Solar Power Installers, Home Solar System, Energy Installers: June 2015

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Solar Power – Advantages and Disadvantages- LocalSolarPanelInstallers

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Starting Your Own Home Solar Panel Business – LocalSolarPanelInstallers

The need is growing for low-cost solar panels, so there is no better time to start your very own house solar panel business enterprise. The positive aspects of this variety of business enterprise is that the start up expenses are minimum and the need is large. So what are the ways you should really consider to established up your new solar panel business enterprise.

Master how to construct solar panels

Making solar panels is very effortless. There are quite a few on the internet solar panel do-it-yourself manuals for you to decide on from. Finding the correct one for you will include guaranteeing that your guide features tax rebate varieties for you to hand to your shoppers and a membership wherever achievable so that you can stay current with new technological innovation from those in the know.

Sourcing materials and building provides gradually

Initially you will want to maintain your expenses down, but won’t want to buy as well significantly inventory until the orders start flowing in. Sourcing the materials is a huge portion of the business enterprise and is the one location wherever you really can cut expenses and make a lot more revenue. Glance at alternatives to new solar cells if achievable and look at recycled lumber for the frames. Utilizing recycled and reclaimed wooden can also turn into portion of your advertising and marketing system.

Marketing your product or service

Start off local and move outwards. Phrase of mouth is the suitable approach of advertising and marketing, so start with family and pals and then move onto colleagues and acquaintances. If your price is correct, then you should really conveniently be equipped to make need. Ask to put marketing on fences wherever you have solar panels mounted and advertise in the local classifieds.

You should really be equipped to conveniently manufacture six panels a weekend and offering them on at a financial gain of about $200 every will outcome in a very beneficial weekend business enterprise that you can consider comprehensive time when the need requires it.

Source by Jared Owen

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Solar Panels & Renewable Energy vs Home Owners Associations in Arizona – LocalSolarPanelInstallers

Considering the fact that Al Gore’s documentary movie “An Inconvenient Fact” hit the world’s consciousness, neighborhood governments and citizen teams have turn into much more vocal in demanding substitute renewable energy sources. One extremely viable source surely in parts of the United States is solar power. One state having a stand for it is really citizens to have the opportunity to do their part is Arizona. In June of 2007, Arizona Lawyer Basic Terry Goddard, ruled in favor of new demands that would power the general public utilities and their consumers to get at least fifteen per cent of their power from renewable energy sources by the calendar year 2025.

The approval indicates that the Arizona Company Fee can demand from customers that these new steps be satisfied by utility firms it regulates. This includes the pursuing pubic utilities Tucson Electric powered Power and Arizona Community Service Firm (APS). Salt River Task (SRP) is controlled by the Arizona state legislature. Utility firms will get started investing much more in renewable energy sources. Consumers will be billed much more to take part in the new guidelines imposed. More costs to the client will be 35 cents for each thirty day period on their utility invoice. One energy specialist stated that including this surcharge to the utility invoice is the best way to ramp up Arizona’s renewable energy plan.

Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano joined the Governors of California, Oregon, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington in an alignment to build current market primarily based programs to make utilities and their consumers control their carbon emissions by fifteen per cent from 2005 levels. In September, 6 Environmentally friendly expenses took influence right after state legislators approve them and Governor Napolitano signed them into regulation.

Photo voltaic energy for household household just received a improve with the passing of Arizona Point out Bill SB 1254 handed the Home and the Senate in Arizona at the conclusion of September 2007. The new regulation will make it unlawful for a household entrepreneurs association to halt a household proprietor from placing solar panels on their assets. The invoice, was sponsored by Paradise Valley Republican Barbara Leff. She stated that HOA’s can place reasonable limitations on how the solar panels can be organized on the rooftops as extended as it would not raise the cost of the installation or lessen the panels’ efficiency. The new regulation is quite apparent that an association shall not prohibit the installation or use of a solar energy product. An association may possibly however adopt reasonable principles relating to the placement of solar panels if those people principles do not stop the installation, impair the working or efficiency of a product or restrict its use or adversely affect the cost or efficiency of the product.

