Markets

Despite predictions that photovoltaics (PV) installation growth will slow from over 100 percent in 2010 to less than 20 percent this year, IMS Research says module capacity is expected to continue increasing.

New research says 2011 will see solar companies “scrambling” to find the next big growth market following the scaling back of Germany’s FITs. To secure long-term progress, it believes new factors must be considered.

Newly inaugurated Californian Governer Jerry Brown has called on the state to introduce renewable energy feed-in tariffs (FITs) to meet proposed distributed energy targets. Meanwhile, expected interest in Hawaii’s FIT program has not materialized.

Photovoltaic (PV) installations are predicted to double this year, after the market hit overdrive in the fourth quarter, and global investment strengthens. But, trouble may lie ahead.

Turkey has announced its new feed-in tariffs (FITs). However, despite beliefs the country is set to become one of the next big photovoltaics (PV) markets, pv magazine has been told the tariffs are not high enough to attract investment.

Germany has once again reduced its solar feed-in tariffs by 13 percent. Further reductions are likely to come into play soon.

The U.S. solar market is heading into the New Year with a piggy bank that was just refilled by the federal government.

By a new royal decree (Royal Decreto), the Spanish government has introduced a new limit on the maximum number of hours photovoltaics (PV) installations have the right to receive the feed-in tariff (FIT), sparking criticism from the industry.

U.S. consulting firm, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has said it expects growth of photovoltaics (PV) systems in Germany to drop to 5,000 megawatts in 2011, due to continuing decreases in solar incentives.

German company Roth & Rau AG has announced it will have to post write-downs of around €12.5 million as of December 31, following the surprise announcement by U.S.-based SpectraWatt Inc. that it faces insolvency.