Kyocera has announced that it will significantly increase its annual solar cell production targets to meet the growing demand for solar energy products in the global market. New targets aim for an increase to 1GW annually by March 2013, which is more than 2.5 times the current fiscal year 2010 production volume of 400MW.
Suntech received the 2009 FT ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Environment Award on February 25 at the annual Boldness in Business awards, held in London.
LDK Solar has entered into an agreement to acquire the crystalline module manufacturing plant of Best Solar. The transaction will be based on a cash consideration of US$21.5 million, representing the value of the assets acquired determined on a neutral basis.
Product Briefing Outline: Schreiner ProTech has designed a rugged, self-adhesive Pressure Compensation Seal (PCS), especially designed to provide solar module junction boxes with long-lasting protection against severe environmental conditions, preventing damage to sensitive electrical components. The product has already been selected by KOSTAL Industrie Elektrik to be integrated into their PV modules' junction boxes.
Since the release of the feed-in tariff rates for the UK, Sharp Energy Solutions Europe has announced that it plans to significantly expand its resources in the region as the company expects a large amount of PV uptake within the next couple of years.
The M+W Group, Stuttgart, acquired shares in Schmid Silicon Technology Holdings, effective from January 1, 2010. Through this acquisition, the companies will partner in global activities in the engineering and construction of polysilicon plants based on monosilane technology.
Colexon Energy has begun the construction of a solar power plant with a total capacity of almost 1MWp in the North Italian community Imola. The plant will benefit from the feed-in tariff in Italy, which is set for 20 years.
Iberdrola recorded a net profit of €2,824 million in 2009, sustained by the group's success with regulated business and renewables throughout the year, which together counted for two thirds of the company's total operating profit.
A Bloomberg report released on February 22 claims that German chancellor Angela Merkel's government will again revise the subsidy cuts for farmland converted to take solar systems. According to an unpublished draft put together by the government, this kind of installation will no longer receive financial support.
The governor of the State of Durango, Mexico, president of the National Conference of Governors (CONAGO) and representatives of the Board of OPDE have signed a collaboration agreement for the launch of a total of 45MW farms in Mexico. OPDE is responsible for these plants, which are to be constructed and completed by 2013.