China’s first major solar tradeshow of the year, CIPV Expo 2012 in Beijing, ended this past weekend with continued optimism over the further development of China’s solar industry, despite Germany’s support cutbacks, announced during the show. Rooftop photovoltaics emerged as one of China’s key future trends, while “integration” was the watchword du jour.

PV Japan kicked off yesterday in Tokyo, Japan, under sunny skies portending a bright future for Japan’s photovoltaic, and BIPV market. However, it is clear that overcapacity, and declining prices and margins have impacted both exhibitor numbers, and company strategies.

SunLink PV with its headquarters in Zhangjiagang, China, last week reduced its photovoltaic cell production capacity by 50 percent in light of reduced European demand and better pricing from third party cell suppliers.

Photovoltaic backsheet producer, Coveme Group, opened its Chinese production facility yesterday in Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, China. It is the first time a European photovoltaic components supplier has openend a manufacturing plant in the country.

The CIPV Expo 2011 took place last week in Beijing, China. With big ambitions for the future, thin film and building-integrated photovoltaics were a key focus. Switzerland and the U.S. were also prominently featured.

According to local media reports, China is considering doubling its installed solar power capacity from five to ten gigawatts by 2015.

According to a local media source, photovoltaics (PV) power generation in China is expected to grow at an annual rate of one gigawatt (GW) from 2012.