Australia’s Sunshine Coast Regional Council has granted planning permission to Energy Parks Australia (EPA) for its new solar plant in Valdora, Queensland. With a capacity of 10MW, the development dwarfs Australia’s current largest system – Liddell’s 3MW concentrating solar power (CSP) facility – and will cost AU$40 million (US$43 million) to build.
Yet more uncertainty overshadowed Australia’s solar industry at the end of last week as the South Australian Government discussed the future of the state’s feed-in tariff. Having originally planned to increase the incentive rate from 44c to 54c, plus a mandatory additional contribution from electricity retailers, the Government is now tipped to keep the tariff at 44c until the end of September for solar households entering the scheme.
Tianwei New Energy (Yangzhou) has successfully passed the TÜV Rheinland independent certification process, shortly after obtaining the TÜV Southern Germany independent authentication certificate. The company’s monocrystalline modules range from 85W to 310W, while the polycrystalline modules range from 170W to 305W.
First quarter revenue and shipments at Hanwha SolarOne increased sequentially, adding to a growing theme that low-cost PV manufacturers can still find customers, despite weak demand. Total net revenues were US$335.2 million, an increase of 3.9% from 4Q10 and an increase of 48.7% from 1Q10. PV module shipments, including module processing services, reached 248.5 MW, an increase of 13.6% from 218.8 MW in 4Q10 and an increase of 65.0% from 1Q10. However, ASP declines and slightly higher material costs resulted in gross margins falling to 16.3% down from 20.3% in 4Q10.
Petra Solar is expanding past North America by bring its SunWave Solar Energy Solution to international markets including the Pacific Rim, Europe and Middle East. Its SunWave technology will feature a new Smart Energy Module (SEM), specifically designed for international consumers to convert photovoltaic DC electricity into 230V AC power. Petra Solar’s system has been certified to international grid standards holding, CE, IEC62109, G83, AS/NZS3100 and AS4777 safety and electrical compliance certifications.
Mixed results were seen by Conergy for the first quarter as international sales took the sting out of very weak demand in Germany. Conergy reported sales of €163.3 million in the first quarter 2011, up 8.6% compared to the same quarter in the previous year. However, sales were down significantly from the fourth-quarter 2010, when sales reached €248.5 million.
Trina Solar subsidiary Changzhou Trina Solar Energy has extended its national distribution agreement with RF Industries (RFI). Initially signed in January 2010, the ~40MW deal, which recognizes RFI as Trina’s exclusive distributor in Australia, will now run until December 31, 2012.
CBD Energy is on the verge of signing a contract finalising its joint venture with two of China’s biggest renewable energy companies, China Datang Renewable Power and Tianwei Baobian Electric.
Areva Solar has won the right to install the Southern Hemisphere’s largest solar power system in Queensland Australia. The 44MW solar thermal augmentation project will be installed at CS Energy's 750MW Kogan Creek coal power station and generate around 44,000 MWh of electricity per annum.
Solar Frontier has signed a distribution contract with Italy’s DW Europe to help expand its CIS solar module marketing and sales base in southern Europe. The agreement will enable Solar Frontier to establish a comprehensive distribution network and presence within the burgeoning European solar sector.
