SCHOTT Solar is the latest company to receive TÜV Rheinland’s IEC standard 61701 certificate to pass the salt spray corrosion test. The modules are sprayed with salt water for two hours at a time, then attacked by a 5% sodium chloride solution and finally stored at 40°C and 93% humidity for 20 hours.
According electricity grid operator Terna, 2.8% of 86.3% of Italy’s production of electricity for 2011 came from PV solar energy. The remaining 13.7% came from foreign imports. The net national production (289.2 billion kWh) dropped by 0.5% compared to 2010, geothermal production increased (+5.2%), as did wind power (+5.7%) and PV solar power grew by 394% compared to 2010.
Solarcentury is launching the new C21e solar electric plain roof tile, responding to demand for more products for roofs. The advantage of the C21e is that it can easily be integrated into traditional small format tile roofs. The company first launched the C21e roof tile in 2005, going on to win the Queen’s award. The tile is 47W and 54 tiles for a typical 2.5kWp system and this system is able to replace on average 200 tiles and thus, uses a lot less space on the roof.
Monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar modules manufacturer, Phono Solar, has passed TÜV Rheinland’s ammonia corrosion test. The IEC 62716 standard certification proves the modules’ quality and reliability on land near livestock.
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.
Impairment charges due to price declines and expected challenging market conditions in 2012 weighed on Q-Cells' preliminary fourth-quarter and full-year results. The company reported a fourth-quarter EBIT loss of approximately €355 million and a full-year 2011 loss of €846 million. Fourth-quarter revenue was €353 million, up significantly from €299 million in the third quarter. Revenue for the year reached €1,023 million.
PV inverter market leader, SMA Solar Technology, has provided 2012 guidance that has sent shockwaves through the investment community as revenue and margins are expected to take a significant nosedive. Management said in a statement that 2012 sales would be between €1.2 billion and €1.5 billion, while EBIT margin would be between 5-10%. SMA Solar reported preliminary 2011, full-year financial results in January of €1.7 billion in sales and EBIT of more than €240 million. The mid-point of the guidance, which the company had previously declined to provide due to uncertainty in the market, will represent over a 20% decline in revenues and a 60% fall in EBIT.
GE Energy Financial Services announced that over the past year, the company has more than doubled its global solar power investment commitments to US$1.4 billion, leading to nearly US$ 5 billion in projects. The company notes that its 1GW portfolio spans 48 solar power plants in six countries, including Australia, Canada, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the US.
Vancouver, Canada-based P2 Solar has revealed that it has signed a binding agreement for the construction and ownership of a 4.95MW solar farm in the Vratsa Province of north-west Bulgaria. The company has assigned a 20-year gross revenue of €31 million to the project with a net cash flow of €13.6 million.
Previously announced in February, the French government has confirmed PV power plants will be eligible to receive a 10% bonus on top of the feed-in tariff if at least 60% of the installation’s modules are made in Europe. The law will come into effect shortly before the first round of presidential elections in April.
