The Solar Power International (SPI) event has opened today, at the Orange County Convention Center in Florida, and initial reports from the show are that traffic is slow. The show, which is essentially spread across one giant exhibition hall, is expected to attract around 20,000 visitors and 1,100 exhibitors.

At the end of Q2 2012, China continued to dominate the worldwide renewable energy market, with Germany and the U.S. nose-to-nose in second place, and India and the U.K. just behind, according to Ernst & Young’s latest quarterly Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices (CAI) report. Activities centered strongly around the smart grid.

SunPower Corp. today announced the launch of the industry’s first combined warranty that covers both power and product for 25 years. The company is also shifting to a linear power warranty that offers the lowest power degradation over the life of the system.

The U.S. solar sector has just finished its second-best quarter in history, having installed 742 MW of photovoltaic power – and its best quarter on record for utility deployments – according to a report released today by Boston-based GTM Research and the Washington, DC-based Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Photovoltaic installations were up 45% over Q1 2012, and up 116% over Q2 2011.

By Q1 2014, the amended WEEE Directive, which obliges producers to take back, for free, and recycle photovoltaic modules, must be transferred into national law in all EU countries. This was underlined to pv magazine by PV Cycle spokeswoman, Alina Lange. However, who the producer is, still has to be defined.

Cumulative Indian solar capacity now stands at around 1,040 MW, of which 830 MW were installed this year. Despite the crossing of this significant milestone, there are still many challenges facing the Indian solar industry, including missed deadlines and high inflation.

As part of its restructuring plan, which aims to consolidate the company’s production operations, photovoltaics manufacturer Siliken has announced it will close production activities in Mexico down.

Spain-based Isofotón will announce the opening of its new photovoltaic manufacturing facility in Napoleon, Ohio during next week’s Solar Power International event. Production at the facility is scheduled to commence in November.

“Unlike my opponent, I will not let oil companies write this country’s energy plan,” U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Thursday night, September 6, facing a packed hall of supporters in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the 2012 Democratic National Convention (DNC), as he officially accepted his party’s nomination and embarked on a second run for the White House.

The European Commission (EC) has initiated proceedings against Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers. The Competition Authority will now consider the allegation of dumping, according to an announcement by the European Commission this morning.