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A host of new photovoltaic technology advances and new products were unveiled during the Solar Power International show in Orlando this week, alongside concerned conversations about the U.S.-China trade case, and new partnerships companies are seeking in order to survive the crippling price pressure in the industry.

Without support, grid connected photovoltaics cannot grow profitably, states Navigant Research’s Paula Mints. Furthermore, while traditional energy sources are likely to continue to receive subsidies, it cannot be assumed photovoltaics will reach grid parity without them.

Is the United States helping to finance and fulfill the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) – or “helping itself” to a large, unprotected segment of India’s solar market?

At the end of Q2 2012, China continued to dominate the worldwide renewable energy market, with Germany and the U.S. nose-to-nose in second place, and India and the U.K. just behind, according to Ernst & Young’s latest quarterly Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices (CAI) report. Activities centered strongly around the smart grid.

Following the launch of EU and U.S. trade investigations into photovoltaic exports from China, Avaaz is calling for half a million people to back its submission to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and EU Trade Commissioner for “talks not tariffs”.

The European Commission (EC) has initiated proceedings against Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers. The Competition Authority will now consider the allegation of dumping, according to an announcement by the European Commission this morning.

Solon Corporation’s new VP and GM of power plants, Jared Schoch discusses his plans for growing the company’s North American photovoltaic business, the financing landscape in the region, and the impact of Microsol’s recent takeover of Solon SE with pv magazine.

Chinese government officials have used economic cooperation talks between Germany and China, to raise the topic that a bilateral solution could be reached between the 2 countries to avoid a potential photovoltaic trade war.

Applications worth over 2.4 GW of newly installed capacity have been submitted in Chile in 2012. While a good proportion may never go ahead, it indicates very rapid growth in the South American market.

2013 is set to see increased photovoltaics support in Poland. While many expect the new law – and generous subsidies – to boost the country’s solar industry, there are already fears the government’s conservative capacity estimates could cause the kind of boom and bust cycle seen in markets like Spain and the Czech Republic. The questions on everyone’s lips are: will the law come into force as planned; and is the government adequately prepared for the anticipated uptake?