My viewpoint is that there is a dazzling potential in Arizona real estate with solar. Possessing solar panels on roof tops of homes will only increase the worth of homes in excess of those people that do not have panels the general public has spoken and desires cleaner and less expensive power. On top of that, householders who are looking for methods to conserve revenue can comprehend month-to-month price savings with solar panels driving their warmth, h2o and electric powered appliances. Alternative energy and real estate do go hand in hand.

Source by Dale Stouffer

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Friday, June 5, 2015

JinkoSolar supplied PV modules totaling 33.67 MW to Rijn Capital in Chile

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (Shnaghai, China) on June 5^th, 2015 announced that it has supplied 33.67 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Rijn Capital for a project in Chile.

Rijn Capital is a Chilean renewable energy company that develops, acquires, builds, and operates a portfolio of power generation and transmission facilities. Rijn Capital owns a pipeline under development of nearly 500 MW´s of solar PV projects in Chile and was established by Rijn Capital BV (Netherlands).

Completed and connected to the grid in April 2015, the San Pedro III PV plant phase I project is located in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile.

110,400 PV modules to produce approximately 100 GWh of solar power annually

The project secured long term financing from CorpBanca, a local commercial bank, with EPC services rendered by EFACEC, the largest electric power group in Portugal. The project uses 110,400 JinkoSolar PV modules that will produce approximately 100 GWh of solar power per year.

“As a longtime supplier of electrical equipment and substations, we are proud to cooperate with JinkoSolar and to have provided EPC services for our first solar PV project in Chile,” commented Vitorino Rocha, EFACEC’s General Manager of Renewables Business Division.

“We believe that this project will not only serve as an example of the application of renewable energy to the rest of the region but also demonstrate EFACEC’s commitment to providing quality and customized solutions to each project it works on.”

2015-06-05 | Courtesy: JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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FPL and FIU partner to build a solar research facility including a 2.6 MW PV array

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL, Miami) and Florida International University (FIU) on June 4^th, 2015 announced a new partnership to build a commercial-scale distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) facility that will both generate solar power for FPL's 4.8 million customers and serve as an innovative research operation.

The 342,000-square-foot, 1.6 MW PV project involves the installation of more than 5,700 solar panels on 23 canopy-like structures that will be built this summer in the parking lot of the university's Engineering Center, just north of FIU's Modesto A. Maidique Campus.

Students to study the effects of distributed PV on the electric grid

Using data from the solar array, faculty and students from FIU's College of Engineering and Computing will study the effects of distributed solar PV generation on the electric grid in real-life South Florida conditions.

"This innovative solar project builds on FIU's relationship with FPL, one that provides our students with unparalleled and unique training opportunities," said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg.

"Through this project, our engineering students will make a direct contribution to the growth of solar energy in our state, while gaining invaluable experience working side by side with professionals from one of the most forward-thinking utilities in the nation."

"As the economics of solar continue to improve, we look forward to harnessing more and more energy from the sun”, said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL.

“Our partnership with FIU is designed to help us manage solar power's interaction with the greater electric grid as part of our commitment to reliably deliver affordable clean energy for all of our customers."

2015-06-05 | Courtesy: Florida Power & Light Company | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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Vivint Solar announces USD 150 million fund for commercial and industrial PV offerings

Vivint Solar (San Francisco, CA, US), a provider of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States, on June 3^rd, 2015 announced that the company has entered into its first solar commercial and industrial investment fund to which the investor has committed to invest USD 150 million, which will allow the company to finance commercial and industrial solar PV projects.

Expansion beyond residential solar PV

This announcement marks the first time that Vivint Solar has expanded its offerings beyond residential solar, the company emphasizes.

"This new business unit is a major step for Vivint Solar," said Jan Newman, Vice President of Business Development at Vivint Solar.

"Providing more than residential solar enables us to reach additional customers and markets, and we're excited about the potential this expansion into the commercial and industrial space brings with it."

Vivint Solar has also contracted with engineering, procurement and construction companies (EPCs) to assist in its expansion into the commercial and industrial space. The company intends to announce those relationships in the near future.

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Yole Développement: EV/HEV players, renewable energy will drive the stationary battery energy storage business

The growing EV/HEV market and the growing market share of intermittent renewable energies (wind and solar PV) are currently reshaping for the stationary battery market, finds the market research and strategy consulting company, Yole Développement (Lyon, France).

The recent announcement of Tesla’s battery storage solution “Powerwall” confirms the trend towards a massive deployment of distributed stationary energy storage systems, Yole emphasizes.

