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First Solar to takeover SMA?

First Solar may be looking to takeover SMA Solar Technology AG after saying it would be willing to purchase each SMA share for €110, according to several brokers. Following this, SMA’s shares significantly rose by around five percent today to almost €85 on the German TecDAX stock index.

California: CPUC proposes next-generation solar FIT

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has issued a proposed decision to launch a new next-generation feed-in tariff (FIT) program, designed to drive mid-sized renewable energy development. This will require investor-owned Californian utilities to purchase electricity from renewable energy systems between one and 20 megawatts (MW) in size.

Czech government adopts plan to rein in renewables

The Czech government has approved a renewable energy framework plan aimed at curbing the kind of subsidies that have led to a solar boom that ranks as Europe’s third largest, reports Reuters.

Mars: Self-cleaning technology can keep solar panels dust-free

Research scientists from Boston University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have presented their findings on self-dusting solar panels to the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

France to cut PV FITs by 12 percent from September

The French Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment has announced it will be cutting all feed-in-tariffs (FITs) for new photovoltaics (PV) installations by 12 percent from September 1. Small residential PV systems, with a maximum capacity of three megawatts (MW) or less is the only category not to be affected.

Research: PV microinverters and power optimizer revenues predicted to hit around USD$1.5 billion over next 5 years

Solar microinverters and DC-DC power optimizers are forecast to generate more than USD$1.5 billion in revenues over the next five years, according to IMS Research. It says that shipments of the devices are forecast to grow over 100 percent per year and will total more than 16 million in the same period.

South Africa: Grid parity within sight, but Refit needs to be implemented soon

After years of speculation and waiting, it seems South Africa is set to receive its first renewable energy feed-in tariff (Refit) for solar PV by the end of the year. Representing one of the “biggest shifts in South Africa (SA) in the last few years”, Ryan Hammond director of Solairedirect Southern Africa tells pv magazine that following its successful implementation, he is confident it won’t be long before grid parity is reached. However, he said the proposed incentives could prove to be too attractive.

Researchers announce new 20.3 percent world record CIGS solar cell efficiency

Scientists at the Zentrum fur Sonnenenergie-und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg, Germany (Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research, ZSW) say they have achieved a new world record for copper, indium, gallium and diselenide (CIGS) solar cell efficiencies. At 20.3 percent, the Stuttgart researchers state that the new results should “significantly” improve the cost-effectiveness of CIGS thin film photovoltaics (PV) over the medium term.

US annual PV installations to reach 1.9 GW by 2014, says new study

The U.S. is expected to install around 1.9 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaics (PV) annually by 2014, according to new research, which states that the country’s market is growing at fast pace, thanks to government support and decreasing installation costs.

US: Illinois sees new laws passed to encourage use of solar

A new law has been passed in Illinois, the U.S. whereby Commonwealth Edison and Ameren must begin purchasing solar energy – as part of the renewable energy portfolio requirement – by 2012 instead of 2015. Specifically, the power industry will now be required to purchase .5 percent of its power from solar sources by June 1, 2012; 1.5 percent by June 1, 2013; 3 percent by June 1, 2014; and 6 percent by June 1, 2015, and each year thereafter.

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