Chris Whitmore

GT Solar has received the first orders for its sapphire crystallization system. The two orders, which total more than US$84 million, are from Jiangsu Jixing New Material and Jiujiang Sapphire Tech and mark GT Solar's entry into LED equipment market.

Rhodia is planning to install 12,000m² of PV panels at the Rhodia Belle-Etoile site in Rhône, France. Solairedirect, the solar module manufacturer, and OFI Asset Management will partner Rhodia on the project, which will boast a peak capacity of 2MW and produce two million kilowatt hours of electricity per annum.

United Solar has finished work on a solar power project for the rooftop of the Moon Palace Hotel in Cancun, Mexico. The development was led by Enel Green Power, with support coming from the Mexican Environment Ministry, SEMARNAT, and the Italian Ministry of the Environment, and will generate 220MWh of electricity per year.

Rhodia is planning to install 12,000m² of PV panels at the Rhodia Belle-Etoile site in Rhône, France. Solairedirect, the solar module manufacturer, and OFI Asset Management will partner Rhodia on the project, which will boast a peak capacity of 2MW and produce two million kilowatt hours of electricity per annum.

Phoenix Solar is constructing two PV plants in Italy, with a combined capacity of 8.9MWp. Building work on the 6.1MWp Taranto and 2.8MWp Alessandria plants began in October, with a completion date scheduled for the end of December.

Intevac has bought Solar Implant Technologies (SIT) for an undisclosed fee. Intevac hope the acquisition of SIT, a California-based solar module design firm, will enable them to reduce solar cell manufacturing costs.

Phoenix Solar is constructing two PV plants in Italy, with a combined capacity of 8.9MWp. Building work on the 6.1MWp Taranto and 2.8MWp Alessandria plants began in October, with a completion date scheduled for the end of December.

AU Optronics (AUO) and Evonik have consolidated their business relationship by signing a solar and green energy planning, manufacturing and research and development deal. The non-exclusive agreement will see both companies pool their resources in an attempt to increase their presence in the renewable energy market.

Richard Yumin Gu has resigned from his position as China Sunergy's vice president and general manager of sales and marketing. Yumin Gu is stepping down because of personal reasons and will leave his post with immediate effect.

The German government is looking to temper growth in solar panel installation in an attempt to protect consumers from rising costs. Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union fear that the escalating costs of solar power may lead to a fall in demand and undermine the acceptance of alternative energy.