Markets & Policy

With the help of veteran investor Warren Buffett’s decision to buy the 579 MW Antelope Valley Solar Projects, California-based SunPower has announced that rarest of things in the solar industry – a positive quarterly update.

NRG Energy will cut the ribbon today on its 66 MW Alpine Solar Generating Facility, California’s largest fully operational solar generating plant.

The changing balance of power in the global solar marketplace – with the emphasis shifting from the EU to Asia and the Americas – has been emphasized by a new set of European statistics.

The latest statistics show that 68.3 MW worth of solar projects are currently under construction in Chile, compared to just 3.3 MW in February. Meanwhile, renewables accounted for 5.25% of the country’s energy mix in Q1.

The Central American country is gearing up to approve a regulation, which aims to support solar energy installations.

Founder of the International Battery and Energy Storage Alliance (IBESA) and Managing Director of IPVEA Bryan D. Ekus provides pv magazine with more insight into the newly formed alliance and the support needed by the storage sector.

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd has released preliminary, unaudited, financial figures for Q4 and FY 2012. As expected, the company suffered from significantly falling sales and a battered gross margin. Meanwhile, a creditors meeting has been scheduled for earlier than planned for the insolvent Wuxi Suntech.

At 54%, electricity production from renewable energy reached a record high in Spain last month. Photovoltaics, meanwhile, met 3.6% of demand.

New Jersey’s largest electricity provider Public Services and Utility Group (PSE&G) has reached an agreement with New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and other parties to increase renewable energy spending.

Chinese photovoltaic module suppliers continue to dominate global supply, as they try to expand their market share overseas, according to NPD Solarbuzz. Overall, it says the top 20 suppliers accounted for nearly 70% of global shipments in Q1 2013. Meanwhile, average module sales prices for the top 20 have shown signs of stabilization.