Investor news

The Swiss company is continuing with its strong year, this time confirming an order from an unnamed Chinese manufacturer worth CHF 18 million for its MAiA 2.1 technology upgrade platform.

An eye-catching agreement was signed by the British Photovoltaic Association (BVPA) and The Renewable Energy Organisation of Iran (SUNA) last week, for the two to work together over the development of up to 1 GW of solar PV in Iran as well as a module manufacturing facility in the country.

The German inverter supplier to cut 80 jobs at its Neckarsulm HQ as part of restructuring process, some roles to be transferred to the firm’s U.S. and South Korean operations.

IHS Senior Research Director Ash Sharma spoke to pv magazine to give his take on the SolarWorld and Hemlock Semiconductor initial ruling last week, and how the two companies are likely to proceed from here, expecting that SolarWorld is feeling the pressure to come to an agreement quickly.

An attempted coup in Turkey on Friday night made headlines worldwide and has left the country in political turmoil. The news came at the worst time for the domestic solar industry, which had been enjoying its best year so far. Will the uncertain political climate in Turkey that remains after the attempted coup affect solar progress in the country?

Decision by new U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May to fold the Department for Energy and Climate Change into a wider Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy draws criticism from clean energy campaigners, but appointment of Greg Clark earns approval.

The SolarWorld-Hemlock case dominated the news this week, but Intersolar North America, EU investigation into alleged Chinese malpractice and India’s soaring PV ambitions also turned heads.

The U.S. court adjudicating on the legal dispute between SolarWorld subsidiary Deutsche Solar and Hemlock Semiconductor has granted a motion for a summary judgment, dismissing SolarWorld’s submission for the case to be heard by a jury. The dispute stems from three multi-year polysilicon supply deals negotiated and signed between 2005 and 2007. SolarWorld argues that it is not beholden to these supply deals as they were subsequently amended by the two parties.

The court document from the dramatic initial ruling in the SolarWorld and Hemlock Semiconductor polysilicon dispute reveals that Hemlock was willing to negotiate amendments to the polysilicon Supply Agreements with SolarWorld subsidiary Deutsche Solar, if the German company assisted in resolving a dispute “between the US and China over the exchange of solar-industry products.”

The German PV group says it is optimistic that Hemlock will not succeed in actually enforcing any claims against it in Germany, arguing that the disputed silicon supply contract at the center of the legal dispute violates EU antitrust law.