Feed-In Tariffs
Germany Delays FiT Cuts for Some Ground-Mount Solar
28 March 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
The German government agreed to delay FiT cuts for some ground-based solar-power plants by six months until 30 September, 2012.
Thanks to New FiT, Chinese PV Inverter Market Up 400% in 2011
27 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
The Chinese PV inverter market, driven by the introduction of a national Feed-in Tariff (FiT), grew by more than 400% in 2011 to reach more than 2.5 gigawatts (GW) in shipments according to a new report from IMS Research, recently acquired by IHS Inc.
Germany’s Wirsol Solar Forms Off-Grid Division
27 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
The expected cuts on German feed-in tariffs are affecting the investment climate of the world’s largest solar market. Despite this situation, German project developer Wirsol Solar is hiring additional international business development specialists and says it, and the German market, is strong and growing.
UK Government Loses Appeal Over Plan for Solar Cuts
23 March 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
The UK government, claiming that feed-in tariffs are at an unsustainably high level, had planned to cut subsidies in half for solar installed after 12 December on homes. The appeal, launched in January, was against a High Court ruling that blocked government plans to halve the payments made to households with solar panels.
Ontario Cuts Solar FiT by 20%
23 March 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Ontario will reduce the rate it pays for new solar projects by 20%, the government announced 22 March, following its first review of its Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) program. The Canadian province will also reduce its price for wind projects by 15% and reserve 10% of the remaining clean-energy capacity for projects with significant participation from local or Aboriginal communities.
World Solar PV Market Grew 40% in 2011
19 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
Worldwide solar photovoltaic (PV) market installations reached a record high of 27.4 gigawatts (GW) in 2011, up 40% year to year, according to the annual PV market report, "2012 Marketbuzz," that was issued today by NPD Solarbuzz.
Ecobuild 2012: Map Environmental to Exhibit Four New Products
15 March 2012POSTED IN New Products
At Ecobuild 2012 on 20-22 March 2012 at ExCeL (stand S3030) in London, UK, Map Environmental will provide solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that have attained full BBA approval.
Ecobuild 2012: The Italian Pavilion
12 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
The Italian Chamber of Commerce for the UK will present the Italian Pavilion at Ecobuild 2012 on 20-22 March 2012 at ExCeL (stand S561) in London, UK. The Italian Pavilion will include more than 120 Italian companies and will occupy ~1,700 square metres, m2 (~18,300 square feet, ft2) of net exhibiting space.
Changing Feed-in-Tariffs: What it means for the solar industry
12 March 2012POSTED IN Business Features
Feed-in-tariffs (FiTs), initially implemented to stimulate the use of renewable energy, are now used to measure governments’ long-term commitment to green energy. Indecision and changing policies have led to an often confused situation and are having a detrimental impact on the PV industry.
Ecobuild 2012: Suntech Ramps Up Solar Module Efficiency
08 March 2012POSTED IN New Products
At Ecobuild 2012 on 20-22 March 2012 at ExCeL (north hall, booth N4110) in London, UK, Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (China) is presenting the first of a series of solar modules with improved efficiency.
Canada’s Solart Group Launches Reassurance Program
07 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
With the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) set to announce new rates that will be paid to solar investors with the microFiT and FiT programs, the Solart Group today launched a new Reassurance Program, providing stability for its customers in light of changing government support.
Trina Solar Opens New Offices in Western China
06 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
Trina Solar Limited today announced the establishment of two new sales and project development offices in Chengdu and Urumqi, China.
German FiT Debate: Breaking news from Berlin
05 March 2012POSTED IN Editors Blogs
Some 11,000 people came to the Brandenburg Gate today in Berlin, according to the organizers, to protest against the governmental plans to radically cut FiT subsidies for photovoltaic energy in Germany. The demonstration was organized by the German PV industry association, together with the Confederation of German Trade Unions, the industrial union of metal workers, the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union and the German Environment Aid.
Element Power Solar Finalizes UK Solar Parks Sale
05 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
Element Power Solar today announced that it has completed the sale of two UK solar parks with a combined capacity of 6MW to funds managed by alternative asset manager Foresight Group.
Kyocera and SoftBank to Build Solar Power Plant in Kyoto, Japan
05 March 2012POSTED IN Applications News
The Kyocera Group and the SoftBank Group subsidiary in charge of renewable energy business, SB Energy Corp., today announced that the two companies have been selected by Kyoto City, Japan to build and operate a 4.2-megawatt (MW) solar power plant.
Zytech Solar Awarded Green Light Certification
02 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
Spanish PV module manufacturer Zytech Solar today said it has been awarded Pass’Innovation Green Light certification for the Mitjavila 35x50C serie 95 Integration system by the French certification body CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment).
German Solar Market Attractive for Residential Investments Despite FiT Cuts
01 March 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Despite the German government’s plan to reduce incentives for new solar installations, some market segments in the country will remain attractive for photovoltaics (PV) in 2012, with the return on investment (ROI) remaining sufficient to attract financial support for residential systems—and even some large-scale systems—according to the IHS iSuppli Photovoltaics Service at information and analytics provider IHS.
Solar Infrastructure Investment 2012 to Explore Solar as an Asset Class
29 February 2012POSTED IN Business News
Solar Infrastructure Investment 2012, which takes place on 17-18 April 2012 at the Courtyard Rome Central Park in Rome, Italy, will provide for the first time an exclusive forum to explore solar as a new and attractive asset class.
German FiT Debate : The dawn of the lobbyists
28 February 2012POSTED IN Editors Blogs
Following the announcement by two ministers of the German cabinet last week to massively cut the Feed-in-Tariffs (FiTs) as of 9 March, lobbying in Germany’s capital Berlin has intensified to reach at least an attenuation of the steep measures. BSW-Solar – the major association of the German PV industry – today admitted that the proposal last week came as a surprise, since the already long scheduled FiT cuts of 15% in January this year had no chance yet to come into effect.
Australian Government Sets Higher than Expected Targets for Renewable Energy Schemes
27 February 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
The Australian government announced the binding Small Scale Technology Percentage and the Renewable Power Percentage for 2012.
