Industry analysts were in agreement at the SPI 2012 conference, held on Thursday, that the solar industry is set for major consolidation over the next 1 year to 18 months. “The reset button needs to be hit; but tremendous value will be unlocked by it,” reckoned Arno Harris, CEO of Recurrent Energy.

A host of new photovoltaic technology advances and new products were unveiled during the Solar Power International show in Orlando this week, alongside concerned conversations about the U.S.-China trade case, and new partnerships companies are seeking in order to survive the crippling price pressure in the industry.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has underlined its commitment to the solar industry at this year’s Solar International tradeshow, following the addition of 3 new members to its advisory group. It also announced the introduction of a new sustainability report and handbook.

Brazil’s solar market will register a new milestone with the first unregulated commercial auction of solar power, planned for August 9 by Bioenergy, a Sao Paulo-based renewable energy developer and marketer.

Lower polysilicon prices and higher photovoltaic module efficiencies are expected to further lower crystalline silicon (c-Si) module prices in 2012, according to Brett Prior, a senior analyst at U.S.-based GTM Research, the market research arm of Greentech Media, in Boston.

Evergreen Solar has filed for voluntary bankruptcy and has announced plant closures. Analysts warn more companies, like SolarWorld and Schott Solar, are at risk.

PACE Now has announced plans to introduce a bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives designed to stop mortgage lending regulators from introducing policies that breach clean energy laws.

Several Brazilian solar industry sources indicated today that the government will promulgate market-enabling legislation that will finally permit broad grid connections for solar installations by the end of this year.