Solar Tech News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Solar Tax Credit Creates Opportunity for Indian Tribes

David Burton and Anne Levin-Nussbaum, Akin Gump — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Many American Indian tribes have been considering business opportunities in connection with solar projects. To date, most of the focus has been with respect to the siting of utility scale solar projects on tribal land in the desert. For instance, the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians have leased land on their Nevada reservation for a 250 MW solar project being developed by kRoad Solar.

EU Solar Import Duties Seen Hurting China-U.K. Companies

Marc Roca, Bloomberg — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

The European Union is poised to penalize imports of Chinese solar products, a move that would increase Europe’s cost for most photovoltaic panels an estimated 45 percent overnight.

Re-Igniting America's Solar Impulse

Tom Weis — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:37:00 GMT

First came the Wright Brothers. Then it was Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis. In 1990, Eric Raymond made aviation history to much less fanfare with the first solar airplane crossing of the United States. Now it is Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg making history by flying across America in SOLAR IMPULSE, a 100

US Said to Be in Talks With China, EU to Settle Solar Energy Trade Dispute

Brian Wingfield and Mark Drajem, Bloomberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:44:00 GMT

The Obama administration is engaged in preliminary talks with the European Union and China to settle a dispute over trade in solar-energy equipment and avoid a conflict among the world’s largest economies, according to people familiar with the discussions.

3 Engagement Strategies for Solar Installers to Be “Liked” on Facebook with Graph Search

Tor 'Solar Fred' Valenza — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Facebook’s new Graph Search is still in a testing phase right now, but it will launch sitewide in the coming months. And when it does, your solar company had better be “liked” by your customers. What is Graph Search? Very simply, it’s an internal Facebook search engine that will allow your potential customers to search Facebook for people, places,

Don't Miss The Great Solar Debate: Where Does the Global Solar Industry Stand? Click Here to Register!

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:35:00 GMT

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/RenewableEnergyWorld/events/the-great-solar-debate-where-does-the-global-solar-industry-stand

Asia Report: Tweaking India's Domestic Content Policy

Renewable Energy World Editors — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

India's solar energy policy contains domestic content requirements for solar cells and panels, but initially these excluded thin-film technologies — a big help to First Solar among others. But as expected, new proposals aim to close that loop.

Moniz Unanimously Confirmed As New DOE Chief

James Montgomery, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:55:25 GMT

Ernie Moniz has been unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next Secretary of Energy, in a 97-0 vote (with three nonvoters). He succeeds Stephen Chu who held the position for four years.

Solar PV Inverter Giant SMA Cutting Workforce Amid Sales Slide

James Montgomery, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:02:25 GMT

Global inverter leader SMA AG cast a downward glance in its fiscal 1Q13 results today, and is preparing for what could be major layoffs in the face of the global PV market's first decline in many years.

US Solar PV Manufacturer Suniva Plans Expansion

James Montgomery, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

It's been a tough several years for solar PV manufacturing. The common refrain has been that Chinese competition has undercut solar cells and modules made elsewhere to the point of market instability. That's why the U.S. laid out penalties on Chinese solar imports last year, and why Europe is positioning to do so now.

Energy Expert Predicts Solar Could Upend Major Utility in California on Price

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:09:00 GMT

Based on the falling costs of solar and rising electric prices, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), one of the largest utilities in the country that serves northern California, may not be able to compete with residential solar soon. That’s according to a recent piece at think tank, The Energy Collective by energy expert Douglas Short, President of Exas

Solar Fred's Guide to Positive Yelp Solar Installer Reviews

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:43:00 GMT

Whether you're in the solar business or any consumer-facing business, you can’t ignore Yelp today or in the foreseeable future. First of all, it won't ever go away, and it's only getting stronger. In fact, it’s even more important now in the age of “Siri,” Apple’s voice-activated concierge for the iPhone. If someone asks Siri, “Who are the best sol

Connecticut Seeks to Literally Water Down its RPS, Could it Happen in Your Region?

Jennifer Runyon, Managing Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:07:46 GMT

Since I live in New Hampshire and write about the global renewable energy industry, once in a while small local news that might appear to be of minor importance to my neighbors leaps out at me as something that could end up having a huge impact on the renewable energy industry.

UPDATE: EU-China Solar Trade War Entering Endgame?

James Montgomery, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:01:00 GMT

The European Commission has decided to recommend duties on Chinese solar panels up to 67.9 percent, according to reports from multiple sources.

Solar Photovoltaic Wafer Production Forecast to Grow 19% in 2013

Charles Annis, Vice President at NPD Solarbuzz — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

After falling 15 percent in 2012, solar photovoltaic wafer production is forecast to grow 19 percent in 2013, passing 30 GW and recovering to the 2011 level, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz Polysilicon and Wafer Supply Chain Quarterly. However, industry utilization is expected to remain below 60 percent, and while prices have stopped falling, no significant increases are expected, so profitability for wafer makers will remain challenging.

Solar Mosaic Fills the Gaps for Solar-Free Solar Industry People — Like Me

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

I know a lot of passionate people in the solar industry who don’t actually own a solar system, and I’m one of them. On the surface, that may appear hypocritical when you make a living telling people how affordable solar is. “If it’s so affordable, why don’t you own it?” they ask. When you explain that it’s (currently) not physically possible to own

When Will Solar Batteries Become Economical?

Sascha Rentzing, Contributor — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

It's always the same problem: You save energy but the electricity bills are still getting more expensive. Luckily, there is a solution: Solar power can be generated in Germany for 12 cents per kilowatt hour. In contrast, utilities currently charge an average of 25 cents for domestic electricity. What better reason to invest into your own photovoltaic system? Solar storage systems can increase on-site consumption by up to 70 percent. They absorb surplus solar power and pass on the energy as required — expensive grid power is hardly necessary. This makes the systems very attractive for consumers: According to an EuPD Research survey, almost 90 percent of solar operators are already thinking about buying an additional storage system.

The Need for Reliable Solar Power at Sea

Ray Thackeray, Executive Director, International Rescue Group — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

In light of recent at-sea power failures on major cruise liners, smaller vessels are tuning into the need to ensure their own systems are dependable and won't strand crews and passengers at sea. Reliable and efficient power is vital on any size or type of boat or ship, but it's too often overlooked in efforts to keep costs down. Installing power redundancy and marine-grade power systems safeguards boaters from discomfort, danger and marred reputations that can result from on-board power outages.

EU Debate Over Climate Change Policy Could Dampen Renewable Energy Growth

Ewa Krukowska and Alex Morales, Bloomberg — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:39:31 GMT

Europe's program to halt climate change is in disarray with lawmakers in the region expressing concern the drift is undermining the planet's most significant effort to combat global warming.

Solar PV Module Rankings in 2012, And What Comes Next

James Montgomery, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:28:39 GMT

The gap between PV supply and demand narrowed slightly in 2012, but overcapacity will continue to weigh on the industry for the next several years, even with optimistic outlooks, according to new industry analyst reports.