Conergy installs 500 kW Canary Island rooftop plant
German photovoltaic manufacturer and integrator Conergy has announced the installation of a 500 kW rooftop power plant across three roofs on the island of Fuerteventura today. When completed, the array takes the companys installations on the islands to 14 MW.
French government provides details on future EU bonus
The French Eco-Ministry has unveiled more details by which conditions the new “national” PV-bonus of up to 10% on FITs will be paid. It additionally provided further information on the forthcoming auctions and FIT-reform.
Solar Mosaic sells out first round of projects
Crowdfunding solar site Solar Mosaic has funded the first four projects it offered within 24 hours of launching on Monday. The four projects are worth over 150 kW combined and are on affordable housing sites in California.
Hanergy completes acquisition of MiaSolé
Chinas Hanergy has completed its acquisition of Silicon Valley thin film manufacturer MiaSolé. The acquisition indicates that Hanergy intends for MiaSolé to supply the flexible module market and its other CIGS acquisition, Solibro, glass modules to Europe. R&D breakthroughs and patents between all three will presumably be shared.
China sets 10 GW installed capacity target for 2013
Reuters are reporting that China has set a goal to install 10 GW of new solar capacity in 2013. This would more than double its current cumulative capacity of 7 GW.
Solar Frontier achieves CIGS "cells" at 19.7%
Japanese thin film manufacturer Solar Frontier has claimed a cadmium free CIGS efficiency record, on tiny cells measuring 0.5cm x 0.5cm. The efficiency of 19.7%was measured by Japans National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and is an improvement on the previous record of 18.6%, which had stood for a decade.
Polysilicon industry to resume growth in 2013
Bernreuter Research sees rising demand with new PV installations of 36 GW. According to the latest Bernreuter Research analysis the global polysilicon industry will resume growth and increase production by 6.5% in 2013.
UK and Italy: invest in solar or "pay the price"
Energy market analysts with GlobalData have sent a warning to U.K. and Italian consumers, saying that they should “invest in solar or pay the price”. The analysts cite gas price instability as the key driver in making solar a sound economic decision for consumers.
2013 China PV demand to amount US$3 billion
NPD Solarbuzz has stated in its China Balance of Systems Market Report that revenues of CNY 19.5 billion (US$3.1 billion) will be made available to PV balance-of-system suppliers in the Chinese market this year.
US military continues to invest in PV
In another sign of its continuing and robust support for photovoltaics, the U.S. military has given the go-ahead for a 12.3 MW installation at the Joint Military Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst in New Jersey.
