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The White House has already invested $2 billion in energy efficiency in federal buildings and is now pledging an additional $2 billion by 2016, doubling the program, with much of the funding going into PV systems.

Downstream developer China Merchants will take a 67.99% shareholding in the new company as poly maker GCL attempts to diversify its business.

The U.S. solar giant has called on the expertise of Australian metalworkers IXL Group in an example of the role the solar industry can play in areas hit by the decline of automotive manufacturing.

The solar sector accounts for 35% of all renewable energy jobs worldwide, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. China in particular has seen a sharp increase in photovoltaic employment.

The installation is one of six British PV projects that will have a combined capacity 80 MWp commissioned by Vogt in the first three months of the year.

The Japanese electrical giant is considering registering as a power supplier in its domestic market. The Japanese energy market is due to be liberalized in 2016.

The large-scale solar array will be built on an abandoned mine site, in accordance with a U.S. government program aimed using contaminated lands for renewable energy projects.

The EPIA says PV can play an important role in reducing the EU’s reliance on Russian gas imports. But a Bloomberg analyst says any short-term gaps in gas supply could be plugged by new supply routes.

Despite lauding its cost-saving measures and reining in operating losses, the U.S. wafer maker and developer reported a huge net loss in Q1. CEO Ahmad Chatila insists the company’s project pipeline equates to a bright outlook.

The U.S. government agency says a greater prevalence and diversity of loan products could enable higher rates of solar adoption in regions where third-party finance is currently lacking.