by Doug Chandler March 29th, 2010
Schneider Electric, Palatine, Ill., said it’s ready to produce inverters that comply with new feed-in tariff (FIT) renewable energy regulations in Ontario, Canada. The FIT regulations provide a guaranteed pricing structure for electricity generation from renewable energy sources, allowing development of alternative energy sources without economic efficiency and cost-effectiveness being the primary drivers. The FIT program, being implemented by the Ontario Power Authority, includes requirements for Ontario-based equipment.
Schneider bought Xantrex, Mississauga, Ontario – an inverter manufacturer that previously focused primarily on the off-grid market – in 2008 and made it the focus of its Renewable Energies business unit. Through that facility, Schneider said it will be able to produce three 480- and 208-volt (AC) FIT-compliant models of its Schneider Electric Xantrex GT-series inverters by August 2010, and the rest will be released at the end of 2010 for delivery in 2011. Details.
Related Topics: Channel Chatter
by Jim Lucy March 29th, 2010
Fresh from its IPO offering, Generac Holdings Inc., Waukesha, Wis., had some good news for investors about its 2009 fourth-quarter and full-year financials, reporting a single-digit gain in full-year sales and gains in profitability. Details
Related Topics: Channel Chatter
by Jim Lucy March 29th, 2010
SunPower Corp., San Jose, Calif., struck a deal to bolster its operations in Europe and the Middle East by buying European solar power plant developer SunRay Renewable Energy for $277 million. SunPower designs, develops, manufactures, markets and sells high-performance solar electric power technology products, systems and services worldwide for residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers. Based in Malta, SunRay Renewable Energy has been building utility-scale PV plants in southern European countries. Details
Related Topics: Green News
by Jim Lucy March 29th, 2010
Much of the news on the solar front is about solar companies opening facilities in the U.S. market to manufacture photovoltaics panels. However, BP is now making headlines in the PV world for another reason – it’s closing down its three-year old PV panel factory in Maryland because of pressure to move its manufacturing operations to less-expensive offshore locales. The Street
Related Topics: Green News
by Jim Lucy March 29th, 2010
Avnet Inc., Phoenix, plans to acquire Bell Microproducts Inc., a publicly owned distributor of storage systems, servers, software, computer components and peripherals. The San Jose, Calif.-based Bell, which had 2009 sales of approximately $3 billion, 1,900 employees and 55 offices in the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America, serves customers such as OEMs, VARs, system builders and end users. The transaction is expected to close in 60 days to 120 days. Avnet is one of the world’s largest distributors of electronic components and had 2009 sales of $16.2 billion. Details
Related Topics: Mergers & Acquisitions
