US: Over $4 million grant awarded for 62 MW project
Over USD$4 million has been awarded to the Rockford Solar Project in Illinois, the U.S. Under the plans, the project is set to be around 62 megawatts (MW), thus making it the largest PV development in the Midwest, and one of the biggest in the U.S.
Bosch opens new German crystalline solar cell production plant
Bosch Solar Energy AG has officially opened its new 12,000 square meter crystalline solar cell production plant, the first phase in the extension of its solar production facilities in Arnstadt, Germany.
Australia: Professor Green awarded this years CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science
Professor Martin Green, executive research director of Australias ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence at the University of NSW, has been presented with this years AUD$10,000 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science.
Yingli raises its gross margin target after seeing positive start to the year
Based on a strong start to the year, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited has raised its gross margin target from an estimated range of 27 to 29 percent for this fiscal year to 28 to 30 percent. The company stated that the increase in gross margin was primarily due to the better than expected average selling price and continuous decline in the blended cost of polysilicon, decreasing polysilicon usage per watt and continuous reduction in non-polysilicon costs.
S.A.G. Solarstrom AG plans overseas expansion;reports strong foreign sales
S.A.G. Solarstrom AG has told pv magazine in a telephone conference that it is planning to expand its international operations, following strong foreign sales for the first half of the year.
Conergy announces split from its MD
The Supervisory Board of Germany-based Conergy AG has announced that managing director and management board member Dr. Andreas von Zitzewitzs employment with the company has ended “with immediate effect.”
U.S. Portland company expanding its solar division; up to 120 jobs to be created
Fort Recovery Construction & Equipment LLC has announced it is planning a USD$1.9 million expansion at its SolarAg division in Portland, the U.S. Under the plans, the companys 60,000 square-foot facility for research, development and production of solar thermal collector panels will be renovated. It added that it expects to create up to 120 jobs by 2013.
US: Illinois sees new laws passed to encourage use of solar
A new law has been passed in Illinois, the U.S. whereby Commonwealth Edison and Ameren must begin purchasing solar energy – as part of the renewable energy portfolio requirement by 2012 instead of 2015. Specifically, the power industry will now be required to purchase .5 percent of its power from solar sources by June 1, 2012; 1.5 percent by June 1, 2013; 3 percent by June 1, 2014; and 6 percent by June 1, 2015, and each year thereafter.
Solaire Generation breaks ground on 4.1 MW solar parking lot project
Solaire Generation has been selected to supply solar parking canopies for what it says is one of the largest solar power installations at a single commercial site in the U.S.
Suntech to expand this years module capacity to 1.8 GW and increase shipments by 0.2 GW
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd has said that due to booming demand, it will expand its crystalline silicon solar cell production capacity from 1.4 gigawatts (GW) to 1.8 GW by the end of the year. The company has also increased this years shipment target from 1.3 GW to 1.5 GW, which is more than double total shipments for 2009. The news comes as it announces its second quarter (Q2) results. ?
