Leoni AG of Nuremberg, Germany has significantly raised its sales and earnings forecast for this year. The company, which supplies power cables to photovoltaic (PV) plants and a flat wire for PV panels, among other business activities, told pv magazine that the solar industry “is increasingly contributing to [its] sales and earnings”.

Pacific Blue Energy Corp. (PBEC), a development stage renewable energy company, has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of 100 acres in Gila Bend, Arizona, the U.S. in order to develop a 150-megawatt (MW) solar farm.

SunPower Corp. and Solar Ventures S.r.l., a developer of solar parks in Italy, France and the Mediterranean area, have signed a contract to design and build three solar power plants in the Piedmont region of Italy. Totaling 11.1 megawatts (MW) over 30 hectares, the companies say the development represents one of the largest solar power developments in the region. Construction on the plants is due to start this month and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The Australian state of Victoria has unveiled its plans to increase electricity supply from large scale-solar power to five per cent by 2020. Premier John Brumby announced that target was Australia’s most ambitious solar commitment and would be backed by the nation’s first feed-in tariff (FIT) for large-scale solar.

Yingli Green Energy Italia Srl has signed a photovoltaics (PV) module sales agreement with Tecno Spot, whereby Tecno Spot will purchase approximately six megawatts (MW) of PV modules from Yingli through the end of this year. Tecno Spot is also committed to purchasing an additional 10-20 MW of PV modules by the end of next year.

Colexon Energy AG has secured a 7.2 megawatt (MW) solar energy system portfolio in the Czech Republic. EnerCap Power Fund is the investor for the €20 million project.??

Atlantic Green Power Holding Company has announced that the Land Use Board of Upper Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, New Jersey in the U.S. has granted final site plan approval for the development of the first of two tracts of land under evaluation by the Board for a 90-acre solar farm. Construction on the eastern site is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year.

Researchers at Dow Corning and the University of Toledo (UT) have signed a memorandum of understanding to engage in collaborative discussions on photovoltaic (PV) solar research and development efforts to help reduce the cost of solar energy, in order to make it a viable and economically competitive energy option globally.

Borrego Solar Systems, Inc., has secured financing from U.S. Bank and East West Bank to finance an approximately USD$20 million, 2.8 megawatt (MW) solar project. The company says it is the first to be financed through its power purchase agreement (PPA).

Manz Automation AG has signed a know-how licensing and strategic alliance agreement with Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG. Under the €50 million agreement, Manz gains exclusive rights to the use to Würth Solar’s Copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS) production technology and exclusive access to their research results regarding CIGS modules on glass substrates.