Finance

China dropped import duties and value-added tax (VAT) for a variety of equipment, including for solar cells and lithium-ion batteries on April 1, thus sending a “positive signal” to the China-Europe trade negotiations.

China’s Suntech Power Holdings collapsed under the weight of its own inventory in March, leading to weeks of volatility in the solar equities market in New York. German companies have also seen stocks suffer a shaky month. Overall, it is forecast, focus will be placed on First Solar, SunPower and MEMC/SunEdison in the coming months.

Led by large-scale installations, photovoltaic demand in Emerging Asia Pacific and Central Asian (EAPCA) countries is forecast to grow 28% annually to reach at least 3 GW by 2017, according to NPD Solarbuzz.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US41.4 million loan package to finance two of Solarpack Chile S.A.’s photovoltaic plants, worth 26.5 MW.

What will be one of Australia’s biggest photovoltaic power plants has moved one step further towards completion today, with the 53 MW plant receiving a recommendation that it should be approved. Construction is set to begin in 2014.

Speculation that SolarWorld may receive a three-digit million investment from Qatar saw the German photovoltaic company’s stock temporarily jump. It has failed to respond to the rumors.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded US$46 million for 76 large-scale projects totaling 52 MW of new photovoltaic capacity.

Overall, the Conergy Group managed to reduce its 2012 losses, albeit slightly. Sales are expected to considerably improve in 2013. Meanwhile, business in Asia and the U.S. is forecast to significantly grow, and Eastern Europe should open up as a promising new export market.

Phoenix Solar AG expects to see “slight” growth in 2013, on the back of marginally improved 2012 financials. The U.S. and Asia are key growth regions for the German photovoltaic company, which recorded sales decreases of more than 50% last year.

At the end of February, Dyesol secured A$4 million in funding with potential for a further A$16 million draw-down. The executive chairman speaks to pv magazine about what the investment means for the dye-sensitized photovoltaics developer, and how it managed to secure finances in the current financial climate. He also discusses why Dyesol’s products are on their way to achieving grid competitiveness, speaks frankly about the silicon market and provides updates on the company’s various industry partnerships.