Markets & Policy

The beleaguered German company’s remaining noteholders today backed restructuring plans which now have to win approval at tomorrow’s extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.

The publication of the EU acceptance of Chinese undertakings on minimum prices for solar products was predictably light on detail. The list of participating manufacturers in the trade agreement is more or less comprehensive.

The chief operating officer of Gehrlicher Solar says the EU-China agreement “is of no use to anyone” but nevertheless welcomes an end to the dispute-related uncertainty.

Japan’s Marubeni is set to acquire a 25% share in Ireland’s Mainstream Renewable Power following the EUR 100 million investment. If approved by shareholders, the deal would accelerate Mainstream’s key global projects.

The falling price of solar modules may lead to an increase in rooftop photovoltaic installations in Brazil, which is initially targeting 1.4 GW of solar by 2022.

SolarWorld’s planned debt to equity swap was waved through by creditors on Monday. A second group of noteholders vote on Tuesday ahead of an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday.

The EC has published details on the negotiated minimum import price it approved on Friday that settled the trade dispute over Chinese modules and cells, but several questions remain unanswered.

IHS predicts solar manufacturers in Taiwan and Korea will soon be able to offer solar products in Europe below the minimum price negotiated for Chinese products last week.

Bernhard Beck said the policies of the current government in Berlin mean it is impossible to consider developing another 128 MW solar park like the one he was inaugurating at Templin, in Brandenburg state.

EU member states voted to accept the EU-China trade deal announced by commissioner Karel de Gucht last weekend. An EU press spokesman said no member state had voted against the agreement.