“Automated, compact and simple to install, Tesla’s new solution, Powerwall offers independence from the utility grid and the security of an emergency backup”, explains Dr. Milan Rosina, Senior Analyst, Energy Conversion & Emerging Materials, at Yole.

“The growing of electric vehicle/hybrid electric vehicle (EV/HEV) market is currently reshaping for the stationary battery market”.

Development and deployment of existing and new energy storage technologies will lead to new business opportunities

Yole in June, 2015 released its new technology & market analysis entitled “Energy Management for Smart Grid, Cities and Building: Opportunities for Battery Electricity Storage Solutions”.

In this new report, Yole’s team confirms the impact of the EV/HEV market on the development and the deployment of the stationary battery electricity storage systems.

Rechargeable batteries are particularly suitable for distributed energy storage. Although using a battery as an energy storage solution is decades old, new battery technologies are still maturing and their future cost decrease is expected to significantly speed up the development and deployment of existing and new technologies and applications, thus leading to new business opportunities.

This strong driving force will result in a battery technology consolidation associated with decreasing market share for more mature battery technologies (lead acid, NiMH…), Yole finds. All energy storage technologies currently under development or already being commercially deployed have to face strong competition from Li-ion batteries that have the advantage of high energy density, high power density, high modularity, and decreasing costs.

More information is available here.

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Thursday, June 4, 2015

Aquila Capital acquires 7.2 MW PV plant in the UK

The independent alternative asset manager Aquila Capital (Hamburg, Germany) 0n June 3^rd, 2015 announced that it has purchased a solar photovoltaic (PV) park in the UK for an undisclosed sum.

The PV plant is located in Banwell near Bristol and has an installed capacity of 7.2 MWp. It was constructed by its seller and developer New Energy for the World GmbH (Regensburg, Germany).

CIS PV modules supplied by Solar Frontier

The manufacturer of the park’s CIS modules, whose high efficiency levels make them particularly well suited to the UK climate, is Solar Frontier. The PV plant has been connected to the grid since its completion in March 2015. It is classified as 1.4 under the Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) project.

The UK supports the generation of solar power with a number of incentive schemes, including ROCs, which is a quota system based on market prices. Purchasers of renewable energy also benefit from tax relief. As a result, the UK saw the largest investment in photovoltaic energy in Europe in 2014.

“The UK has become one of the strongest-growing markets for photovoltaic energy in recent years. Its incentive schemes for renewable energy further strengthen the investment case for photovoltaic parks in the country,” comments Boris Beltermann, Head of Solar & Wind Investments at Aquila Capital.

“Having already made significant photovoltaic investments in Germany, France and Japan amounting to an overall photovoltaic track record of 462MWp, this transaction further adds to Aquila Group’s significant track record in offering renewable energy investment solutions.“

Jochen Kleimaier, Founder and Owner of New Energy for the World GmbH, added: “New Energy is one of the few German companies that have been able to gain a foothold in the UK. We are very pleased that with the sale of the Banwell project to Aquila Capital we were able to win a partner of choice.”

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PV in Brazil: 382 projects accredited for auction on August 14th

Brazil’s Energy Research Company (EPE), which is conducting the nation’s Reserve Energy Auctions, on June 1^st, 2015 announced that the volume of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects accredited for the next tender adds up to an installed capacity of 12,528 megawatts (MW).

The 382 PV projects will now enter the qualification phase, in order to participate in the PV only tender scheduled for August 14^th, 2015.

Brazil’s government sets a ceiling price for the energy tenders, and developers bid down the price at which they are willing to sell solar power from the projects. The lowest bids win long-term power purchase agreements. In the October 2014 auction PV developers agreed on an average solar power sales price of approx. USD 71.77 (MWh), amongst the cheapest in the world.

Brazil has set a goal of reaching 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar PV capacity by 2023, producing about 1.8 percent of the country’s electricity, up from less than 35 MW in 2014.

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Yingli Solar joint venture connects a 50 MW PV plant in Shanxi province to the Chinese grid

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (Baoding, China), known as "Yingli Solar," on June 3^rd, 2015 announced that its joint venture with Shuozhou Coal Power Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Datong Coal Mine Group Co., Ltd., has connected a 50 megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) plant that it developed to the utility grid in Shanxi province, China.

