Markets

A new survey conducted by Applied Materials, Inc. reveals that two-thirds of Americans believe solar technology should play a greater role in meeting the country’s energy needs.

Following the construction of its P3 polysilicon plant, which has a production capacity of 10,000 metric tons (MT) and is due to be completed at the end of this year, OCI has said it is looking to further expand production by another 5,000 metric tons at its facility in Gunsan, Jeollabukdo, South Korea.

A call for U.S. companies to develop a feasibility study for a 50 megawatt (MW) Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in Lebanon has been made by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and Lebanon’s Zeenni’s Trading Agency, in light of continued energy shortages in the country.

The next two and a half years are shaping up to be one of significant transformation for the Europe photovoltaics (PV) industry, according to a new report from IHS Emerging Energy Research. European PV markets are forecast to add as much as 15.5 gigawatts (GW) from 2010 to 2012 at an average of five GW per year.

Despite the turbulence in Spanish solar policy, Yingli solar is expanding its presence in Spain, partly as a base from which to reach other markets. By the end of the year, the Chinese module manufacturer plans to expand its service center in Madrid.

A 30 percent reduction for photovoltaics applications would signal “the end”, according to Javier Anta, president of the Spanish photovoltaics association (ASIF). In an interview with pv magazine, he also said that current plant owners would be ruined. Furthermore, he stated that between 600 and 1,000 megawatts (MW) in Spain are currently “with a leaglly uncertain status”.

U.S.-based Solyndra Inc. has withdrawn its request from the Securities and Exchange Commission to proceed with an initial public offering (IPO) of shares of its common stock, due to “adverse market conditions” and the availability of alternative funding from existing investors.

Germany-based Sunways AG has reported sales increases of 52 percent to €44.3 million. The company has also stated it is looking to extend its distribution activities both in Germany and abroad. Moreover, it has predicted an upturn in international business.

The mediation committee between the German Bundestag and the Bundesrat for solar promotion – set up to find a compromise regarding the issue of feed-in tariffs (FITs) – failed to reach a consensus after meeting for the first time yesterday.

Until now, the Spanish photovoltaics associations have not been able to come to a compromise in terms of the planned reductions of feed-in tariffs. Negotiations were held between the parties yesterday.