Emma Hughes

1 SolTech has received full UL/ETL certification for its line of PV panels as well as passing the compliance and testing audit procedures for its factory. 1 SolTech modules feature three bus-bar mono-crystalline silicon cells with high-absorbency and enhanced low-light performance, produced by Suniva.

GDF Suez has signed an agreement to build the largest PV power facility in France. The energy provider, its joint venture partners and the Mayor of Curbans, Daniel Rolland, signed the Curbans-based project contract together. This project goes towards GDF Suez's 2013 goal of achieving a diversified electricity production base with an installed capacity of 10,000MW. 

Climate Change Capital Private Equity, the €200 million fund dedicated to investments in clean technology companies, has led a convertible bond issue in Metallkraft, the Norwegian company that developed a patented process to recycle spent slurry used in cutting solar silicon wafers.

U.S. Patent number 7,585,349 has been assigned to the University of Washington, covering an invention by Younan Xia and Yougang Sun, which has been licensed exclusively to Cambrios in its specific field of use.

The chief financial officer at SMA Solar Technology, Pierre-Pascal Urbon is currently under investigation in a private matter.

Emcore has entered into a share purchase agreement to create a joint venture with Tangshan Caofeidian Investment Corporation (TCIC) where TCIC will purchase a 60% interest in Emcore's Fiber Optics. The JV, Emcore Fiber Optics, Limited (EFO) will be registered in Hong Kong.

Dow Corning has reported consolidated net income of US$270.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, an increase of 57% from net income of $172.6 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2008.

TerniEnergia has begun constructing 10 solar PV plants in Umbria, Marche, Sicily and Apulia regions for a total capacity of approximately 10MWp.

Sanyo North America and InSpec have formed a partnership agreement aimed at providing total energy solutions for customers seeking to reduce energy consumption and improve the overall efficiency of their facility operations.

The UK feed-in tariff rates have now been finalized, offering its residents a financial incentive for producing renewable energy. The government has confirmed the proposed rate, which will begin to take effect from April 1, 2010.