the current financial year. All of the projects that make up this 13MW total have been commissioned on an EPC basis, and include a 3MW plant in Raichur, Karnataka; a 5MW plant in Rajasthan; two 2MW plants in Maharashtra and over 1MW in the Lakshadweep Islands.
Bloomberg is reporting the Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) has struck a deal with Baraclit, an Italian building-material company, which will integrate ECD’s solar products into its roofing materials. No details on compensation or the amount of materials to be supplied were revealed.
