Markets & Policy

Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (Minpromtorg) has ordered several studies into fuel alternatives for its civilian aircraft industry, including solar energy. Around RUB628 million (US$ 21 million; €15.5 million) has reportedly been earmarked for the research.

Wacker Chemie AG has reinstated full time working hours at its German polysilicon factory following increased demand.

The Panasonic Corporation has claimed what it says is a world record for a crystalline silicon-based photovoltaic cell of a “practical size” with an efficiency of 24.7%. Japan’s Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has evaluated the efficiency.

Mexico has reported a cumulative installed photovoltaic capacity of 14 MW – almost double that of 2011. Growth is projected to continue on the same trajectory this year.

Figures released today from NPD Solarbuzz have shown that cumulative photovoltaic demand from the U.K. market has now hit 2 GW. 2012 saw close to 1 GW of demand.

A typically horrendous set of fourth-quarter and full year figures from Norwegian solar manufacturer Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) was enough to see off chairman Jens Ulltveit-Moe. HIs replacement, Mimi K Berdal told pv magazine she is confident the market will turn – she just doesn’t know when.

Behind the headline news from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) that the world has passed the 100 GW mark in cumulative installed photovoltaic capacity, is the ongoing story of a shift away from Europe.

Yole Développement has released its “Inverter market trends for 2013-2020 and major technology changes” report. The report states that more than 28 million units were shipped in 2012.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Treasury have released US$150 million in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy and energy efficiency manufacturing projects in the country.

SunPower has announced bullish full year results for 2012 and an optimistic forecast for 2013, despite seeing net losses in the final three months of the year burgeon by almost US$100 million.