Bilateral PV research and development deal signed
U.S. and German photovoltaic and concentrated solar power (CSP) researchers are set to formally collaborate after a historic accord was signed today in Berlin, Germany. The signatories were from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Helmholtz Gemeinschaft.
US: DOE supports 733 MW of rooftop installation
NRG Energy, Prologis and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have formed a consortium called Project Amp to install solar panels on 750 warehouse roofs.
Finance flows for US solar installations
Banks, corporations and insitutional investors are making funds available for U.S. solar power projects as the market expands. Some investments are facilitating certain solar companies to make the shift from photovoltaic installer to turnkey provider.
Solar plane arrives at Paris Air Show
A solar plane, Solar Impulse HB-SIA, has landed and is drawing major crowds at the Paris Air Show underway this week in the French capital. While certainly not the first solar aircraft, the Solar Impulse is the first airplane to be able to fly without fuel and capable of flying day and night.
Totals SunPower 60 percent acquisition costs $1.4 billion
The move by French oil giant Total, to deepen its involvement in the photovoltaic industry by purchasing 60 percent of SunPowers stock, has closed costing them $1.4 billion. SunPowers stock responds with slight increase in share price.
North Americas largest rooftop solar power plant announced
A nine megawatt (MW) photovoltaic system will be constructed on the rooftop of a giant refrigerated warehouse in New Jersey, by a partnership between the family owned Holt Logistics and SunPower Corporation. The project will cost $42 million and is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Bosch to build 640 MW production facility in Malaysia
A photovoltaic manufacturing site in Penang, Malaysia, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013, at a cost of 520 million. The facility will primarily serve the Asian solar market.
pvXchange figures show significant price milestone
Online photovoltaic product exchange platform shows manufacturers across all tiers dropping prices and the 1-per-watt-peak milestone being reached for modules from Asian manufacturers. Although it must be noted that this price was only reached for larger installations and therefore higher order volumes.
Solar Dawn consortium selected for 250 MW Australian hybrid plant
The consortium formed by AREVA Solar and CS Energy and Wind Prospect CWP will construct the biggest solar thermal gas hybrid of its kind, with part funding from the Australian Government and the Queensland State Government.
Siemens diversifies solar portfolio with HCPV acquisition
Siemens has acquired around a 16 percent share in high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) module manufacturer Semprius, for an undisclosed amount. The move will help Semprius scale up its activities to production levels by 2012.
