Trade show

Following speculation, Intersolar Europe and EU PVSEC will join forces in June 2016. The merger will see the Intersolar tradeshow and storage conference run concurently with, yet independently from, EU PVSEC’s R&D conference.

Inverter prices are falling in China amidst greater consolidation. Domestic manufacturers are also expanding oversees despite the continuing boom in the country.

The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has officially spoken out against the European minimum price on PV modules on Chinese and Taiwanese solar cells and modules. EPIA has taken the position against the EU minimum price because of the negative impact it is having on the EU solar market.

German PV and battery manufacturing equipment supplier Manz has claimed a module efficiency world record for CIGS technology on its innovation line. The 16% conversion efficiency record was unveiled on Monday at the SNEC conference and trade show in Shanghai.

Eric Luo has applauded EPIA’s position on the EU minimum price, saying that renewable energy rollout should not be blocked anywhere in the world by protectionism. The Shungfeng CEO told pv magazine that the company is seeking to position itself as an integrated energy service provider as the solar market transitions from component sales to a service-based industry.

Taking place at the majestic Banz Abbey near the city of Bamberg, the symposium is the longest-running PV industry event in Germany, drawing hundreds of solar sector representatives.

U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Davey called for bolder solar PV targets as a part of the Green Deal. Davey made his remarks while delivering the Ecobuild keynote speech today in London, clearly enunciating part of his party’s 2015 General Election campaign.?

The French energy management solutions provider will use the microinveter maker’s intelligent networking hub in its monitoring system.

It was another week characterized by new deals, developments and dynamism in the global solar sector, with new projects underway in Africa, a controversial plan to form an ‘Energy Union’ in Europe, major commercial and political gains in the U.S. and more ambitious goals in India.

Complete residential power solutions were on display on the first day of the 8th PV Expo trade show and exhibition currently underway in Tokyo. Providing backup power has been a major driver of the trend, which, while small in terms of market volume, offers suppliers healthy returns.