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latin america

SunPower Launches Remote Operations For Large-Scale Solar

by Joshua S Hill October 7, 2015

SunPower has announced the launch of a remote operations control center for monitoring and controlling large-scale solar power plants.

The remote operations control center (ROCC) is designed to monitor and control large-scale solar power plants that SunPower is currently operating throughout the United States (including those projects owned by its joint-yieldco company, 8point3 Energy Partners), as well as monitor solar power plants SunPower has constructed throughout Latin America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia.

“SunPower’s remote operations control center is designed to optimize energy production at our solar power plants, allowing utilities and power plant owners to better manage their energy,” said Tom Werner, SunPower CEO and president. “Increasingly, utilities are adding solar to their energy mix to provide their customers with reliable, cost-effective and emission-free energy.”

The ROCC is staffed by eight employees who, by 2016, will be monitoring and controlling approximately 1.3 GW of solar power plants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

“As an energy services provider, our ROCC enables SunPower to be a good manager of the utility grid, and enhance safety at our power plant sites,” Werner added. “It is scalable to accommodate the anticipated continued growth of our global power plant fleet.”

The launch of the ROCC will be an interesting move for SunPower, and will be intriguing to see how it impacts the company’s bottom line. In the second quarter, SunPower reported lackluster revenue of $381 million, down slightly on the first quarter and down significantly year-over-year, which saw the company provide measured full-year guidance for the first time in 2015 — GAAP revenue for the full year 2015 to reach between $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion, with a gross margin of 10% to 12%, and a net loss per diluted share of $2.35 to $2.05.

October 7, 2015 0 comment

92 GW of Solar Annually by 2020, Apricum Predicts

by Adam Johnston August 12, 2015

written by Adam Johnston

Global solar installations will rise by to 2020 to 92 GW yearly, according to a new report from Apricum, compared to 42 GW annually in 2014.

The Berlin-based cleantech consulting firm said most of the 50 GW in annual increases from 2014 until 2020 will come from China, the US, and India, with 36 GW combined.

Image Credit: Queen of the Apostles Solar via Flickr Some Rights Reserved

The Middle East/North Africa/Africa (MENA) region will represent 6 GW, the rest of Asia 5.6 GW, the non-US Americas 4.1 GW, and Europe 3.5 GW.

However, Japan expects to see declines yearly (-5.2 GW) as it looks to slow its hot growth.

Apricum also notes cumulative installations will reach 604 GW, from 178 GW six years earlier.

In regards to cumulative installations, China will lead with 180 GW, followed by the US (83 GW), Japan (57 GW), Germany (46 GW), and India (41 GW). Concerns over air pollution and climate change will help China with its steady growth.

Meanwhile, the US will see continued growth as more regions hit socket parity and grid parity. Apricum predicts a good 2015, followed by a drop in utility-scale installations as the federal tax credit drops from 30% to 10%, due in 2017. However, strong rooftop demand, thanks to declining solar prices will continue to bolster US markets, Apricum suggests. Recent clean power legislation and Hillary Clinton’s plan of reaching 140 GW by 2020 may also have positive effects.

August 12, 2015 0 comment

PV Rooftop Solar Solar Projects

Solarcentury & Hybrytec Build Colombia’s Largest Solar Roof

by Joshua S Hill August 5, 2015

written by Joshua S Hill

Solarcentury has teamed up with Colombian company Hybrytec to build the country’s largest solar PV roof system, atop Exito’s Barranquilla store.

Solarcentury is one of the oldest solar companies in the world, and Hybrytec is a Colombian company leading the local solar energy market, with 7 years experience and over 140 projects successfully completed across the country. The two companies managed the whole development process of the record-breaking rooftop solar project, from initial design through to construction and on to operation and maintenance.

The resulting 507 kW rooftop solar installation is the largest in Colombia, covers 6,300 square metres, and is made up of 2,070 solar panels. The solar installation is set to reduce the Exito Barranquilla store’s annual energy bills by about 24%, and will reduce carbon emissions by about 23o tonnes per year.

“As a local company, we have a deep understanding of the local solar market and are therefore well placed to work with businesses to help them benefit from solar,” explained Camilo Jaramillo, CEO at Hybrytec. “We believe there is a huge growing awareness of the opportunity for solar in Colombia to help meet ever-increasing demands for power and also help businesses cut their energy bills. We look forward to working with Solarcentury on more solar projects, in Colombia and the wider region. We share a common long-term shareholder, Grupo ECOS, which brings stability and consistency to our working relationship and contributes to the success of our projects.”

The project has been up and running since November 2014, but is only now getting the praise worthy of such a big first step for Latin American countries. Specifically, the solar rooftop is generating electricity for the store’s lighting, air conditioning, and refrigeration, which increases the efficiency of the solar system by reducing distribution-grid losses.

“Once the cost of the system has been paid, Exito will enjoy completely free solar energy to power the supermarket over the expected lifetime of 30–40 years,” said Jose Miguel Ferrer, Head of Business Development for Latin America at Solarcentury. “Cutting energy bills by about a quarter for this period is an attractive prospect for any business. We will continue to work closely with Hybrytec to help more businesses reduce their energy bills and cut carbon emissions.”

