PBEC begins permitting process for Arizona solar project; company on track to get first phase approved within months
Pacific Blue Energy Corp. (PBEC) has announced it is preparing to begin the permitting process for 100 acres in Gila Bend, Arizona, the U.S., the purchase of which should be completed in the near future. As a result of the town’s solar overlay policy and strong support from town officials and staff, the company says it is on track to have the first phase of its 150 megawatt (MW) solar farm approved in two to four months, as opposed to the typical time frame of two years.
Southern California Edison awards 36 contracts for utility-scale solar rooftop projects
U.S.-based Southern California Edison (SCE) has awarded 36 contracts to independent power producers for a total of nearly 60 megawatts (MW) from photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which are due to be installed on 31 unused rooftops and five ground-mount sites in SCE’s service territory.
Hitachi Cable invests 500 million yen in new Malaysian PV wire production facility
Hitachi Cable has invested around 500 million yen (roughly USD$5.7 million; 4.4 million) in a new production facility for photovoltaic (PV) wire at its Hitachi Cable (Johor) of Malaysia plant, in response to growing demand. Full-scale operations are expected to start next month.
Purdue University to lead new PV solar cell research center
Purdue University, based in the U.S. is to lead a new research center to improve photovoltaic (PV) solar cells as part of a national effort to bring alternative energy technologies to the marketplace. Boosted by USD$5 million in funding from the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), a university-research consortium for semiconductors and related technologies, the research initiative is set to team companies with university research centers to work on alternative energy technologies.
Sulfurcell signs 16 MW in supply agreements in China and India
Germany-based CIS thin film manufacturer Sulfurcell GmbH has signed supply agreements with new customers in India and China in excess of 16 megawatts (MW). CEO and company founder Dr. Nikolaus Meyer also states that the company is hoping “to help shape the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) segment with expertise and innovations” in the next few years.
NYSEIA praises New York for speeding up PV application process
The New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) has praised the U.S. state of New York for turning around the processing of applications in its photovoltaics (PV) grant program, thus allowing the industry to continue on its growth track.
Solarfun awarded two PV module contracts worth 12 MW in Italy
Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd. has entered into two contracts to supply 12 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics (PV) modules to projects in Italy.
Scatec Solar to install 7.2 MW of solar PV rooftop systems in Italy; barrel vault roofs present challenge
Norway-based Scatec Solar has signed a 20 million agreement with the Solar Life Energy investment group to build a total of 7.2 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV) systems on ten industrial warehouse roofs in Milan, Italy. A spokesperson for the company told pv magazine that construction is due to begin immediately, while production should begin this September.
Largest rooftop solar project in northwest US completed
Portland General Electric (PGE) has announced the completion of a 673,000 square foot, 2.4 megawatt (MW) solar rooftop installation in the U.S.
Germany predicted to see three GW in PV installations in the first half of the year
For the first half of this year, the German Federal Network Agency is expecting to see an increase in photovoltaics (PV) installations of more than three gigawatts (GW). During this time, around 135,000 data specifications have been submitted to the agency, of which more than 50,000 alone were made in June.
