Solar self-consumption on the rise in Germany
Lower feed-in tariffs, high electricity rates and the growing availability of storage systems are making self-consumption a much more attractive option for German solar producers.
Hermes launches trial run for solar module production facility in Sofia
Hermes Solar on Friday officially launched the trial run of its new highly automated crystalline module production with an annual capacity of 60 MW in Bulgaria. The first modules, scheduled to ship in September, are mainly for the European market. Bulgaria’s domestic market has virtually collapsed due to ongoing political squabbling over solar feed-ins.
Thai FITs for further 1 GW of solar
Thai government announces FIT rates for 200 MW of rooftop solar and 800 MW of community-owned ground mounts. Systems will pay rates over 25, rather than previous ten, years and rooftops must be installed by December.
Conergy brand and salesforce acquired by US private equity group
Conergy’s global sales units acquired by U.S. private equity group. Kawa Capital deal excludes mounting system and module production units but administrator is hopeful of sales as module production resumes in Frankfurt (Oder).
US halts mining in Solar Energy Zones
Department of the Interior halts new mining claims for 20 years in its Solar Energy Zones. Almost 304,000 acres across 17 sites in six western U.S. states will come under the 20-year mining ban.
Solarworld first-half figures disappoint
Company pins hopes on acceptance of restructuring proposal by shareholders as client uncertainty weighs on figures for first six months of 2013. Company did, however, rein in losses.
Approval for 30 MW project in the Philippines
US$55 million scheme in Ilocos Norte is the third PV project to win a certificate of commerciality in the country. South Korean developers expect to be fully operational in late 2014.
Solar market worth $134 billion by 2020
Annual revenue from PV installations will top $134 billion in seven years’ time and solar will stand alone without subsidies from 2017, claims Navigant Research report.
German-Chinese module price gap narrowing
Module and inverter trader says trade war and consequent lack of Chinese imports is closing the price gap between German and Chinese products. But spot market availability of fire-sale modules can skew figures, warns analyst.
REC to separate silicon, solar divisions
Norwegian solar group REC is looking to improve its finances by spinning off its solar and silicon divisions as independent companies. The group also saw second-quarter revenue rise 21% while narrowing its operating loss.
