Markets & Policy

A proposal by U.K. tax regulator HMRC to increase value-added tax on solar panels from 5% to 20% has been challenged by the Solar Trade Association and other campaigners who are urging the government to halt the rise.

First Solar Inc. forecasts modest growth next year, with net sales, operating expenses and shipments all expected to remain relatively flat. Net cash should see an increase, however, while CAPEX spending is set to double, and capacity will rise by around 20% to 3 GW. Three main priorities were outlined. Shares fell around 8% following the news.

The Korean solar panel manufacturer has extended its supply partnership with U.S. residential installer Sunrun, with modules to be shipped from Hanwha’s fabs in Malaysia and South Korea.

Manz AG has announced that 174 employees will go, primarily in Germany and Asia, although its other European sites have also been affected. Capacities will be adjusted accordingly. It hopes to save around EUR 7 million. The strategic options for its Solar segment are still under review. A further announcement is scheduled for the beginning of the New Year.

The Chinese manufacturer set to launch three new string inverters into the markets of Thailand, Taiwan, China and the U.K. from the beginning of next year.

Solarpack has closed debt restructuring totaling EUR 94 million for five solar PV parks in Spain totaling 27.2 MW.

pv magazine speaks with Solar Impulse pilot and co-founder Andre Borschberg at the COP21 Summit in Paris.

GCL New Energy Holdings Limited (GNE) has signed a solar PV module supply agreement with CNI Energy for a 100 MW project in China. In other news, GCL subsidiaries have signed two separate lease agreements worth around US$96.5 million.

The acquisition has saved all 42 jobs at Platinum’s German headquarters, according to the insolvency liquidator. The inverter manufacturer will solely focus on R&D going forward.

The 12 MW installation will be built across eight sheltered venues at a single premise at the R.S.S.B. Educational & Environmental Society in Amritsar, India.