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President Barack Obama has announced that USD$1.85 billion in conditional commitments will be made available in the form of loan guarantees to two U.S. solar companies. As a result, one of the world’s biggest solar plants is scheduled to be built in Arizona, while around 5,000 jobs are expected to be created.

Chinese solar power system manufacturer Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. aims to triple solar panel production capacity in the next three years to three gigawatts a year at a total cost of roughly 200 billion yen (around USD$2.2 billion; €1.8 billion), says Japanese news source Nikkei.

The Sharp Corporation has signed an agreement with Thai power producer NED to establish one of the world’s largest solar power generation plants, with a power generation capacity of 73 megawatts (MW). Construction is due to start this month and should be completed by the end of next year.

If the euro reaches parity with the dollar, the cost competitiveness of Chinese photovoltaics (PV) manufacturers will “significantly erode”, says a new report by the Goldman Sachs European Clean Energy team.

Solar costs in many markets will reach grid parity by 2013, according to a new report. It also predicts that demand for solar will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24 percent.

Global solar photovoltaic (PV) installations are predicted to reach 13 gigawatts (GW) this year; that number will increase to 17 GW by 2011 according to a new report. It also states that Germany is expected to maintain its leading global position for the next two years.

Construction of East Africa’s first solar module plant is underway. Initial production capacity is expected to be 30,000 photovoltaic (PV) modules per year, with the first lot due to be manufactured as early as this October.

The U.S is set to experience “truly explosive” photovoltaics (PV) growth in the next few years, a leading industry expert has told pv magazine.

Korea-based Hyundai Heavy Industries has said it is looking to hit a production capacity of one gigawatt (GW) and sales of one trillion by 2012, in a bid to become a world leader in solar power production.

Following the Spanish government’s decision to scrap both its July 1 deadline to reduce renewable energy subsidies, and a planned hike for consumer power tariffs this month, Luis López talks to pv magazine about the country’s dispute over the cuts in solar incentives.