The semicondonductor industry, which has significant ties to photovolatics, due to the similarity of production processes, is experiencing strong market growth. Taiwan is projected to be the largest semiconductor market this year at USD$ 9.18 billion, while total semiconductor equipment sales worldwide will reach USD$32.5 billion, according to SEMI. It added that sales of global semiconductor equipment are up in all regions this year.

Cogentrix Energy LLC has entered into a contract with Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), in the U.S. to develop what it says is expected to be the world’s largest concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) solar power generation facility at 30 megawatts (MW).

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is to contribute USD$15 million to Silicon Valley-based Nanosys, Inc. in order to create a new generation of “cost effective”, “higher-efficiency” products in the fields of solar, LED, memory, semiconductor, and display technology. Additionally, it says that the cooperation arrangement will “accelerate the development of commercial applications of nano-architected materials for the electronics and thin film solar”.??

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is to contribute USD$15 million to Silicon Valley-based Nanosys, Inc. in the U.S. in order to “accelerate the development of commercial applications of nano-architected materials for the electronics and thin film solar”.?? ?

Conergy Italy has announced the completion of two more solar parks in Apulia, Italy, worth a total of 1.5 megawatts (MW). Combined, the company says its six solar parks, which are located in the region, produce over 6,600 megawatt hours of energy for more than 2,100 households, and save around 3,500 tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Every house under India’s first Zero Energy Satellite Township (ZEST), to be developed in Rajarhat in eastern India, will include rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) modules and building-integrated PV (BIPV), according to the West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Ltd.

TerniEnergia has entered into an agreement with TRP PVE BV, an Italian-Chinese joint-venture company, and Milis Energy SPA to build two solar parks in Sardinia, with a total power output of 12 megawatts (MW). The deal is said to be worth €40 million.

SunPower Corp. has announced that Etrion Corporation, an independent solar power producer, has signed a €48 million definitive sale and purchase agreement to acquire the equity in the first two phases of the Montalto di Castro solar photovoltaic (PV) power park, which it says is the largest in Italy at 28 megawatts (MW). It hopes to increase this to 72 MWs by the end of the year.

Astronergy is to increase its production capacity from 30 megawatts (MW) to 75 MW this year. The announcement comes as the company signs a follow-up purchase agreement for Oerlikon Solar’s thin film equipment. The company says the order will help it to reach its goal of producing 400 MW of thin film solar photovoltaics (PV) modules “within the near future”.

Under the development project ‘Access to Modern Energy Services Ethiopia’, realized by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, SMA Solar Technology AG has said it will deliver 100 battery power inverters to supply medical clinics with solar-generated alternating current (AC) in the country: 50 have already been delivered.