Western Europe

German solar research institute Fraunhofer ISE has reclaimed the multicrystalline PV cell efficiency record, achieving 21.9%. Fraunhofer researchers deployed n-type high-performance multicrystalline technology to produce the record-setting PV cell.

The European Commission’s proposal to extend the anti-dumping measures for Chinese PV manufacturers by a year and a half has been put to the mediation committee. The final decision will be published on 4th March. A proposal to extend the measures by only 12 months also failed in the Appeals Committee.

Danish solar developers Better Energy today announced the addition of four sites with total capacity of 23.6 MW to its portfolio in Germany.

SunPower has announced that it will supply 64.4 MW of its high efficiency E-Series solar panels to seven PV power plants in France. Meanwhile, First Solar has announced that it will supply 106.5 MW of its thin film modules to power 14 power plants under the third round of procurement initiated by France’s Energy Regulatory Commission.

The investment company, which focuses on operating ground-mount solar assets in the UK achieved total revenue of GBP 34.2 million (US$ 42.7 million).

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of theft, after an extensive investigation by German and Polish Police forces. The men are said to have broken into solar parks in several German states in order to steal modules and inverters.

The Norwegian silicon producer increased its fourth quarter revenues by $30 million on Q3, and forecasts rising demand for polysilicon in China ahead of the country’s July FIT decrease.

The Dutch science-based company has announced plans to expand its product portfolio for solar, with the acquisition of China based Suzhou SunShine New Materials Technology (Sunshine), a manufacturer of PV backsheets.

A Freedom of Information request made by Korean giant LG Electronics has revealed that 47% of local authorities in the UK see the lack of Government incentives as a barrier to solar investment.

The Dutch subsidiary of Swedish energy giants Vattenfall has announced plans to add 70 MW of PV capacity at six windfarms located across the country. Plans to include storage applications at at least one of the sites are also in the works.