Markets & Policy

Just a day after First Solar announced the closure of its Frankfurt (Oder) facility in Germany and the loss of 2,000 jobs, GTM Research has released a report which asks “Is the window closing for thin film PV?”

Photovoltaic manufacturer, Q-Cells SE is currently looking for an investor. The company is weighed down with debt, however.

Korea-based STX Group is renowned for its ship building and trading activities. However, since 2009, the company has been steadily ramping up its solar cell production, and launched its first module in 2011. In an interview with pv magazine the company talks about its photovoltaic factory plans and large-scale project ambitions.

Photovoltaic module manufacturer, Canadian Solar Inc. and project developer, SkyPower Limited have formed a joint venture (JV) under which they will install up to 200 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics in Ontario, Canada. They will also develop projects internationally.

Thin film photovoltaic giant, First Solar, has today announced it is significantly reducing its operations in Germany, due to the “deteriorating” market conditions in Europe. It is also scaling back its operations in Malaysia. Around 2,000 jobs will be lost.

More details have emerged as to First Solar’s decision to halt its module production operations in Germany before the end of 2012. Analysts say the decision should not come as a surprise.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its sophisticated think tank, the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), is funding a $30 million research competition that will engage America’s brightest scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs in improving the capability of energy storage devices, including batteries.

The 6th China New Energy International Forum (CNEIF) ended on Saturday, April 14, in Beijing with the key conclusion that the Chinese photovoltaic market is full of promise, despite the subsidy cuts in Europe this year and the running investigation of Chinese cell and panel manufacturers in the U.S.

Photovoltaic equipment revenues have hit a 10 quarter (Q) low, according to the latest figures from NPD Solarbuzz. Despite this, the company is optimistic the market will pick up again in 2013, after bottoming-out in Q2 2012. Meyer Burger is expected to be the leading supplier in the first half of the year, and GTAT the overall leader in 2012.

In a no-nonsense interview, Frank Asbeck accuses the energy companies of trying to destroy the solar industry in Germany. He further reiterates his criticisms of Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers.