Markets

Solar Bankers could take over Bosch’s photovoltaic manufacturing facility in Germany. A progress report on the negotiations concerning Bosch’s solar shares is expected this May. By the end of the year, the Stuttgart-based company wants to completely exit the crystalline photovoltaic business.

U.S. Senators have decided to level the playing field for renewable energy sources by providing investors in renewable energy projects access to private capital that has, for decades, only been available to fossil-fuel project investors. Numerous solar companies support this move.

The PV sector did not cause Spain’s power tariff deficit to increase to its record level in 2012, according to the country’s National Energy Commission (CNE).

The government of southern Indian state Andhra Pradesh has announced a photovoltaic FIT of Rs 6.49/kWh (US$0.12, €0.09) for its tender of one GW, according to energy consultants RESolve. Solar developers are said to be disappointed with the rate.

Russia’s Energy Ministry submitted a draft renewable energy law to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev for approval on 15 April. It is aimed at supporting the deployment of renewable energy sources including solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants across the country.

PV Cycle and Czech collective scheme Retela are collaborating on module take-back and recycling in the Czech Republic. PV Cycle hopes to serve the value chain better with Retela’s expertise for PV waste execution in the country.

German solar company Sunways has announced it will lay off about half of its 105-strong workforce at its cell production plant located in Arnstadt, according to a local German newspaper. Redundancy packages have already been settled by the works council.

BMW has said it wants to offer its customers, in cooperation with Solarwatt, complete photovoltaic systems in the future. The concept, “360° Electric” aims to provide solutions for all customer requirements on the topic of electric mobility.

An attempt to repeal the U.S. state of North Carolina’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) legislation has been defeated. A vote at the committee stage of the repeal legislation’s progress was defeated 18 votes to 13.

From US$200 million in 2012, the photovoltaic storage market is projected to be worth $19 billion in 2017, mainly driven by the German energy storage subsidy, reports IMS Research. While Germany is set to lead the residential sector, Asia and the Americas will dominate the utility-scale market.