A roadmap to lower soft costs
The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a plan to slash the soft costs of solar by 2020. The new reports focuses on the non-hardware costs of residential and small commercial projects, but makes no mention of company profits.
UK: Trina Solar teams up with Oskomera
Trina Solar has partnered with Dutch developer Oskomera Solar Power Solutions to construct a 10.97 MW ground-mounted PV plant in North Norfolk, UK.
$8 billion hit for Spanish PV generators
Spain’s PV industry body UNEF says generators will lose a fifth of the payments they could have expected from 2010 to 2020. The reductions are part of the Madrid government’s determination to reduce renewables subsidies.
US investor Kawa to save 350 jobs at Conergy
U.S.-based financial investor Kawa Capital Management will be taking over Conergy sales and service units in Germany, Italy, the U.K. and Australia. This acquisition is expected to secure 350 jobs.
US: SunShot's $1/W target for 2020 unlikely to be met
According to analysts at Lux Research, the SunShot program’s target of “$1/W installed by 2020” set by the U.S. Department of Energy will probably not be met. Installation prices today are still two to four times the target.
Singapore's largest rooftop PV system underway
Turnkey services provider Phoenix Solar will develop a 1.2 MWp rooftop installation for CMM Marketing Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sheng Siong, the third largest supermarket chain in Singapore.
New solar cell structure sets record
A new world record efficiency for solar sunlight conversion has been set by a cell structure with four solar sub-cells. The solar cell has managed to hit a new record efficiency of 44.7% and is the brainchild of researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Soitec, CEA-Leti and the Helmholtz Center Berlin.
Construction begins at First Solars Solar Gen 2
First Solar has commenced construction at its third project in Californias Imperial Valley. The 150 MW Solar Gen 2 project is expected to be completed by July 2014.
India: 4 GW power plant project launched
The Indian government has announced plans to build the worlds biggest solar power plant, in the Rajasthan province. While huge, at 4 GW in total capacity, the projects timeline is a long one.
Wirsol starts 'largest solar park in the Caribbean'
A 64 MW scheme in the Dominican Republic is the country’s first solar park. German developer Wirsol said the Republic’s president personally selected it to plan the project in Monte Plato province.
