RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY

- Two large scale community-owned wind projects are being set up in Minnesota with a planned output of 500 MW. National Wind along with local landowners and community leaders provided the funding capital to establish the Root River Energy, LLC and Lake Country Wind Energy, LLC, which are to run the projects. 

– The Spanish photovoltaic solar energy group OPDE closed the 2007 fiscal year with a turnover of more than €160 million. The group now has a 18% market share in the photovoltaic solar energy market in Spain. In the first quarter of 2008, OPDE had a turnover of €130m, and forecasts a 2008 turnover of €320m. The group is currently constructing the 20MW Photovoltaic Solar Energy Park in Almaraz (Cáceres), which upon its completion is said to be the largest photovoltaic solar energy park in Europe with dual-axis solar trackers.

- Siemens Energy has received an order from utility company Vattenfall for a wind farm in northern Jutland in Denmark. Siemens will supply 13 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 2.3 MW and a rotor diameter of 93 meters. The Siemens wind turbines replace 77 older turbines, and will produce approximately 120,000 MWh annually. The wind farm is scheduled to start operation by late 2009 and will serve as a showcase at the United Nations´ Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen.

- Phoenix Solar AG has founded a wholly-owned subsidiary in Australia. Phoenix Solar Pty Ltd, which is headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia, will serve the whole Australian continent. The activity will be geared towards installers to whom Phoenix Solar will offer grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems for home owners, schools and municipalities, and, in future, to large investors or utilities for the delivery of turnkey ground-mounted PV plants or large roof-mounted PV systems. The first law on PV feed-in tariffs will come into force in South Australia in July 2008.

- Delmarva Power and Babcock & Brown have reached an agreement on a long-term power purchase contract under which Delmarva Power will buy up to 200 MW of power from an offshore wind farm to be developed by Babcock & Brown’s subsidiary, Bluewater Wind Delaware, LLC. The purchase includes energy, capacity and renewable energy credits. Under this 25-year agreement, Bluewater Wind could begin delivering electricity to Delmarva Power’s Delaware customers around 2012.

- Ibersolar, a leading photovoltaic system integrator has signed a supply agreement with the Taiwanese PV module manufacturer, NexPower. The agreement guarantees Ibersolar up to 10 MW of the NX amorphous silicon module during 2008 and 2009 and complements the company’s existing portfolio of crystalline modules. The modules’ capacity to absorb diffuse solar radiation means a higher energy yield over 12 months. Little production loss is suffered at higher temperatures, due to a low temperature coefficient. The modules are encapsulated with a certified backsheet (glass-to-glass encapsulation is optional) and other weatherproof components.

- SunPower Corporation, a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels, and solar systems has been selected by Florida Power & Light Company to build what is said to be the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in the US, and a second power plant at the Kennedy Space Center. The installation will include a 25 MW power plant in DeSoto County and a 10MW project at the Kennedy Space Center. SunPower will design and build the facilities and FPL will own, operate and maintain the systems. The DeSoto plant will be completed in 2009; the plant at the Kennedy Space Center will be completed in 2010.

- Proven Energy Ltd, a producer of small wind turbines, has established a network of staff, distributors, dealers and installers to provide renewable energy solutions for homeowners, businesses and municipalities throughout North America. The Scottish company holds 70 percent of the small wind market in the UK. The 2.5 kW, 6 kW, and 15 kW wind turbines can be configured for grid connection or use with batteries.

Source: Renewable Energy Focus

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