Markets

The increase in photovoltaics (PV) installations in Germany turned out to be greater than expected by both analysts and the industry this year. If growth continues at the present level, then the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) has said it would be willing to support an additional cut in feed-in tariffs (FITs). However, it categorically rejected any cap on the PV market.

Sanyo Component Europe GmbH has achieved what it says is the world’s highest cell conversion efficiency at 21.6 percent.

According to a local media source, photovoltaics (PV) power generation in China is expected to grow at an annual rate of one gigawatt (GW) from 2012.

The fate of the different thin film photovoltaics (TFPV) technologies has diverged in the last year, according to a new report, which found that while many opportunities exist for the technologies to be developed, growth will be slower than was previously predicted in 2009.

The Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has announced support for household solar installations will begin to be phased out a year earlier than previously planned, in recognition of “significant reductions” in the cost of solar panels.

The German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety has not ruled out further photovoltaics (PV) feed-in tariff (FIT) cuts in the coming year. Representatives from the solar industry have purportedly indicated their willingness to accept this renewed cap on subsidies.

Manz Automation AG has secured new orders worth a total of more than €50 million, much of which has come from automation and process equipment for the manufacture of crystalline solar cells.

Singapore’s National Solar Repository (NSR) has been launched by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), in collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic, at the country’s Solar Pioneer Awards ceremony held yesterday.

According to the photovoltaics (PV) analysts, market diversity will be one of the key trends next year, with a number of emerging countries making up the expected shortfall of installed capacity in Germany.

A Spanish woman has reportedly spent €30 buying the proprietary rights to the sun. Now she says she wants to charge solar businesses.