Markets & Policy

Trina Solar has announced a new efficiency record of 22.13% for its p-type mono-crystalline silicon solar cell.

The California-based company plans to use net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including pursuing its HoldCo and YieldCo strategies, capital expenditures, lowering debt and potential acquisitions.

The Swiss engineering group has announced its second heterojunction-based module installation this year. A number of the company’s customers have also commissioned heterojunction cell production lines.

The equipment manufacturer discussed details of an agreement with the government of Piaui for a solar factory.

Projects are expected to be awarded in the next few weeks under the third annual auction for renewables. However, little PV has been built in Russia to date.

Including tax incentives for installations, the program contemplates the sale of surplus electricity on the wholesale market and provides BNDES funding for initiatives. The government expects up to 23.5 GW of installations, mostly solar PV, by 2030.

An analysis by GTM Research shows that an additional 25 GW of solar PV will be installed in the U.S. over the next five years if the ITC is extended via the current spending bill in Congress.

Company co-founder, Robert Hartung has, alongside an unnamed, strategic investor, been identified as the new majority shareholder of centrotherm photovoltaics AG. Subject to conditions being met, the purchase agreement will be completed in Q1 2016.

The Dow Chemical Company and DuPont have unveiled their US$130 billion “merger of equals” plan. Combining their expertise, say the two, will create a “technology leader across four high growth segments,” including solar PV materials.

The fossil fuel industry is facing a US$33 trillion hit to its expected revenues over the next 20 years, following the dramatic and unexpected result of the Paris climate change conference last weekend. RenewEconomy reports.