News in brief - 3 September 2008
- Solar module supplier Q-Cells says production rose 65% to 263.5 MWp in the first half of 2008 as revenues also increased 65% to €579.5 million compared to the same period in 2007. Adjusted EBIT reached €119.1 million, up 47% whereas adjusted net income amounted to €82.1 million, up 6%. Looking forwards, Q-Cell expects to increase production capacity in Malaysia and at its Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany, location, and aims to generate a production volume of more than 1 GWp throughout the group in 2009.
- Crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturer Suniva Inc has signed two long-term customer and supply agreements worth a total of US$980 million. At the beginning of August, Suniva signed a US$500m deal with Solon AG, which will run through 2012. Two weeks later, Suniva announced a US$480m supply contract with Indian Titan Energy Systems Ltd lasting through 2013.
- Camco International Limited, a climate change business, has announced the sale of Dallas Clean Energy LLC, its landfill gas recovery facility in Dallas, Texas. The company is being sold to Clean Energy Fuels Corp, a provider of natural gas for transportation in North America, for a total consideration of US$19.1 million. Camco will use the proceeds from the sale to finance the continued growth of its climate change business with services ranging from emission assessment, carbon management and project development.
- EnOcean GmbH has received €4.5 million for acquisition of new markets worldwide and continued development of its self-powered wireless technology for energy-efficient systems in the building sector. The company says the financing will be focused on expanding the European and North American markets, and establishing new markets, especially in Asia. In addition, it is investing in further development of its technology and products. The investors with the largest shares are Wellington Partners GmbH, Munich and 3i Group plc, London.
- A 97 kWp photovoltaic (PV) array has been activated on the roof of Glasgow Sheriff Court in Scotland. The project, which is said to be Scotland’s largest solar power generating system, is managed by Mott MacDonald and has an active area of 700m2. The 1.3m x 1m solar panels will cut the court’s energy expenditure by an estimated £20,000 per year. The system has generated 20,000 kWh since going online in April.
- Renewable energy consultancy SgurrEnergy of Glasgow, Scotland, has set its sight on capturing a slice of the lucrative North American green energy market after setting up an office in Vancouver. Eric Walker, who previously headed up SgurrEnergy's Beijing office, has returned to his native Canada to spearhead the company's drive to capitalise on the country's green energy push. He says it is expected that US$1.5 billion will be invested in building new wind farms in Canada this year.
- Stiebel Eltron, a UK-based green energy specialist is launching a new advice service aimed at both the public and private sector. The ‘one stop shop’ advice centre gives guidance on a range of issues from complying with legislation, to applying for ‘green’ grants, to taking advantage of tax breaks to advice on installation of renewable energy products.
- SCHOTT Solar has entered into a three year supply contract with PermaCity Solar to supply the company with over 10 MW of photovoltaic (PV) modules. The contract will further SCHOTT Solar’s long-standing relationship with PermaCity Solar, which designs, engineers, and installs solar solutions for commercial and residential applications across southern California. Modules contracted by PermaCity will be manufactured at SCHOTT Solar’s site in Billerica, Massachusetts and the company’s Albuquerque, New Mexico flagship facility, which is currently under construction. Modules produced in Albuquerque are planned to be available to the market beginning in the second quarter of 2009.
Renewable Energy Focus © Copyright 2008, Elsevier Ltd, All rights reserved.