Monthly Archives: April 2013

Solar shakeout: Banks pull LDK subsidiary Sunways’ credit facilities

Sunways said in a statement that the “current economic situation of the photovoltaics industry and of the company” led to its banks terminating all credit facilities and would exercise rights to unspecified collateral provided by the company that had initially … Continue reading

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Could Kurzweil be right about solar, the Google of energy?

Ray Kurzweil presents his cost curves on solar at Berkeley University earlier this month. Paula Mints’ slide doesn’t look a million miles away from one of Kurzweil’s exponential graphs. Cleantech investors often talk about the quest for the ‘Google of … Continue reading

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Sharp adds 0.2% efficiency to record triple-junction InGaAs solar cell

The latest efficiency improvement was due to further indium, gallium, and arsenide material combination optimization that improved light absorption across the various wavelengths. Further tweaks of its triple-junction InGaAs InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) solar cell have led to Sharp reporting … Continue reading

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Amonix CPV system breaks peak efficiency record

Amonix CPV module has set a new peak efficiency world record. Image: Amonix. Concentrated PV (CPV) manufacturer Amonix claims to have converted a record 36% of sunlight into energy in a module trial at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory … Continue reading

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AP fixes Rs 6.49/unit for solar photovoltaic projects

Andhra Pradesh is considering the possibility of a uniform tariff of about Rs 6.49 a unit for solar photovoltaic power projects. Following a detailed review of the various aspects of the bidding process, a Cabinet sub-committee on power seems to … Continue reading

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Inviting comments on Draft Guidelines for setting up of 750 MW Grid Solar PV power projects with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), Phase-II, Batch-I

No. 29/5/2012-13/JNNSNM Government of India Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Solar Power Division Subject:  Invitation for Comments on  Draft Guidelines for setting up of 750 MW Grid Solar PV power projects with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under Jawaharlal Nehru … Continue reading

Posted in Cells & Modules, Crystalline, JNNSM, MNRE, Phase II, PV, Renewables, Solar, Solar Policy, Thin Film | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Spinning mills’ body files case against TN solar policy

The Tamilnadu Spinning Mills’ Association has filed a petition with the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity asking the Tribunal to declare Tamil Nadu Government-imposed ‘solar purchase obligation’ null and void. (Above) Houses constructed under the Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House … Continue reading

Posted in Crystalline, PV, Renewable Purchase Obligation, Renewables, Rooftop, Solar, Solar Policy, Tamil Nadu, Thin Film | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Delhi drops subsidy on Solar

In a move that may discourage residents to opt for solar energy, the Delhi government has discontinued the subsidy it used to offer on the installation of solar panels from April 1. The new move comes at a time when the … Continue reading

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Chinese car makers turn to hybrids, entering a niche ‘green’ market

Natgrp: Range anxiety is a common phenomenon due to which all electric cars have an inherent disadvantage as mentioned in my article on vehicles of the future in Energy Next Magazine. This article further makes that very same point. Throwing … Continue reading

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Solar Power Record In Germany — 22.68 GW — Infographic

On Monday, the 15th of April, 2013, the approximate 1.3 million solar power systems in Germany set a new domestic/world record by reaching a peak power output of 22.68 GW at noon. The New Normal This new record is almost … Continue reading

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