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The German Solar Industry Association (BSW) has announced that German solar power producers have increased electricity output this year by 60 percent over 2010 to 18 billion kWh. This is more than three percent of total power output volumes.

The photovoltaics industry is going through some major changes. A still deteriorating global economic situation, government belt-tightening and a number of corporate incidents have left the industry in an unfamiliar, unhealthy state at the end of 2011. With the end of the year fast approaching, it is time for a change.

In an interview with pv magazine Arturo Herrero, chief marketing officer at JinkoSolar talks about how the company has managed to, fairly successfully, weather the 2011 solar storm. He also talks frankly about the recent Haining situation and adds his thoughts to the U.S.-China trade dispute.

A new report on India’s solar market forecasts that as much as 33.4 gigawatts of both off- and on-grid solar will be installed in the country by 2022. While the National Solar Mission (NSM) aims to install 20 GW, it is believed there are “huge” off-grid opportunities. Furthermore, Rajasthan is expected to become the country’s solar hub.

Oerlikon has released a new production line which, it says, allows thin film silicon photovoltaic modules to be produced at around US$0.50 or €0.35 per Watt peak (/Wp) and reduces capital expenditure by 20 percent.

Some in the industry can be surprised when public or academic reports predict photovoltaics playing a small role in the world’s future energy mix, on the basis of cost. It is often repeated that the technology is just too expensive. But recent research from Queen’s University and Michigan Technological University has shown that the price of photovoltaics is often vastly overinflated in these studies.

When Intersolar India closes its doors today, both the exhibitors and visitors should be very satisfied. The great expectations in the Indian solar market seem to have mobilized a number of smaller Indian companies, in addition to the big Indian and international players present there.

Solarhybrid AG is to install a 150 megawatt peak (MWp) photovoltaic project in Germany’s Neuhardenberg, located in Brandenburg.

Berlin-based Solon SE is the latest 2011 solar market victim, having announced yesterday evening that it has filed an application for the opening of insolvency proceedings.

Hww wienberg wilhelm, insolvency advisors to Solon have released further details relating to the Berlin company’s announcement yesterday.