Markets & Policy

As with photovoltaic module manufacturers and project developers, inverter manufacturers must look to emerging markets in order to secure future growth, according to new research. Latest industry figures further indicate that while the market will continue to increase, European demand is on the wane. Meanwhile, inverter prices will experience another “double digit” drop this year.

Brazil’s solar market will register a new milestone with the first unregulated commercial auction of solar power, planned for August 9 by Bioenergy, a Sao Paulo-based renewable energy developer and marketer.

NRG Energy, Inc. and GenOn Energy, Inc. have unveiled their plans to merge. The two companies signed a definitive agreement, under which they intend to combine their activities in a stock?for?stock tax?free transaction. The transaction is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2013.

Continuing falling photovoltaic prices, a shift in its core markets and cancelled supply contracts have all contributed to Sunways AG’s falling 2011 financials. However, it remains confident that new investor, LDK Solar, can help “open up new growth prospects”. International sales also helped stabilize the company.

Major Australian financial services company, Investec has indicated that it will create a fund, which could accelerate utility-scale photovoltaics in the country.

Updated: Under a new agreement between OCI Solar Power and CPS Energy, 400 MW of solar power will be installed in San Antonio, Texas, and photovoltaic module component manufacturing facilities established. A spokesperson for CPS Energy reveals more details to pv magazine.

Turnabout is fair play—or rather, fair trade, according to China, which on July 20 announced that it would launch countervailing duty (CVD) and anti-dumping (AD) investigations against the U.S. solar industry, as well as an AD case against South Korea.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have developed a highly transparent solar cell for building integration.

In another sign of the steady growth in the Australian solar market, figures released today show that more than 750,000 homes now feature photovoltaic arrays. This brings cumulative capacity, on residential rooftops, to 1.7 GW.

New research published by IMS Research indicates that due to a surge in installations, the money set aside for Italy’s fifth Conto Energia will be insufficient to fund the scheme, and the Italian market will effectively be operating without subsidies in 2013.