EU solar industry calls for action against retroactive subsidy changes
Over 70 solar companies and associations have written an open letter to European Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, calling for action to be taken against those member states which introduce retroactive changes to renewable energy support schemes.
Taiwan: Neo Solar and DelSolar sign merger agreement
The two Taiwanese companies have today approved the second stage of their merger which, when complete, will see the countrys largest solar company formed. A shareholders meeting will be held in February to finalize the transaction.
Centrotherm secures 300 MW Chinese order
Centrotherm photovoltaics has won a 300 MW order with CECEP Solar Energy Technology (Zhenjiang) Co., Ltd, based in China. Under the agreement, it will deliver solar cell production systems for anti-reflective coating and phosphorous diffusion.
Fraunhofer granted $11 million SunShot plug-and-play grant
The U.S. Department of Energy has committed a further US$11.7 million of funding to develop plug-and-play solar systems through its SunShot initiative.
Top PV module suppliers developing own utility projects
Research from Wiki-Solar has found that the most successful module providers to utility-scale photovoltaic plants are developing their own projects to accommodate their products.
IHS releases 2013 PV predictions
Falling prices and consolidation will remain in 2013, predicts IHS. Despite this, photovoltaic installations are expected to grow, the demand-supply balance is likely to be restored and China is set to become the biggest global solar market. Overall, the research company has laid out 10 predictions for the coming year.
Smart grid and CSP schemes among EU's 1.2 billion handout recipients
The EU has announced more than 1.2 billion (US$1.6 billion) of funding for renewable generation projects, including more than 200 million for concentrated solar power (CSP) projects in Greece and Cyprus, and 8.2 million for a smart grid scheme in Belgium.
UK: DECC's RO solar decision meets with mixed response
U.K. lobby group the Solar Trade Association (STA) has partly welcomed a decision by the government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to row back on a proposal to tie the support given to utility-scale photovoltaic plants to the domestic FIT regime.
Gildemeister lands contracts worth 29 million
Germany-based renewables company Gildemeister has secured contracts worth 29.2 million (US$38.4 million) for solar energy storage projects in Romania, Italy and Germany.
Brazil receives nearly 1 GW of new PV applications
Brazils national electricity regulator ANEEL recently announced the receipt of 21 new requests for regulatory authorization to develop and operate new photovoltaic plants totaling almost 1 GW of planned generation capacity.
