The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
Solaria Commences Shipments of Solar Modules
The new modules provide electric utilities, project developers and system integrators with the most cost effective and reliable PV module for large scale solar installations.
NATIONAL NEWS
Phoenix Solar Signs Thin Film Accord With California Company
Phoenix Solar AG signed an agreement with MiaSole Inc. of Santa Clara, California, to take delivery of thin-film panels that generate electricity from the sun, helping to expand the German company’s sales product range.
Empire to Install Arizona’s Largest Commercial Solar Rooftop System
2.4 Megawatt SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile Solar Power Chosen for Phoenix Warehouse.
SolarBridge Spans Gaps in Solar With New $15M
The company produces a small component of photovoltaic systems, but could make a big difference in how solar is used.
Stealthy Solar Startup Senergen Shuts Down
Next-generation solar company funded by VantagePoint and Trident Capital shuttered before it even gets to unstealth.
FIT Coalition Launches North America Campaign
The FIT Coalition this week announced that it intends to push for the largest comprehensive Feed-in Tariff (FIT) in North America.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Senators Hear About SmartMeter Woes
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers have experienced the vast majority of problems with SmartMeters in California, though a company official told a state Senate committee Monday that the problems affect fewer than 1 percent of people who have had the meters installed.
Independent Tests of SmartMeters Needed
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced last week that it would test its new SmartMeters side by side with the old-style meters to allay customers’ fears that the new meters overstate electricity use. Right idea, wrong tester.
PG&E Details Technical Problems with SmartMeters
After months of denying any technical problems with its SmartMeter program, PG&E publicly detailed a range of glitches Monday affecting tens of thousands of the digital meters.
Solar Power Heats Up as Costs Drop, Electric Rates Rise
The Midwest gets plenty of sunshine — more than Germany, which uses more solar power than any other country. Kansas City has the same percentage of annual sunshine as San Antonio, for example, and Dodge City, Kan., has as much as Miami
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Sharp Forecasts Highest Profit in 3 Years
Sharp Corp beat market expectations with a forecast for annual operating profit to more than double to its highest in three years, after it swung to a quarterly profit on strong sales of display and solar panels.
Engyco Says IPO on Track, Underpinned by Spanish Solar Tariffs
Engyco said it’s pushing ahead to raise as much as 1 billion euros ($1.33 billion) in a initial stock offering, supported by a new report on rates paid in Spain for solar power.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Iberdola, EDP Units Rise After Minister’s Comments
Iberdrola Renovables SA and EDP Renovaveis SA rose after Spanish Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian said his government won’t impose “retroactive” cuts on the price of renewable power.
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and BP Solar Partner on 37 MW of PV Systems
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) and BP Solar signed an agreement yesterday to construct solar projects totalling 37.1 MW in Italy.
SunEdison to Develop Solar PV Program for Remington
SunEdison, a division of MEMC Electronic Materials, will construct up to fourteen roof-top solar photovoltaic projects with capacity totaling up to 3 Megawatts for The Remington Group, one of the leading real estate developers in Ontario.
Oncor Extends Solar Photovoltaic Incentive Program
Oncor announced an extension to its Solar Photovoltaic (PV) program, which offers incentives for the installation of qualifying Solar PV systems.
CLP to Set Up Thai Solar Farm, Wind Plants in India
CLP Holdings Ltd., Hong Kong’s biggest electricity producer, will build a solar farm in Thailand and set up three wind projects in India as the utility turns to clean energy sources to generate power.
