Manufacturing

Solar hybrid AG has said it will suffer from loss of investments for its planned 150 megawatt peak (MWp) photovoltaic park, due to be online by the end of 2012. Meanwhile, Parabel AG has said it will push ahead with its 40 MW park, with the assumption that an appropriate transition period will be allowed.

Having suffered significant losses in 2011, despite a successful start to the year, centrotherm photovoltaics AG has unveiled a new program designed to cut costs and refocus its business. The aim is to place more emphasis on crystalline silicon. 400 jobs will be cut.

Canadian Solar may have weathered the 2011 solar storm better than many of its peers, but it still recorded significant fourth quarter (Q4) and full year (FY) losses.

Premier Power Renewable Energy Inc. has announced work on its 16.2 megawatt peak (MWp) photovoltaic park in Bulgaria’s Dimitrovgrad has begun.

Indian and Iranian energy ministers met in Tehran this week and have agreed to strengthen cooperation on renewable energy projects, with a special focus on solar power.

CIGS thin film photovoltaic module developer, MiaSole has secured US$ 55 million in funding. The company says it will “aggressively” build the commercial part of its business.

Shari’ah compliant investment securities, sukuks, are to be made available for renewable energy projects such as photovoltaics. A Green Sukuk Working Group has been established to identify such investment opportunities.

Jan Withag, Solar Millennium’s chairman of the management board, has announced his resignation from the struggling solar company, effective March 8, 2012.

Having suffered at the hands of the weak solar market conditions, Germany’s Q-Cells has reported very weak 2011 preliminary financials. The company’s EBIT has been particularly hard hit, due to a number of impairments incurred.

The new German feed-in tariff (FIT) rates will be applied later than originally planned. Meanwhile, EPIA has sent an open letter to Merkel, asking for the new plans to be revised. In related news, two large-scale photovoltaic projects have been announced.