Yingli holds a 30% equity stake in the joint venture, which was created to develop and construct utility-scale solar PV projects in Shuozhou City, one of Shanxi province's largest cities.

Approximately 170,000 multi-crystalline PV panels installed

Based on internal system performance estimates, the project is expected to yield annual revenues of RMB 64 million (Approx. USD 10.3 million) from national feed-in-tariffs (FiTs) annually for the next 20 years. The system contains approximately 170,000 multi-crystalline Yingli solar panels.

"We are pleased that our JV with Datong Coal Mine Group has connected this major project I Shanxi province, a region that has directly experienced the serious, negative ecological consequences of coal mining and combustion,” commented Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli.

“Our new solar power plant is a boon to the local environment as well as to the local economy”.

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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin introduces new error analysis method for PV plants including on-site electroluminescence measurements

The Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin (PI Berlin, Germany) has developed a new, automated process that allows solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to be examined without being dismantled, thereby reducing analysis time.

Accoring to PI Berlin up to 1,000 modules can be tested each night using electroluminescence measurements (EL). Specially developed software then analyses the test images and provides information on measures required to resolve faults and modules that need replacing.

Experts at PI Berlin have already put this method into practice for Deutsche Bank, for example, which uses it as a basis for its power plant assessments, the research intitute notes.

High-resolution electroluminescence images of several PV modules taken at once

“If a PV power plant generates lower yields than expected, we start looking for potential errors. The quicker the error is found, the higher the profits will be for investors and operators. Our test set-up allows us to take high-resolution electroluminescence images of several modules at once, thus saving time,” explains Dr Juliane Berghold, Head of Module Technology and Research at PI Berlin.

“These images are then analyzed and automatically evaluated by our software, which is based on our years of experience with error analysis of PV modules in power plants. This expertise also helps us to evaluate these results very quickly and recommend specific courses of action for solving problems in the plant.”

Each examined module is classified in a test report, allowing defective modules to be localised and replaced in the event of damage. Test reports help investors and operators to back up their claims to EPC contractors, module manufacturers and insurers.

Error analysis for PV investors

PI Berlin used this new test method to examine a power plant in Italy that had been generating significantly lower yields than expected immediately after start-up. Engineers at the institute tested over 12,000 installed polycrystalline modules in less than three weeks – over 80 percent were shown to be defective. Many were found to have badly fractured cells in the centre, which were considerably reducing yield. PI Berlin’s report prompted the investor to have several thousand solar modules replaced.

“Our analyses show that PV modules are frequently damaged during transportation. This is indicated, for example, by prominent cell fractures that occur fairly consistently in the middle of the majority of modules in a plant. In such cases, the damage we see in the power plant can be attributed to a combination of the transportation method and relatively sensitive modules,” reports Dr. Berghold.

After performing error analyses, PI Berlin is often commissioned again to examine the quality of the replacement modules and thus ensure that the power plant is working at full capacity.

PI Berlin will present the new test method and other analysis processes at Intersolar Europe in Munich, Germany from 10th–12th June 2015; Hall A1, Booth 451

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ACME commissions 100 MW PV plants in Rajasthan, India

The Indian solar power producer ACME (New Delhi) on June 2^nd, 2015 announced the commissioning solar power plants in Rajasthan totaling 100 MW, thus fulfilling its commitment towards the National Solar Mission Phase II.

Five PV plants, each with a capacity of 20 MW, form the cumulative projects of 100 MW that have been installed in the districts Tehsil Bap, District Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

“The commissioning of the this prestigious Solar Power project bring pride to the nation as we look up to ambitious targets that need to be achieved amongst all the challenges in front of us,” comments Manoj Kumar Upadhyay, Founder & Chairman, ACME.

“This has further reiterated ACME position as the leader in the solar power scenario with over 165 MWp operational capacities across Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.”

PPA with Solar Energy Corporation of India

Solar power generated from the project at Tehsil Bap, Jodhpur will be evacuated through a 132 KV line linked to project site and supply electricity to the state of Rajasthan under the PPA signed with Solar Energy Corporation of India.

ACME Solar commissioned the solar power project in record time of 150 days starting from foundation stone laying to electricity generation, the company notes.

