(Update) The CEO of solarhybrid said it is enlisting the help of First Solar to help equip a 1.5GW project pipeline it is on the verge of buying from Solar Millennium. First Solar would not confirm the existence of the supposed deal, telling PV-Tech it had no comment at this time.
Having stopped all production at various plants to preserve cash and help draw down inventory, Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) posted a net loss from continuing operations of US$57.5 million, which includes a non-cash impairment charge of US$34.3 million for its financial Q1 results. Revenue was reported at US$22.0 million, which compares to US$65.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, and US$70.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. ECD previously cancelled its conference call and refrained from providing information on whether a call would be organised.
Abengoa has begun ramping up its 280MW CSP Mojave Solar Project after the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) approved its power purchase agreement (PPA) with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).
Thin film PV company Nanosolar said it has supplied close to 6MW of its CIGS utility panels for two installations in France and Oregon, as part of its partnership with EDF Energies Nouvelles and its US subsidiary, enXco.
The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced that Dr. Gregory Wilson had been appointed director of the National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) effective November 28. Wilson joins NCPV after serving 17 years at MEMC as a leader for its silicon research and PV development. He most recently acted as MEMC’s director for corporate business development and external technology development.
Reporting on its third-quarter financial results, Spire has revealed that it is responding to a 57% reduction in operating revenues by turning its efforts to bolstering its EPC integration activities. Revenue for the quarter reached US$8.9 million, less than half the US$20.6 million figure for the same quarter in 2010.
Two years in the making, Arizona’s largest commercial-scale solar power project has been completed. Located in Pinal County, the 20MW project sits on 144 acres and began operation earlier this year. Iberdrola Renewables will own and operate the facility with Salt River Project (SRP) purchasing the entire output of the plant under a 25 year agreement.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to begin an investigation on behalf of the US government on a claim filed by Westinghouse Solar that Zep Solar and Canadian Solar are importing solar products that infringe on Westinghouse’s patents. The company asserts that Zep Solar and Canadian Solar make and import certain products that infringe its US Patent Numbers 7,406,800 and 7,987,641.
Upon the reveal of its financial results for the third quarter 2011, Satcon Technology advised that while its US$45 million in revenue was in line with it previously announced guidance, its revenues quarter-over-quarter remained flat when compared to Q2 2011’s US$45.5 million. The company reported that gross margin for the quarter was 12%, up from 8% in Q2, with the incremental improvement attributed to Satcon’s cost reduction programs and the expansion of its 1.25MW Prism Platform solution.
As more companies step forward to voice opinions regarding the petition filed with the US government by SolarWorld, the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) found support from 25 organizations as it announced its official founding. Aimed as a response to the anti-trade action SolarWorld is petitioning, CASE argues that the progression of such a petition would inhibit the growth and sustainability of the US solar market.
