Researchers at the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) at the University of Wollongong in Australia have been awarded a new Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant of AUD$320,000 over three years. As such, they will work with Konarka Technologies in an effort to increase the efficiency of organic polymer solar cells.

First Solar may be looking to takeover SMA Solar Technology AG after saying it would be willing to purchase each SMA share for €110, according to several brokers. Following this, SMA’s shares significantly rose by around five percent today to almost €85 on the German TecDAX stock index.

Egypt is currently planning to connect its first solar energy station to the grid, according to the General Authority for Investment (GAFI).

Germany-based Solar Millennium AG, Erlangen has sold 50 percent of the stakes in its 50-megawatt (MW) parabolic trough solar thermal power plant – Ibersol – to Ferrostaal AG, Essen for an undisclosed amount. Located in the province of Extremadura, Spain, construction is expected to begin on the plant this autumn. It is hoped by spring 2013, it will be connected to the grid.

Nevada Solar Works LLC. has won a contract to install 1.3 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics (PV) projects in the City of Reno, the U.S. The Reno City Council announced the contract, approving a one MW fixed tilt ground mount system at the Reno-Stead Water Treatment Plant, and 295 kW in fixed tilt roof and ground mount installations at five other locations throughout the city.

DuPont has announced production of polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) polymer resin – a “critical” raw material used to make the company’s Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride film – has begun at its Fayetteville Works facility in the U.S. The film is used for photovoltaics (PV) panel backsheets.

centrotherm photovoltaics AG, based in Germany, has signed several contracts for production systems and equipment in its solar cell business area with “well-known” Asian customers for undisclosed sums of money.

Neo Solar Power Corp. has started building a NT$30 billion (USD$937 million) solar cell manufacturing plant in Tainan, Taiwan, according to Bloomberg.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has issued a proposed decision to launch a new next-generation feed-in tariff (FIT) program, designed to drive mid-sized renewable energy development. This will require investor-owned Californian utilities to purchase electricity from renewable energy systems between one and 20 megawatts (MW) in size.

Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc., REgeneration Finance, LLC. and the Douglas County School District, which serves over 56,000 students, have announced the development of three megawatts (MW) of solar electric power generating projects at 31 different sites – 30 schools and one athletic stadium – in Douglas County, Colorado, the U.S.