The company showcased its prowess in solar PV technology through its 25 MW plant at Khilchipur, Madhya Pradesh that achieved a record output of 25 GWh in six months of installation, a record in maximum power output by any solar power plant of that scale.

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Silicon Ranch selects McCarthy Building Companies to construct the 12MWAC Aerojet Rocketdyne PV Project

Nashville-based renewable energy provider Silicon Ranch Corporation and the Phoenix-based renewable energy team of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. on June 2^nd, 2015 announced the selection of McCarthy to engineer and construct Silicon Ranch’s Highland Industrial Park 12-Megawatt (MW)_AC photovoltaic (PV) project that will provide solar power to Aerojet Rocketdyne and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) in East Camden, Arkansas.

The solar field’s construction is expected to support between 250 and 350 direct and indirect jobs, with a direct financial impact estimated to exceed USD 25 million. McCarthy will provide on-site training in utility-scale solar construction for workers in pile driving, tracker assembly and panel installation.

Solar power will directly supplement Aerojet Rocketdyne’s daytime operations

Silicon Ranch, owner and operator of the solar PV project, selected McCarthy, one of the largest American-owned construction firms, for its extensive track record with utility-scale power projects.

Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Camden facility is a 1,200-acre manufacturing and test facility that serves the U.S. Department of Defense. Electricity from the solar generation facility will directly supplement Aerojet Rocketdyne’s daytime operations.

Under a unique set of power purchase agreements, excess electricity generated by the installation will be released to Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) and integrated into the cooperative’s diverse generation portfolio.

“This project is on the leading edge of a trend by U.S. industrial companies to commit to clean, renewable energy,” said Matt Kisber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Ranch Corporation.

“Aerojet Rocketdyne understands that solar is a responsible choice from both environmental and economic considerations. Silicon Ranch is proud to help them achieve that objective, and as a long-term owner we are excited about the benefits this project will bring to the region.”

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Community Energy delivers its second 100 plus MW solar PV project

Community Energy (Radnor, Pa., US) on June 2^nd, 2015 announced that it had delivered its second 100-plus megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) project for construction, with the acquisition by Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power of its 103 MW (AC) Butler solar facility in Georgia.

The Butler project will supply solar power to Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power under a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Georgia Power will have the option to keep or sell the RECs, for the benefit of its customers or renewable energy programs.

Community Energy also originated and developed the 120 megawatt Comanche Solar Project in Colorado, which will supply solar power to Xcel Energy under a 25-year purchase agreement approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

Community Energy has a pipeline of large solar projects in the East, Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions, a significant number of which are on track for completion before the end of 2016, the company notes.

Large solar project are comprised of more than 400,000 PV modules utilizing single-axis tracking technology

“By developing projects on optimum solar sites with advanced tracking technology, we’ve been able to make solar energy a cost-effective choice for utilities and large energy users in multiple regions outside California,” said Brent Alderfer, President of Community Energy, Inc.

“By building solar at scale we reduce costs, increase efficiencies and deliver significant environmental benefit.”

Each large solar project is ultimately comprised of more than 400,000 PV modules utilizing single-axis tracking technology to follow the sun as it rises in the east and sets in the west. That combination produces power during peak demand periods matching daily summer air conditioning loads.

In general each 100 MW project will generate enough power for more than 25,000 homes in its first year. Over the course of the project’s 25 year life, it will produce more than 5 billion kilowatt hours of clean solar energy.

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Intersolar North America spotlights solar financing leaders, profiles new financing models

As the North American solar industry looks to continue its strong growth, Intersolar North America, the most-attended solar industry exhibition and conference dedicated to the North American market, will feature intensive and in-depth panel discussions on the new financing models driving the market.

Nine conference sessions will discuss financing challenges, opportunities

This year's conference program features a special nine-session financing package, eight of them developed with the SunSpec Alliance, a trade alliance of more than 70 solar and storage distributed energy industry participants, as well as an additional panel focused on discussing the latest developments in U.S. solar policy that will impact financing.

Now in its sixth year, the expanded SunSpec Solar Finance and Asset Management Symposium brings together expert speakers from banking, market researchers, national laboratories, leading developers, originators, financiers and standards bodies to discuss the current market and new trends in solar finance.

"Fast disruptive growth, changing regulatory and business models, grid technology and the shift of focus from Capex to Opex are shaping today's Distributed Energy industry," said TJ Keating, SunSpec's Director of Development.