August 5, 2015 0 comment

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Yingli Supplying 240 MW Of Solar Panels To Chile

by Joshua S Hill July 16, 2015

written by Joshua S Hill

Yingli Green Energy (aka Yingli Solar or simply Yingli) has announced that it will be delivering 240 MW worth of solar panels to two of Latin America’s largest hybrid solar PV and CSP plants.

The announcement was made last week, and concerns two projects being developed in northern Chile, each of which will be equipped with 110 MW of concentrated solar power (CSP) as well as 17.5 hours of thermal storage.

Yingli Green will act as the power plants’ sole supplier, providing over 780,000 multicrystalline utility-scale YGE 72 Cell solar panels, set to be installed over two phases. The first phase of panel deliveries was recently completed, while the second stage is set to begin in August. Total completion of the two projects is set for mid-2016.

Upon completion, the solar PV portion of the projects will occupy nearly 100,000 acres of land across both development sites, and will be connected to the national utility grid. Yingli Green predicts that the two projects together will offset approximately 385,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

“We are pleased to be the exclusive solar PV panel provider for the two largest hybrid solar power plants in Latin America,” said Mr. Fernando Calisalvo, Managing Director of Yingli Green Energy Spain. “We believe that supplying projects of this magnitude and significance will cement our leadership position in Latin America, one of the world’s highest potential emerging markets.”

“Our demonstrated ability and proven experience supplying large-scale hybrid solar power plants, including the projects announced today as well as PV-diesel systems, will be a compelling differentiator for Yingli,” added Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy. “Demand for these innovative applications is growing, especially in emerging markets, and we are committed to meeting that demand worldwide with our high quality products.”

July 16, 2015 0 comment

CSP PV Solar Projects Solar Records Solar Thermal

SolarReserve Wins El Salvador’s 1st Utility-Scale Solar Contract

by Adam Johnston August 2, 2014

written by Adam Johnston

SolarReserve is bringing 20 MW of utility-scale solar power to El Salvador’s Acajutla plant, while advancing its share of the Latin American solar market.

Image Credit: SolarReserve/PR NewsWire

The Santa Monica, California–based company won El Salvador’s first ever utility-scale solar tender. The country’s energy and telecommunications regulator oversaw the bidding process.

SolarReserve sees Latin America as a good growth market, according to CEO Kevin Smith.

“Many Latin American countries, including El Salvador, have experience with renewable energy such as geothermal or hydroelectric. As demand for electricity continues to grow, Latin America represents a great opportunity for solar power development,” Smith said.

“With the region’s excellent solar resource and escalating and uncertain prices of fossil fuels, solar power makes more than just environmental sense – it makes economic sense. We look forward to continuing our work on Acajutla and on our other photovoltaic and solar thermal projects in development in Latin America.”

Currently, SolarReserve has 800 MW of Latin American projects scheduled, including the Acajutla plant. The company is using photovoltaic (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), and hybrids (mixed PV and CSP systems) in creating potential around-the-clock clean energy solutions.

With analysts predicting 700 MW of new solar capacity in the region this year, and falling solar prices, SolarReserve, is well primed to boost its own portfolio of $1.8 billion, while adding to Latin America’s surging solar potential.

Source: PR Newswire

August 2, 2014 0 comment

PV Solar Policy Solar Projects

Latin America’s Largest PV Solar Plant In The Works In Mexico

by James Ayre May 29, 2013

written by James Ayre

A new 30 MW solar photovoltaic power plant is currently being constructed in Mexico — in La Paz, Baja California Sur. Once completed, the plant will be Latin America’s largest photovoltaic solar power plant, providing enough electricity to power an estimated 160,000 households.

Photo Credit: austinhk / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

May 29, 2013 0 comment

Solar Projects Solar PV Manufacturing

Largest Solar Plant In Latin America Receiving 40 MW Of Solar PV Modules From Yingli Solar

by James Ayre October 15, 2012

written by James Ayre

One of the leading solar energy companies in the world, Yingli Green Energy, recently announced that the company is supplying 40 MW of photovoltaic modules for a new solar power plant that will be the largest in Latin America when completed.

The solar plant the PV panels are being provided for was developed by Gestamp Solar and Solarpack in a collaboration with local companies in Peru. The project is being built in two different locations: 20 MW will be in Tacna and cover roughly 120 hectares, and the other 20 MW will be in Moquera and cover around 123 hectares. The project is planned to begin operations towards the end of 2012.

Once completed, it will be the largest solar power plant in Latin America. It is projected to generate enough electricty for more than 67,000 homes, and reduce emissions by around of 24,000 tons of CO2 each year.

“We are pleased to achieve this important milestone in Latin America,” said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy. “Peru is one of the most important emerging markets in Latin America given its strong solar energy potential. By supplying modules for this project and by leveraging our sponsorship of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, we are paving the way for substantial expansion throughout South America.”

October 15, 2012 1 comment