Markets

With its high solar radiation and growing demand for energy, North Africa is set to become a big future solar market. pv magazine spoke with expert Khaled Nasraoui, co-founder and deputy CEO of Tunisian-based producer Aurasol about the current situation in the region, and its potential.

The government of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria announced today that it will cut its photovoltaic FIT for the second time this year. The FIT paid will be reduced from AU$0.25/kWh (US$0.26) to $0.08kWh (US$0.08), approximately less than half of the retail price of electricity charged to consumers.

Chinese module manufacturer, JinkoSolar has said it will supply South Africa’s first off grid utility scale photovoltaic system. The 1 MW plant will supply electricity to a chrome mine in the Limpopo province, in the north east of the country.

The German Federal Network Agency announced a total of 4.9 GW in new photovoltaic installations from the beginning of the current year to July 31. That represents nearly double as much as in the same period last year.

2013 is set to see increased photovoltaics support in Poland. While many expect the new law – and generous subsidies – to boost the country’s solar industry, there are already fears the government’s conservative capacity estimates could cause the kind of boom and bust cycle seen in markets like Spain and the Czech Republic. The questions on everyone’s lips are: will the law come into force as planned; and is the government adequately prepared for the anticipated uptake?

By 2017, Sunways AG said it intends, along with its majority shareholder, LDK Solar, to become 1 of the top 3 photovoltaic inverter manufacturers globally. It added that it will return to profitability in 2014, and will enter the Canadian, U.S. and Chinese markets in the coming years.

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd’s preliminary results for Q2 2012 include a gross margin significantly below its original guidance, and increased operating expenses. Although shipments and revenues were said to have increased, it has decreased its FY shipping guidance. Meanwhile, in response to allegations over GSE’s business in Italy, the company has denied any wrongdoing.

During a visit to Beijing, the German Chancellor sought to find a political solution to the anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) dispute involving China’s photovoltaic manufacturers.

According to media reports, criminal charges have been filed in Italy against the Global Solar Fund, S.C.A., Sicar (GSF). It is claimed the company “illegally” built solar farms in the country in order to take advantage of available subsidies. The trial is scheduled to begin on December 6.

On the back of paltry Q2 2012 financial results, China Sunergy expects its business to be adversely affected in 2H. The usual suspects – oversupply, weak market demand and low ASPs – were identified as the main culprits. Downstream projects are still a focus for the company.