US: Laid off SolarWorld employees granted federal aid
The U.S. Department of Labor has said the manufacturing employees laid off by SolarWorld Industries America Inc., following the shutdown of its Camarillo photovoltaic module production plant in California, are entitled to federal trade-adjustment assistance.
Strong Chinese presence at Renewables Indonesia
Chinese photovoltaic players were out in force at the second Renewables Indonesia International Trade Fair on Energy Sustainability, Green Resources and Environmental Technology, which kicked off today in the densely packed capital city of Indonesia. A stark need for renewables in the country has been identified.
Kenya: Solar financing plan launched
Acquisition of solar panels by institutions and individuals keen on installing photovoltaic systems in Kenya could now be made easier after a regional module manufacturer has offered to guarantee bank loans for the purchase of equipment.
DSC PV market poised for significant expansion
Key technical breakthroughs in the past year have pushed the dye sensitized cell (DSC) photovoltaic market out of the research and development stage, making it a technology with solid growth potential in the near future.
LDK Solar suffers significant 2011 losses
Chinese manufacturer, LDK Solar has posted significant fourth quarter (Q4) 2011 losses. Despite this, the company believes there is long term growth potential. It is targeting revenues of between US$2 billion and $2.7 billion in 2012.
Germany installs 650 MW of PV at start of 2012
650 megawatts (MW) worth of photovoltaics were installed in Germany in January and February, according to preliminary figures from the countrys Federal Network Agency.
SiC Processing closes Norwegian slurry recycling plant
SiC Processing has announced the closure of its slurry recycling plant in Herøya, Norway, following the permanent closure of RECs wafer facilities. Around 100 employees will be affected.
Wacker opens Nünchritz polysilicon production facilities
Wacker Chemi AG has officially opened its “hyperpure” polysilicon facilities in Nünchritz, Germany. The 900 million investment is said to have created over 500 new jobs.
Solar investors react badly to Chinese manufacturing numbers
After a positive start to 2012, solar stocks have given back most of their gains as bad figures coming out of China lead to some significant losses.
China Sunergy suffers significant losses
Solar cell and module manufacturer, China Sunergy, posted significant losses in 2011. Despite this, the Chinese company plans to ramp cell capacity up to one gigawatt (GW).
