US: Installed price of PV systems continue to fall
The latest edition of Tracking the Sun, an annual PV cost-tracking report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) states that PV power system installed prices fell “substantially” in 2011 and through the first half of this year.
US: Yingli to supply 170 MW Centinela project
Vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturer Yingli Green Energy has signed what it claims is its biggest ever module supply agreement. The company will ship 200 MW of its modules to Southern California for a utility scale project for Centinela Solar Energy.
UK: Green Investment Bank officially open
The new Green Investment Bank has been officially opened. The institution has been funded with £3 billion (3.7 billion) government funds.
3M successfully completes Ceradyne tender offer
3M has announced that its tender offer to purchase all issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Ceradyne, Inc at US$35 per share was successful.
Training network for PV researchers
A new EU consortium will develop a training network for PV researchers. The KESTCELLS project as it is called has a total budget of over 3.7 million. The aim is to increase European competitiveness of existing technologies.
European consortium highlights competitiveness of PV
The PV PARITY Project has concluded that grid parity is imminent in several countries. The European wide project bases its results on system prices, retail electricity prices, cost of financing, and capacity in countries to self-consume PV power generated.
Oerlikon completes sale of solar business
Oerlikon has announced that it has closed the sale of its solar business to Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TEL). TEL acquires 100% of Oerlikon Solar shares with cash proceeds for Oerlikon amounting to CHF 250 million (207 million).
Japan: ORIX to develop 200 MW as market blossoms
In another sign of the moves into photovoltaics by a diverse collection of Japanese industrial players, financial services group ORIX has announced its plans to develop 200 MW of solar projects over the next three years.
QBotix receives US$1 million under SunShot Initiative
Robotics company QBotix has received a US$1 million development award under US Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative.
AEG and ITM cooperate on energy storage
AEG Power Solutions has signed an agreement with energy storage and clean fuel company, ITM Power. The companies will cooperate on integrating ITM Power’s electrolyser with AEG PS’s power control electronics.