"SunSpec has expanded its partnership with Intersolar to host this unique cross-cutting forum addressing PV technology, asset and finance topics to gain fresh insights needed to tackle next year's opportunities beyond policy and securitization to increase liquidity, manage the 20GW installed base and bring even more solar online."

New financing models key to maintaining industry growth

With the United States predicted to be a top-three solar market in 2015, according to GTM Research, industry attention has turned toward innovative solar financing models as a way to continue industry growth.

Access to third-party financing has played a major role in the development of solar projects of all sizes, and the availability of power purchase agreements (PPAs) and leases has proven especially popular within the residential sector and for larger commercial solar projects.

Mega-PPAs, Yieldcos are gaining market traction

There are a number of new financing developments that are starting to attract more attention from the solar industry. For utility-scale solar, financing vehicles such as mega-PPAs and Yieldcos are gaining market traction. Mega-PPAs, such as First Solar's deal for 130 megawatts (MW) of its 280 MW California Flats PV project, demonstrate the advantages of PPAs as loan alternatives.

Yieldcos, which generated buzz at Intersolar North America last year, give parent companies the opportunity to bundle renewable and/or conventional long-term contracted operating assets to generate predictable cash flows.

Solar loans to start to gain real traction in 2015

In the residential market, third-party ownership of residential systems will continue to finance the majority of residential systems. However, GTM Research expects solar loans to start to gain real traction in 2015 due to large fundraising rounds.

While solar-specific and low-interest loans offer a 19 to 29 percent lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) according to NREL, there are still a number of barriers to overcome before the industry will see a surge in their use.

In addition to more proven financing models, Intersolar North America will also preview financing innovations. Crowdfunding, which allows many people to participate in funding an installation, has seen some traction since Mosaic first introduced this financing option. Also, community solar initiatives will allow millions of citizens - including renters and residents of multifamily housing - to go solar for the first time. These programs are designed to limit the barriers to solar adoption and appeal to customers unable to install their own solar system.

Intersolar North America reveals financing speaking lineup

All of these financing models will be discussed in depth during nine finance and policy conference sessions. Confirmed speakers include Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Vivint Solar, Moody's, Sungevity, Conergy, Alectris, SolarCity, Mercatus, the U.S. Dept. of Energy, SunEdison, NREL and CALSEIA, among others.

Additionally, Intersolar North America and the California Solar Energy Industries Association will offer a conference session about the progress the solar industry is making to extend the solar investment tax credit (ITC).

All Intersolar North America conference sessions are at the InterContinental Hotel, 777 Howard Street. Tickets and the conference program are available online. All nine finance sessions can be booked in one tailored package.

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Q CELLS receives TOP BRAND PV seal from EuPD Research

Hanwha Q CELLS has again been awarded the "Top PV Brand" seal, which was developed by the Bonn-based market research institute EuPD Research. The seal attests to the PV module manufacturer great brand awareness on the German, Italian and French market.

The Q CELLS solar modules by Hanwha Q Cells have been positively perceived among European installers in 2015 and are also widely used. This is the result of a survey among installers in various European countries, carried out by EuPD Research, and it is also the reason why the module manufacturer was awarded the "Top Brand PV" seal in Germany, France and Italy in the category 'Modules'.

"We are very pleased to be named best brands in Europe and to be presented with the award for the second consecutive time,” says Thomas Franken, Vice President Marketing Q Cells.

“This award is very important to us as it is awarded on the basis of objectively evaluated feedback from all installers in Europe. And at the same time, especially as a newly established company, it is an incentive for Hanwha Q CELLS to strengthen the brand satisfaction of our Q CELLS brand and to increase its distribution in the core target group 'installers'.

The "Top PV Brand" seal is based on an independent survey which is conducted annually by EuPD Research. Ten different evaluation criteria give a very precise picture of the situation. Among other things, the brand itself, its awareness as well as its market penetration is assessed. The "Top PV Brand" seal is exclusively awarded to the leading manufacturer in the industry.

For further information on the Top Brand PV seal, please go to:
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ReneSola announces Q1, 2015 results with revenues and gross margin lower than guidance

ReneSola Ltd. (Jiashan, China) on June 2^nd, 2015 announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31st, 2015.

