Tough first quarter, but prices to stabilize in 2Q2013
IHS reports that a surge in demand was seen in the final quarter of 2012 for PV modules, despite 3Q 2012 having had low factory utilization rates across the PV supply chain. The first quarter will be tough but thereafter, a substantial increase in global demand is forecast to drive increasing revenues and stabilizing prices in the second half of 2013.
California: Net-metering works
A study commissioned by the Vote Solar Initiative has found that net-metered rooftop solar has the ability to provide more than US$92 million in annual benefits to ratepayers of California’s three investor-owned utilities.
IRENA general assembly 2013
“Despite the global economic crisis, 2012 has been a good year for the development of renewable energies,” declared Adnan Z. Ameen, Director-General of the International Energy Agency (IRENA) on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia: Offgrid plant to be powered by ReneSola
ReneSola has been awarded its first Middle East contract by Taibah University in Medina, Makkah Province in Saudi Arabia.
Swinerton selected for 250 MW K Road Moapa project
Swinterton Renewable Energy has announced that it has been awarded the EPC contract for the K Road Moapa solar plant. The company claims it is the first large-scale solar project on tribal land. It will have a capacity of 250 MW.
SolarWorld puts a third of its staff on short-time work
According to media reports, the photovoltaics company will put 350 of its 1,330 staff at its Freiberg, Germany location on short-time work. The reason is the poor orders situation.
Bangladesh: Grameen Shakti celebrates one-millionth installation
In what has been claimed to be the largest offgrid electrification program in the world, Grameen Shakti has announced its millionth installation in Bangladesh. The company says the program demonstrates that the falling cost of solar photovoltaics is facilitating wider application in countries like Bangladesh.
Portuguese PV grows steadily
A report published by the Portuguese energy regulator, the DGGE (Direcção Geral de Energia e Geologia), on Thursday January 10, says cumulative solar power capacity in Portugal at the end of October 2012 reached 193.3 MW.
PV to grow in 2013 and stocks to bounce
While most photovoltaic manufacturers continue to record losses and some market outlooks remain bleak, new Deutsche Bank analysis has predicted that the solar market is set to grow by 22 percent to 33.4 GW in 2013.
New York State looks to the sun after a year of severe weather
In his 2013 State of the State Address delivered on January 9, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo outlined a comprehensive plan to make the region “the leader in the clean tech economy”, including expansion of the NY-Sun Initiative, a dynamic public-private partnership designed to drive solar industry growth and to make solar installations more affordable for all New Yorkers.
