Technology

According to research, a decrease in demand for new PV installations in the first quarter of the year is expected to cause a “surge” in company inventories.

Suniva, Inc. has claimed its ARTisun Select series solar cells, which are now in full-scale production, are achieving over 19 percent conversion efficiencies. This, says the company, is a record.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has said up to USD$7 million will be invested in the development and commercialization of emerging solar energy technologies.

The EU’s renewable energy goals for 2010, which include power generated from photovoltaics, solar thermal and concentrating solar power, have fallen short of expectations.

A new public-private mixed research laboratory dedicated to the development of polymer materials for photovoltaic (PV) module technologies has been set up in France.

Masdar, Total S.A. and Abengoa Solar are on track to begin operations at the 100 megawatt concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in the Gulf emirate in the third quarter of 2012 according to the Spanish Abengoa.

Latest estimates state that new photovoltaics (PV) installations grew by 130 percent last year to reach 17.5 gigawatts (GWs). This year, installations are forecast to hit 20.5 GWs, thus taking total installed capacity to 58 GWs.

A new report states that the photovoltaics (PV) industry is at a crossroads, with a growing realization that PV panels are becoming commoditized. But, it believes building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) could provide a strategic solution.

According to a new report, the U.S. greentech mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape posted a record year in 2010, with the solar sector displaying increased activity.

The French Government is looking to motivate its national photovoltaics (PV) industry through the introduction of a new R&D program, which is aimed at reducing China’s grip on the global PV market.