Total Q1, 2015 solar PV module shipments were 496.4 megawatts, representing an increase of 1.6% from Q4, 2014. Total solar wafer and module shipments in Q1, 2015 were 691.5 MW, compared to 744.3 MW in Q4, 2014, and 710.1MW in Q1, 2014.

The quarter-over-quarter increase in module shipments was mainly due to strong demand in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, ReneSola notes.

Net revenues were USD 349.0 million, representing a decrease of 9.8% from USD 387.0 million in Q4, 2014, and a decrease of 15.9% from USD 415.0 million in Q1, 2014.

Gross profit was USD 36.7 million with a gross margin of 10.5%, compared to gross profit of USD 51.2 million with a gross margin of 13.2% in Q4, 2014, and gross profit of USD 44.0 million with a gross margin of 10.6% in Q1, 2014.

Operating loss was USD 9.5 million with an operating margin of negative 2.7%, compared to an operating loss of USD 2.2 million with an operating margin of negative 0.6% in Q4 2014, and an operating loss of USD 8.7 million with an operating margin of negative 2.1% in Q1 2014.

Quarterly revenue and gross margin were lower than guidance mainly due to continued headwind from foreign exchange fluctuations, a decrease in PV module ASPs, and a delay in revenue recognition of a UK project, the company notes.

Business transition into the downstream project and services segment of the market

"Amidst a first quarter backdrop with a number of macroeconomic challenges and lingering foreign exchange volatility, we continued with our strategy to transition our business into the downstream project and services segment of the market," comments Xianshou Li, ReneSola's chief executive officer.

ReneSola scales back its global OEM capacity

"We are leveraging the flexibility in our business model to quickly respond to changing market dynamics and to capture market opportunities. At the beginning of 2015, we began to scale back our global OEM capacity and focus more on our downstream project opportunities. We have completed over 70 MW of projects in the UK and expect to monetize in the near-term while expanding into a larger portfolio of downstream projects in the second half of 2015. As we continue with this strategic transition into the downstream services and project area, we believe we will be better positioned to achieve long-term profitability."

Reduced inventory, long-term liabilities

Daniel K. Lee, ReneSola's chief financial officer, said, "We continue to focus on actively managing our balance sheet. In Q1 we substantially reduced our inventory by USD 88.8 million as well as our long-term liabilities, reducing our convertible notes by USD 31.7 million. Going forward, we expect to further improve our balance sheet as well as cash flow as we monetize on our existing project portfolio and successfully execute on our long-term downstream strategy."

Project Business Update, Outlook

ReneSola currently has a total of approximately 96.1 MW in existing projects, including four utility-scale projects totaling 71 MW in the United Kingdom and four utility-scale projects totaling 25.1 MW in Eastern Europe.

For Q2, 2015, the Company expects its net revenues to be in the range of USD 250 million to USD 300 million, and gross margin to be in the range of 16% to 18%.

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EnergyTrend: Taiwanese and Malaysian PV companies will barely be affected by the EU’s anti-circumvention probe

On May 29th, 2015 the European Commission (EC), the executive body of the European Union (EU) released a list of the Taiwanese and Malaysian solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers that are being investigated for helping Chinese PV manufacturers to circumvent PV cell and module tariffs.

This list contains approximately 80 companies in the two countries, EnergyTrend, a division of TrendForce (Taipei, Taiwan), reports.

The EC’s anti-circumvention probe is based on the reported violations made by the Chinese PV companies since China and the EU reached a deal on the trade of PV products, according to Corrine Lin, analyst for EnergyTrend.

Under this deal, Chinese PV imports to Europe are limited via minimum import price (MIP) and import volume agreements made with the respective Chinese manufacturers. Although the arrangement ended an earlier anti-dumping and countervailing review of PV imports by the EC, the Chinese manufacturers have been able to exploit the various loopholes in the MIP agreements and continue to disrupt the European solar market with low prices.

According to EnergyTrend one major loophole involves the Chinese PV manufacturers exporting near-finished products to third countries, where their partner companies complete assembling the products before passing them to Europe.

Consequently, the Chinese PV exports to Europe are able to avoid the MIP agreements, Energy Trend notes. With European PV companies still fighting for their survival, the EC is quickly bringing forth additional measures to reinforce the defense against Chinese competitors. The current anti-circumvention investigation, which mainly targets Taiwanese and Malaysian companies, intends to effectively stop unscrupulous third country PV manufacturers from sneaking Chinese PV products into Europe.

