Your daily dose of Photovoltaic Technology Developments and Solar News

In a new report on the solar inverter market from IMS Research, revenues are projected to double in less than four years as a consequence of the continued fast-paced expansion of the photovoltaics industry. The market is led by SMA Solar Technology, according to IMS Research, controlling 33 percent of the global solar inverter market in 2007. Read more >>

With the photovoltaic industry growing at a compound annual growth rate of 40 percent through 2010, iSuppli Corp. is projecting that the global production of PV cells will reach 12GW by 2010, up from 3.5GW in 2007. To reach that figure, as many as 400 production lines with at least 1MW of PV cell production per year will be established, a four-fold increase from about 90 to 100 production lines in existence at the end of 2007, iSuppli said. Importantly, iSuppli sees the number of 1GW scale fabs to grow as part of the photovoltaic industry’s cost reduction strategies. Read more >>

A new market research report issued by research firm Solarbuzz calculates that the European photovoltaics market grew 87 percent in 2007, reaching 2,157MW installed. Despite feed-in tariff reductions in Germany, emerging markets such as Spain, Italy and France are expected to support growth levels in 2008, similar to those seen in 2007. Read more >>

Following on from the unprecedented number of trade visitors at Intersolar 2008 in Messe Munich, SEMI and Intersolar are preparing themselves for a busy show at Intersolar North America in the Moscone Center, San Francisco from July 15-17. Read more >>

Last week at the PV Industry Forum, CEOs from Suntech, Q-Cells, ersol, E-Concern and Applied Materials came together to discuss key issues facing the PV industry. Anton Millner, CEO of Q-Cells, mentioned the €1.3 billion turnover of his company in 2008 as a milestone already achieved and was quick to note that in 2009, €2 billion in turnover was the new target. Read more >>

A new study by clean-tech research publisher Clean Edge and Co-op America, a non-profit green-economy organization, has suggested that the U.S. could attain production of 10% of its electricity requirements via solar power by the year 2025. The Utility Solar Assessment (USA) study provides a roadmap for use by utilities and regulators, as well as solar power companies, which outlines the necessity for involvement of utilities in scaling solar power in order to reach the 10% goal. Read more >>

SEMI, the global industry association for equipment, materials and services companies in the semiconductor and photovoltaics industries, has announced that it is to collaborate with Intersolar at next year’s exhibition. The partnership will see SEMI manage all aspects of the PV manufacturing equipment and materials segment of the global solar energy exhibition, which, like Intersolar 2008, will take place next year in the New Messe Munich... Read more >>

Manz Automation, the automation component specialist, has announced its receipt of an increase in capital, which was today approved by the Supervisory Board. In total, 896,011 new shares were issued with a subscription ratio of 4:1 from June 13th to 27th, 2008. The company has also been added to Frankfurt Stock Exchange’s Prime Standard Market. Read more >>

Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed a power purchase agreement with eSolar to build a total of 245MW of concentrating solar plants in the Antelope Valley area of Southern California. A series of fully operational plants is expected to begin production in 2011. Read more >>

Tigo Energy, a solar energy installation technology provider, has raised $6 million in a round of financing. The round was co-led by Matrix Partners and OVP Venture Partners, and the resulting funds will aid Tigo to increase its output and decrease cost of ownership on solar installations, and provide a more favourable return on investment for the company’s customers. Read more >>