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The Kansai Electric Power Co. restarted its third unit at the Ohi nuclear plant on Sunday, amidst public concern and protest. It is the first nuclear reactor to come back online after Fukushima.

It is only a matter of time until SolarWorld AG finally files an anti-dumping (AD) complaint with the European Commission, alleging that China has flooded the German market with underpriced solar cells and modules, to the detriment of domestic manufacturers and in deviation from fair trade policies. In anticipation that the case will come sooner rather than later, Jefferies Group, Inc. held a conference call to provide insights into the differences between how trade cases are handled in the United States and the EU.

Germany’s Dessau/Rosslau district court has opened insolvency proceedings for Q.Cells. The insolvency administrator says no redundancies are expected, however, and that a number of interested parties have been invited to conduct due diligence.

Through a strategic alliance, formed in 2010, Turner Renewable Energy and Southern Company have acquired a 20 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic power plant in Nevada. The plant was built by SunEdison and will be completed during the third quarter of 2012.

On July 1 Australia’s new tax on carbon emissions came into effect, in the face of major opposition from conservative parties and public opposition. At the same time the new conservative Liberal-National Government in the state of Queensland has threatened to withdraw support for the Solar Dawn concentrated solar power (CSP) project.

According to NPD Solarbuzz’s latest quarterly report, producers of polysilicon and wafers for the photovoltaic industry can expect some respite in 2013, after a tough year of falling prices.

According to reports, the Bulgarian energy regulator has cut subsidies for photovoltaics by around 50 percent amid fears of escalating electricity prices.

U.S.-based Abound Solar has announced it will file a petition for protection under the U.S. bankruptcy code next week in Delaware. Having to suspend its operations, it says that around 125 employees will be affected.

Germany’s Schott Solar AG will cease all crystalline silicon production, due to the “drastic deterioration” of the photovoltaic market conditions said to be driven, particularly, by Asian competitors. The company’s thin film and solar thermal operations will continue, however.

Having overcome two major hurdles, the first modules have finally been installed at the 230 MW Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (AVSR1) plant, located in Los Angeles County. The whole project is scheduled for completion in 2013.