Taiwanese PV companies will still be in an advantageous position in Europe, finds Energy Trend

“Under the MIP arrangement and taking Euro’s depreciation into account, PV modules are sold at 0.56 euro per watt and PV cells at 0.28 euro per watt,” said Lin.

“Even though the minimum prices for cells and modules are set quite high, Taiwanese products are being undercut in Europe. Hence, the MIP arrangement has many loopholes that are yet to be closed.”

EnergyTrend’s statistics shows 20%~30% of Taiwan’s PV exports, both modules and cells, go to Europe and the majority of European exports are directly sold to clients.

EnergyTrend further finds that Taiwanese PV companies will still be in an advantageous position in Europe with regard to high-efficiency products since the region has been one of the major markets for this product type in the past. Moreover, the expensive electricity prices in the EU member states fuel the region’s demand for rooftop PV systems.

EnergyTrend expects the EC will punish some Taiwanese and Malaysian PV companies with additional duties after the anti-circumvention probe but it will probably not impose tariffs on the entire industries of both nations.

This assessment is based on the fact that there are very few European PV companies with manufacturing in their home countries, nor are there any strong evidences that many PV companies actually act as collaborators in China’s tariff evasion scheme. Thus, EnergyTrend asserts that this latest investigation will have no noticeable effect on the prices and the supply-demand situation of the PV market.

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Meyer Burger announces next important PV production equipment order: Total volume is around CHF 16.5 Million

Meyer Burger Technology AG (Thun, Switzerland) has been selected by chines PV producer Lerri Solar Technology to supply MB PERC upgrade cell solution and innovative PV measurement technology. The order volume is around CHF 16.5 Million.

Lerri Solar Technology Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of mono crystalline solar cells and PV modules, is expanding along the PV value chain into high performance cell technology.

Meyer Burger on June 2^nd, 2015 announced the signing of the strategically important technology contract with Lerri Solar Technology. Meyer Burger will support Lerri in its goal to achieve significantly increased production within the next five years, and supply the industrially proven MAiA 2.1 equipment platform with the mass production scalable MB PERC technology as well as the latest wafer and module measurement technologies and additional upgrade technologies

Lerri plans to reduce the cost for mono crystalline wafers and modules to the multi crystalline level and make a major contribution to further reducing the cost of solar energy.

“The strategies of both Meyer Burger and Lerri are very complementary to one another which will contribute to a visible change in the market and further increase the share of mono crystalline in photovoltaics,” comments Meyer Burger CEO Peter Pauli.

“Meyer Burger’s focus on mono crystalline high performance and upgrade technologies ideally positions the company as our long term partner with whom we can fully realize our growth and development plans”, commented Mr. Zhong, Head of Lerri Solar Technology Co. Ltd.

Meyer Burger

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Tuesday, June 2, 2015

JinkoSolar to supply PV modules totaling 80 MW for distributed rooftop projects in Guangdong and Hainan provinces

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) on June 2^nd, 2015 announced that it has signed an agreement to supply 80 MW of photovoltaic (PV) modules for distributed rooftop projects to China Southern Power Grid Synthesis Energy Co. Ltd. (CSE).

Shipment of PV modules has already started

According to the terms of the agreement, JinkoSolar will supply the PV modules for a number of distributed rooftop solar projects located in Guangdong and Hainan provinces. JinkoSolar has already delivered the first shipment of PV modules, the company notes.

CSG has become one of the leading distributed solar project developers in South China

CSE is the subsidiary of China Southern Power Grid (CSG) which focuses on the development of renewable energy and energy saving. CSG is one of the two largest state-owned electric utility companies in China that invests, constructs and operates power networks in Southern region of China.

CSG is heavily involved in the development of clean power generation especially solar power and has become one of the leading distributed solar project developers in South China.

"We are delighted to work with CSE, a company that recognizes JinkoSolar for its product quality and market reputation," commented Mr. Xiande Li, Chairman of JinkoSolar.

"We are optimistic about the development of distributed solar projects in China with the strong support from National Energy Administration. With the domestic market in transition from ground-mounted to distributed solar projects, we are glad to work with CSE to jointly promote the development of distributed generation and to optimize energy mix in China. "

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