Chinese crystalline module manufacture JA Solar shipped 2.147 GW of modules, and a further 167.2 MW of cells to external customers, as well as 74.5 MW to its own downstream projects. This makes JA Solar only the second company to exceed 2 GW in shipments for a single quarter.

The Swedish PV equipment supplier has received an order for two of its DUO thin-film cell manufacturing lines. Midsummer has not named the company which placed the order, but states that it is a repeat order from an existing customer.

A team of researchers at the University of Sheffield has developed a service to forecast energy generation levels from PV up to three days in advance, allowing grid operators to make decisions further in advance, lowering costs and increasing the efficiency of electricity systems.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) today announced the completion of financing for two 50 MW PV projects, to be built as part of the 1.8 GW Benban Solar complex in Egypt’s Aswan province.

Researchers from Spain based organization nanoGUNE have developed a solar cell which, through the use of magnetic electrodes, is able to serve as its own inverter.

A solar plant planned by developer Gaelectric on a site north of Dublin has failed to receive approval from the local council, according to reports from the Irish Independent.

The Foresight Solar Fund, an investment group with a 470 MW portfolio of solar projects in the UK, published financial reports for the first half of 2016 this week. Reporting after tax profits of GBP 11.5 million ($15 million) for the period up to 30th June, the group also announced plans to expand and acquire projects in new markets outside of the UK.

After the 20 MW PV project planned in the Central region of Ghana was threatened with a 29% feed in tariff reduction, UK based solar developer PSECC Solar Farms turned to Natcore, with the aim of bringing in higher efficiency technology that would make the project financially viable.

Zurich based startup Adaptricity, which grew out of leading university the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) is preparing to launch a software system which can simulate and analyze regional electrical grids, potentially a valuable tool for investors and grid operators.

The German equipment manufacturer reported a positive EBIT of €2.5 million for the first half of the year, a big improvement on the same period in 2016, when its EBIT was negative €9.3 million. EBIT for the second quarter stands at €1.1 million.