Markets & Policy

U.S. polysilicon manufacturer Hemlock Semiconductor has lodged a claim against Deutsche Solar GmbH, claiming it has breached four long-term commitments to purchase polysilicon from the Michigan-based company.

Bring it on! The United States doesn’t know its own strength when it comes to competition with China, according to a report just released by the Washington, DC-based Pew Research Center. And that holds especially true in the high-profile, ultra-competitive photovoltaic market sector.

Germany-based Hawi Energietechnik AG is insolvent. Around 100 employees have been affected by the news.

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has today said that a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) model has been “envisaged” for the second phase of the country’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). National budget deficit concerns are, however, throwing the viability of the program into question.

Cumulative photovoltaic capacity in Portugal reached 225.5 MW at the end of 2012, according to a report published by the Portuguese energy regulator, DGGE (Direcção Geral de Energia e Geologia), on March 4.

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd has reached a settlement regarding its fraud dispute with GSF Capital Pte Limited (GSF Capital). A part of the agreement has seen the Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer taking over ownership of the GSF Fund.

In Washington, DC, this week, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Secretary Lisa Jackson officially vacated their seats in the Cabinet, leaving considerable baggage behind. The new nominees have been met with general approval, however.

Suntech’s decision to replace founder and former CEO, Zhengrong Shi, with Susan Wang as executive chair of the Chinese company’s board of directors has sparked an internal management struggle. Shi has branded the move both “misconceived and unlawful”. The news comes in the same month as Suntech’s US$541 million bond payment.

Welspun Energy Ltd has closed financing worth INR 8.85 billion on its 130 MW photovoltaic project, located in Madhya Pradesh, India.

According to the latest figures, 300 MW of newly installed photovoltaic capacity was added to Greece’s grid in January. Meanwhile, new forecasts estimate 2.58 GW and 2.82 GW of cumulative capacity at the end of 2013 and 2014, respectively.