Solar purchasing group launches
The Solar Purchasing Group (SPG) has been launched to allow members to take advantage of group purchasing discounts when buying photovoltaic materials and components. Things like glass, cells, back sheets, junction boxes, EVA and stringing material will be covered under the program.
REC closes its facility permanently in Glomfjord, Norway
Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) has decided to permanently close down its 300 MW monocrystalline wafer plant in Glomfjord, Norway.
Solarhybrid files for bankruptcy
German project developer solarhybrid AG has announced that it will begin insolvency proceedings in Germany.
Germany: Political parties agree on two critical points
The public hearing on the solar subsidy cuts took place today at the German parliament. A collective consensus on two contentious issues in the German EEG for photovoltaics has been reached.
Manufacturers react to Sino-US trade case ruling
Reactions have been unsurprisingly mixed to the Department of Commerces (DOC) preliminary findings on the Sino-U.S. photovoltaic trade case. While the de-facto sponsor of the conflict SolarWorld believes it to be the first step in an ongoing movment, Yingli and Suntech contend that the case is harmful to the whole industry.
CASE calls on CASM to disclose subsidies
The Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) is calling on the seven members of the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) to disclose a complete list of government subsidies they have received over the decade. CASE disclosed that it finds the situation disturbing that such highly-subsidized companies can start a global trade war.
UK: Supermarket roofs host 6.9 MW
British supermarket chain Sainsburys has installed 6.9 megawatts (MW) across its stores in the south of England. Renewable Resources completed the installations and heralded their completion at the Ecobuild trade show, which opened its doors today in London.
Global industry collaboration key focus for China
At the opening of Solarcon and Semicon China 2012, global industry collaboration was highlighted as a key path forward for the industry. Allan Lu, president of the event organizer SEMI, further stated that the need for energy in China is driving photovoltaic growth in the country.
E.ON chief prophesizes end of German PV industry
Without mincing his words, Klaus-Dieter Maubach who sits on the management board for E.ON AG, expressed his prophecy that Germany’s solar manufacturing sector will cease to exist in a few years.
Module prices to drop 29 percent in 2012
As the global photovoltaic market shifts from Europe to America, China and other parts of the world, The NPD Solarbuzz Marketbuzz report predicts that c-Si module prices will fall by 29 percent in 2012. As this trend continues, module prices should continue to fall by between 43 and 53 percent over the next five years.
