Dec 20, 2013 - This week BrightSource gets bad news for 500-MW solar tower project in US and Sharp says it will close its Wales solar panel plant, while the GBP-450-million Able Marine Energy Park in England gets green light and Solar Frontier unveils plans for a 150-MW module plant in Japan.
December 13, Friday, proved an unlucky day for US firm BrightSource Energy Inc as the California Energy Commission (CEC) issued a preliminary decision to deny approval to the Palen project for two 250-MW solar power towers. The preliminary report suggests that using parabolic-trough concentrating solar power (CSP) or photovoltaics (PV) would lower the project’s impact on wildlife -- the main reason for the thumbs-down.
More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/brightsource-gets-prelim-refusal-for-500-mw-solar-tower-project-395269
SHARP TO ABANDON WALES SOLAR PANEL OPS IN FEB
The last Friday Note for this year has only one more bad news. Japanese electronics major Sharp Corp (TYO:6753) said Monday it would cease solar panel manufacturing at its plant in Wrexham, Wales, in February and lay off 250 workers. The company will also not renew agency workers' contracts, estimated at some 365. It defined the move as unavoidable as the output of the Llay factory was uncompetitive after the significant declines in solar product prices in Europe.
Yet, another Japanese solar firm is expanding. Solar module maker Solar Frontier said Thursday it would build a 150-MW plant for the production of copper indium diselenide (CIS) modules in the Tohoku region of central Japan. The manufacturing facility, which is calling for an investment of some USD 124 million (EUR 91m), will be Solar Frontier’s fourth factory. It is expected to launch operations in March 2015.
More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/sharp-to-abandon-wales-solar-panel-ops-in-feb-395417
and on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/japans-solar-frontier-to-build-150-mw-cis-module-plant-395899
FIVE ASIA-PACIFIC COUNTRIES TO INSTALL NEARLY HALF OF ALL 2014 PV
Speaking of Japan, reports by NPD Solarbuzz and Mercom this week listed the country as one of the main drivers of solar PV demand next year and that did not surprise anyone. Solarbuzz said that China, Japan, India, Australia and Thailand would be responsible for nearly 50% of global demand in 2014, while the Asia-Pacific region as a whole is expected to add more than 23 GW of PV capacity. For comparison, Asia-Pacific PV installations will stand at some 18 GW in 2013, with China and Japan bringing 85% of the total.
Mercom Capital Group said in an update on Tuesday that around 43 GW of solar capacity would be installed globally in 2014. China, Japan and the US will be the top three markets, according to the market researcher.
More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/five-asia-pacific-countries-to-install-nearly-half-of-2014-pv-solarbuzz-396028
and on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/mercom-guides-for-43-gw-of-solar-capacity-in-2014-395704
VESTAS WINS 570 MW OF US TURBINE ORDERS
On the wind energy front there were mostly good news this week. Danish wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS) revealed several orders, the biggest of which are for wind farm projects in the US. On Wednesday, the company said it had secured a contract to supply 350 MW of turbines to the US unit of Italy’s Enel Green Power SpA (BIT:EGPW). The company said it could get 636 MW of additional turbine orders under the deal.
On Friday, Vestas unveiled a contract to deliver 220 MW of turbines to US firm EDF Renewable Energy for two Texas projects. The deal comes after the subsidiary of French utility EDF (EPA:EDF) in September awarded a master supply agreement (MSA) to Vestas for up to 750 MW of wind turbines. The potential volume under the deal has been increased to 1,174 MW.
More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/vestas-wins-350-mw-order-from-enel-eyes-636-mw-more-395671
and on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/vestas-grabs-220-mw-turbine-deal-from-edf-renewable-396137
UK GIVES THUMBS-UP TO GBP-450M OFFSHORE RENEWABLES HUB
The British government said "yes" this week to Able UK’s proposal to build a GBP-450-million (USD 735m/EUR538.5m) offshore renewable technologies hub on the South bank of the Humber Estuary in England. The Able Marine Energy Park will include quayside facilities built for the manufacture, assembly and installation of offshore renewable technologies. Construction works are to commence early in 2014, while the quay will be available near the end of 2016, Able UK said on Wednesday.
More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/uk-gives-thumbs-up-to-gbp-450m-offshore-renewables-hub-395735
(GBP 1 = USD 1.633/EUR 1.197)
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