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Production volume at Q-Cells SE’s Malaysian solar cell factory has almost doubled its production output in the second quarter of the year, in comparison to the previous quarter to nearly 100 megawatts peak (MWp). The company additionally says that, for the first time, it is reporting significant sales in its newly launched solar module business, with deliveries of crystalline modules reaching 44 MWp in this quarter.

Canadian Solar Inc. has announced that production will begin at its first solar module manufacturing facility in Canada early next year. Expected to be one of the largest solar panel module manufacturing plants in North America, the new facility will be the company’s first feed-in tariff domestic content compliant solar plant in Ontario. It will have a manufacturing capacity of 200 megawatts a year and will employ around 500 people.

Hyundai Heavy industries (HHI) has won a USD$700 million contract to build a 175-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in the U.S. from Matinee Energy. By the end of 2012 HHI says it will install two solar power plants in Dragoon and Cochise having 150 MW and 25 MW output respectively. The company adds that it is currently expanding its solar cell and module plant facilities to increase annual production capacity to 600MW.???

Concentrix Solar has announced it is going to inaugurate its first concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) power facility in South Africa at the Aquila Private Game Reserve in Touwsrivier on September 1.

Around 140 jobs are to be lost at Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., a manufacturer of thin film flexible solar laminate products, under a significant cost reduction plan.

Ford, Detroit Edison and Xtreme Power are teaming up to establish what they say is one of Michigan’s largest solar power generation systems and electric vehicle charging stations at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in the U.S. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.

Germany-based aleo solar AG has reported a revenue of €277.0 million in the first six months of this year, leading to a 134.5 percent increase compared to the first six months of last year. The main driver of this increase, it said, is due to the amendment of the German Renewable Energy Act. York zu Putlitz, CEO and CFO of aleo solar AG additionally told pv magazine that the company is looking to increase its production capacity by this September.

The semicondonductor industry, which has significant ties to photovolatics, due to the similarity of production processes, is experiencing strong market growth. Taiwan is projected to be the largest semiconductor market this year at USD$ 9.18 billion, while total semiconductor equipment sales worldwide will reach USD$32.5 billion, according to SEMI. It added that sales of global semiconductor equipment are up in all regions this year.

SolarWorld has said that group-wide shipments in the first half of this year have risen by 58 percent to 377 megawatts (MW), whilst revenue grew by 50.8 percent to €608.4 million in comparison to the same period last year.

?Phoenix Solar AG has sold a record 177 megawatts peak (MWp) of modules in the first half of this year and achieved total revenues of €364 million – an increase of 138.7 percent over the same period last year. The components and systems segment, says the company, contributed a share of 58.9 percent or €214.3 million, thus raising revenues by 170.2 percent in a year-on-year comparison.