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The Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC) has said it will scale back its photovoltaic production activities due to weak market demand. Around 500 employees are expected to be affected.

Despite an industry slowdown in the shipment of photovoltaic modules, China Sunergy has met its first quarter shipment guidance. And, while sequential declines were experienced, the company posted year-on-year profits. Inventory levels were, however, high.

The ministerial draft bill on the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) amendment is currently awaiting departmental approval at the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, as well as the German Federal Ministry of Finance. The photovoltaic industry will presumably have to cope with even greater restrictions at the turn of the year. This at least is expected by the German Green Party.

The results of PV Legal’s two year project have found that, overall, “real progress” has been made in removing both legal and administrative photovoltaic barriers. There are still a number of hurdles in place though.

IBC Solar has officially begun construction on an over 11 megawatt peak (MWp) photovoltaics park in the German state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Scheduled for completion in August, it is expected to be one of the largest installations in the region.

Solar thermal company Solar Millennium AG has announced it is expanding its business strategy to include photovoltaics and other solar technologies.

The Portuguese photovoltaics industry could be at risk, following the final report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Union (EU) on Portugal’s bailout, which recommended a reduction in state support regarding the production of electricity from renewable energy sources.

Angry solar panel owners in Australia have protested across the state of New South Wales today after the new coalition government decided to alter the funding for solar installations, including dropping the feed-in tariff from 60 to 40 cents (45 to 30 euro cents) per kilowatt-hour on already existing contracts.

Trina Solar Limited has seen its solar business decline in the first quarter of 2011. Year on year figures are, however, up. Looking ahead, the company will expand its in-house production capacity. It has also announced a 130 megawatt sales agreement with Mohring Energie GmbH.

The electricity authority of Ecuador has adopted a system of feed-in tariffs for the development of renewable energy. The regulations cover both continental Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.