Manufacturing

The District Court in Germany’s Amberg has ordered the opening of insolvency proceedings in “debtor-in-possession” for SiC Processing. Hubert Ampferl has been appointed supervisor.

Confidence in solar stocks faltered late this month, as evidenced by positions at the opening bell on February 27, with First Solar free-falling more than 14% during one night of after-hours trading; and Trina Solar tumbling by about the same cumulative amount in the two days following its fourth-quarter earnings report.

Abakus solar AG’s British subsidiary has been awarded an EPC contract to realize three photovoltaic parks worth 18 MW across the U.K.

California’s Governor, Jerry Brown has announced the fast tracking of NextEra Energy Resources LLC’s 750 MW photovoltaic project, set to be located in Riverside County, near Blythe.

Ernst & Young has highlighted a number of renewable energy trends expected to be seen throughout 2013. Among them are a preference for capacity auctions, utility divestment, and corporate investment. Meanwhile, although China topped the firm’s renewable energy indices, the U.S. took top spot in the solar segment.

Dyesol Limited has secured strategic investment from The National Industrialization Company of Saudi Arabia, or Tasnee, worth AU$4 million. Potential to expand this investment to $20 million exists. Meanwhile, R&D collaboration and demonstration projects in the Middle East are up for discussion.

First Solar has achieved a CdTe photovoltaic cell conversion efficiency of 18.7% in the lab. Meanwhile, although the company recorded impressive Q4 financial figures, the thin film manufacturer missed its revised 2012 net sales guidance, and recorded a number of FY losses.

Embarking on the next stage of its internationalization path, Isofotón has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop photovoltaic projects and a polysilicon facility in Kazakhstan; and an agreement to install a 150 MW project in Honduras.

The International PV Equipment Association (IPVEA) has entered into a mutual cooperation agreement with the Saudi Arabia Solar Industry Association (SASIA). The aim is to promote the benefits of photovoltaics in the MENA region and share knowledge.

Activ Solar has commissioned a 29.3 MW photovoltaic plant in the Mykolaiv region of southern Ukraine.