The fifth PV Rome Mediterranean 2011 kicked off yesterday. The future of Italy’s photovoltaic industry was the main focus of the opening conference. A key advertising theme is “Made in Europe”.

SMA Technology AG has commissioned the world’s largest solar inverter service center in Niestetal, Germany.

New research has shown that investment in renewable energy is growing to pre-financial crisis levels. Demand for future lending, meanwhile, is expected to come from the utilities.

Day4 Energy has signed an agreement with Ever Energy Co. Ltd under which its Day4 DNA photovoltaic cells will be manufactured in Taiwan.

A major shift away from Europe and the maintenance of worldwide photovoltaic programs are again the two major factors that will dominate photovoltaic market development in the coming years, according to a new report.

Cold winds off the harbor blew hard as the 26th EU PVSEC closes in Hamburg. Visitor numbers were stagnant and many reported slow business and observed massively slashed module prices.

A USD$150 million loan guarantee for 1336 Technologies Inc. has been finalized by U.S. Energy Secretary, Steven Chu for the development of its multicrystalline wafer manufacturing project.

U.S. President Barack Obama delivered good news for green technology companies, and especially startups, in a speech before a joint meeting of Congress and a national TV audience yesterday, during which he emphasized that he is “making America more competitive for the long haul”.

At the 26th EU PVSEC, among the leading photovoltaic technology developers, quieter Halls A and C, and some questionable marketing campaigns (more to come on those later), was one country garnering attention, without even being present: Brazil.

In a bid to put the unsavory affair behind it, Solar Millennium’s executive board has called for a “quick” legal clarification of the battle surrounding it and former CEO, Utz Classen.