The U.S. is reportedly taking part in preliminary discussions with China and the European Union regarding the escalating trade dispute over Chinese solar panels. Bloomberg reports that sources familiar with the talks say the Obama administration is engaging both camps in an attempt to head off an all-out trade war. [read more]
The solar photovoltaic market is poised to rise from the ashes of its 2011 crisis to grow to $155 billion in 2018, as market forces engineer a turnaround to a healthy 10.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to a new report from Lux Research. In the most likely scenario, [read more]
Canadian Solar Inc., an Ontario-based provider of solar power systems and components, announced a Chinese court has ruled in its favor over a $40.1 million dispute with LDK Solar Co. Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer of wafers for PV systems. According to Canadian Solar, the Jiangsu Suzhou Intermediate Court dismissed a [read more]
Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and Consolidated Edison Development (ConEdison Development) have announced an agreement to partner on two of Sempra's solar power facilities: the 150 MW Copper Mountain Solar 2 plant near Las Vegas and the 150 MW Mesquite Solar 1 power plant near Phoenix. Under the sales agreement, [read more]
The California Independent System Operator Corp. (California ISO) says its board of governors has approved a proposed market design change to help foster renewable development on the grid. Once approved by federal regulators, the ISO says the new design will give generators the option to schedule power in 15-minute intervals [read more]
Fronius USA, a division of Austria-based power conversion systems maker Fronius International, has launched a certification program for installers of its PV systems. The Fronius Service Program consists of training sessions covering its IG, IG Plus and CL grid-connected PV inverters and its data communications system. The program certifies installers [read more]
Shanghai-based JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. has announced it is donating PV modules for use in solar power systems for low-income homeowners in the U.S. The donated modules, with a total capacity of 150 kW, are being provided to GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit installer of solar electric systems headquartered in Oakland, [read more]
German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler has called the European Commission's reported plans to impose import duties on Chinese solar panels a "grave mistake." Citing German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Reuters reports that Roesler said import duties "are the wrong instrument," as China has cautioned that such tariffs would damage bilateral [read more]
Ninety-five percent of U.S. energy executives expect continued research and development (R&D) investment in alternative energy projects this year, according to a new survey conducted by the KPMG Global Energy Institute. Fifty-five percent anticipate investments will remain unchanged; however, the report notes that the percentage of respondents predicting a 10% [read more]
Washington, D.C.'s Department of General Services has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to renewable energy companies interested in developing a new wind and/or solar power project from which the department would purchase approximately 150,000 MWh of energy, including the associated renewable energy credits, on an annual basis. In addition, [read more]
REC Solar has completed a 500 kW community solar project in Boulder, Colo. The company designed and built the array, while Clean Energy Collective will operate and maintain the system. REC solar notes that the Boulder Cowdery Meadows Solar Array is the first community project completed under utility Xcel Energy's [read more]
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and NRG Energy Inc. have announced a new global alliance to expand the use of renewable energy systems at Starwood properties. The alliance will begin with three properties, including the installation of a 1.3 MW solar array at the Westin St. John in the [read more]
Schletter has announced the certification of its FS Uno solar mounting system to UL Subject 2703. Released in mid-2012, the FS Uno is an all-steel system that utilizes a single-post design. Intertek, the issuing organization of the ETL Mark Classification, engaged in system testing in order to qualify the bonding [read more]
Cupertino Electric Inc. has completed the first of four phases of a 5.86 MW solar project for the Clovis Unified School District in California. Designed and constructed by Cupertino Electric and managed by energy advisory firm TerraVerde Renewable Partners, the project will span 21 sites and is expected to be [read more]
DPW Solar and Baja Construction have announced their new SR Series solar-ready shade structures intended for site-specific applications. According to the companies, the structures feature a simplified design and integrated PV module mounting system intended to improve assembly rates and reduce labor. The solar support structures feature tilt angles up [read more]
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce's (MOC) probes into whether the European Union, the U.S. and South Korea illegally dumped solar-grade polysilicon into China are nearly complete, according to a report in the China Daily. However, the MOC is reportedly withholding its preliminary findings until June in light of the European [read more]
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has released a report detailing how solar technologies are helping the U.S. military meet many of its critical functions - from security and battlefield readiness to cost savings and efficiency. According to the report, as of early 2013, there are more than 130 MW [read more]
By a unanimous vote Thursday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Ernest Moniz as the new secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Moniz, who replaces Steven Chu, previously served as Under Secretary of Energy under President Bill Clinton. He has also directed the Energy Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of [read more]
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) reports that electric generation from renewable resources in Texas increased 7% in 2012, compared to 2011, with capacity up by about 16%. Generators participating in the state's renewable energy credit trading program reported 33.9 million MWh of renewable generation in 2012, compared to [read more]
Empower Energies, which recently changed its name from ViSole Energy Inc., has announced the completion of four new photovoltaic solar projects at the General Motors Warren Technical Center campus, located in Warren, Mich. The installations include a ground-mounted solar array and three solar electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. "General Motors [read more]
Local company FireFlower Alternative Energy and partner First Highland Management and Development have announced the completion of what the companies say is the largest rooftop solar array in Boston. Located in the Boston/Dedham Commerce Park at 65 Sprague St., the solar array covers 120,000 square feet of rooftop and has [read more]
Santa Ana, Calif.-based Solar SpeedRack LLC has announced that its racking systems for use in residential and commercial projects have been certified for use in 12 states and that ETL certification of the self-grounding spring will resume shortly. The company's product line includes the patent-pending Solar SpeedLatch, which fits all [read more]
