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SunPower has said it will consolidate its photovoltaic cell manufacturing at its Fab 1 in the Philippines, thus reducing capacity by 125 megawatts (MW). The company adds that it is on track to reduce manufacturing costs further.

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.

While the results are still to be confirmed by the German electrical grid regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur, the Financial Times Deutschland (FTD) has reported that almost two gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic capacity was added to Germany’s grid in the first quarter (Q1) of this year. The “mini boom” has been widely predicted ahead of the cuts to German remuneration, which came into effect on April 1.

The first modules have been installed on what will be Australia’s largest utility-scale power plant. The 10 megawatt (MW) plant will provide power to a desalination plant in the area.

Global clean energy financing grew to record levels of US$263 billion (€200 billion) in 2011, with investment in solar accounting for just under half of the overall spend. The U.S., meanwhile, attracted the highest amount of financing.

ET Solar Group Corp. announced the launch of its new Moly modules and salt proof modules at the Ecotec exhibition in Athens on March 17.

In 2011, Poland’s photovoltaic module market was worth as much as PLN 500 million (€120 million), according to figures released by the country’s Renewable Energy Institute (IEO) in April.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) moved ahead this week with its plans to mete out “more fight for less fuel”. With support from the White House, the Pentagon intends to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by building next-generation combat vehicles, making energy storage safer and more effective, and increasing the deployment of renewable energy across America’s Armed Forces to three gigawatts (GW) by 2025.

Korea-based Hanwha Solar has opened a new R&D center in Santa Clara, California. The goal is to develop next generation photovoltaic concepts, with a focus on efficiency and low cost.