Markets

An analysis of major European electricity markets by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association has revealed that electricity produced by photovoltaics will be competitive with conventional sources by 2020. The report, released today, also adds that some market segments will see this occur by as early as 2013.

The quarterly America-China renewable market review, produced by the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), has found residential photovoltaic lease schemes driving renewable growth in the U.S.

Accelerated consolidation and increased competition among photovoltaic producers are two key themes set to characterize 2012’s solar industry. Meanwhile, the “easy phase” of making money is said to be over.

With plenty of sun and not much liquidity, Greece has been forced to be creative as to how to get its economy going and create jobs. One plan to do so has become clear at the European photovoltaic conference in Hamburg today, in the form of “Project Helios”.

High-tech engineering firm Manz believes it has achieved world-record aperture efficiency in one its Copper-Indium-Gallium-(di)Selenide (CIGS) thin-film modules, produced using commercial-scale production techniques. The 600x1200mm module achieved efficiency of 15.1 percent and has an output of 100 watts.

New solar technology like concentrated solar power (CSP) and the opening of new markets are tipped to become a strong growth engine for solar moving forward, according to a new report looking at how the industry will develop before 2016.

Solyndra LLC has announced its intention to file for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code following the immediate suspension of its manufacturing operations and lay off of around 1,100 employees.

Australia’s Victorian State Government today announced a new ‘transitional feed-in tariff’ (TFiT) for rooftop solar panels, joining most of the other Australian states in drastically reducing the amount paid to customers.

Although the photovoltaic module market has suffered setbacks this year, Asian manufacturers are keeping the competition on its toes. According to new research, the top three suppliers in the second quarter of the year (Q2) are Chinese.

Another casualty of the weak market conditions seen in the first half of the year, Germany-based Colexon has announced it will “hone” its business model. Specifically, it will “considerably” downsize its operations and make “large-scale” workforce reductions.