Meyer Burger achieves strong operating results in 2011
Swiss company Meyer Burger Technology has reported strong operating results for 2011. Record sales of 1.32 billion Swiss Franc (CHF) (US$1.44 billion) have been announced.
Chiles largest PV power plant underway
While small by international standards, German renewable energy developer juwi and Chilean engineering firm Kaltemp have completed construction on what they claim is the largest photovoltaic power plant in Chile. The plant has a capacity of 1.2 megawatts (MW) and is located near the city of Vicuña, in the countrys sunny north.
Germany: Government will probably compromise
After a meeting with representatives from the federal and provincial governments, it has come to light that the changes proposed for photovoltaics in Germany will be made more moderate.
Jabil plans layoffs at Polish PV module plants
U.S. electronics manufacturer Jabil has announced plans to make redundant up to 600 workers from its two photovoltaic module plants in Kwidzyn, Poland.
PV fires up, gas plants cool down
In an apparent confirmation that photovoltaics have the potential to supply electricity demand peaks and therefore reduce the cost of peak power, a German utility has shut down a 55 megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant.
Mixed reactions at Asia Solar 2012
Photovoltaic module manufacturers and inverter companies were the dominant force at this year’s Asia Solar.
China: Booming project pipelines and capacity ramp ups
The Asia Solar 2012 and Solarcon events may not have been booming in terms of visitor numbers, but the message was clear: China will be a pivotal player in the photovoltaic industry.
UK: Government refused Supreme Court solar appeal
In what has become an ongoing legal drama, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has been refused a right of appeal against a previous High Court finding that its cuts to the feed in tariffs (FIT) for photovoltaics were unlawful. The result being that installations with a reference date between December 12, 2011 and March will be eligible for the higher tariff rates.
Germany: An awaited ban of photovoltaic systems?
According to media reports, the Managing Director of the arrhenius Institute for Energy and Climate Policy, Helmuth Groscurth, forsees a ban on new photovoltaic systems in Germany.
The green jail Santa Rita unveils its smart grid
California based Santa Rita jail, which houses 4,000 inmates, unveils its US$11.7 million smart grid project. This is the first smart grid of its kind in the U.S.
