Gehrlicher and Merk Solar Enerji establish Turkey JV
Germany-based Gehrlicher Solar AG and Turkish energy company, Merk Solar Enerji Çözümleri San. ve Tic. Ltd. ?ti. have established a joint venture (JV) under which they plan to develop photovoltaic projects in Turkey and its neighboring countries.
US: Retroactive duties could be applied to Chinese solar imports
The controversy surrounding the U.S.-China trade debate looks set to continue well into 2012. Having already twice delayed the deadline for its preliminary decision on Chinese solar import duties into the U.S., the Department of Commerce has now introduced a “critical-circumstances” ruling, meaning that retroactive duties could be applied.
Mali set for off-grid solar boost
Under its latest plans to electrify rural areas of developing countries, NGO FRES Netherlands, along with its Mali-based subsidiary, Yeelen Kura, will install six off-grid photovoltaic plants in the country in 2012, thus adding to the two systems it helped erect there in 2011.
US industry stakeholders set Solar PEIS deadline
A group of 20 U.S. solar industry stakeholders have submitted a letter to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, in which they lay out their recommendations for creating a “smart from the start” public land solar energy program. They also state that it “must” be complete by the end of fiscal year 2012.
HCPV efficiency of 33.9 percent reached
Semprius has recorded an efficiency of 33.9 percent on one of its high concentrating photovoltaic (HCPV) modules. The results have been verified by the Instituto de Energia Solar (IES) at the University of Madrid, in Spain.
3 solar takeovers given the green light
LDK Solar, Bosch and Centrosolar have all been given the green light to go ahead with their planned (and, for LDK and Centrosolar, partial) takeovers of Sunways, Voltwerk and Gecko Group, respectively.
US DOC decision on Chinese PV imports delayed again
According to various reports, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has once again moved back the deadline for its decision regarding the SolarWorld-led U.S.-China trade dispute.
Solar modules now officially regarded as e-waste
The EU Parliament has officially changed the guidelines for its WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive. Under the amendments, used photovoltaic modules must now be collected and recycled.
European PV demand increases; incentives tightening
According to the latest European PV Markets Quarterly report from NPD Solarbuzz, the first quarter (Q1) of 2012 is expected to see a 10 percent rise in European photovoltaics demand. However, it says that due to the amount of photovoltaics added in Q4 2011, incentive policy changes are being accelerated.
Spain suspends FITs
In a surprise move, the Spanish Council of ministers has implemented a temporary suspension of the renewable energy feed-in-tariffs (FIT) for new installations in Spain.
