Julia Chan

Japan installed 1,559MW of PV capacity between 1 April 2012 and 28 February 2013, according to statistics compiled by Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy and published by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Struggling PV manufacturer SolarWorld will hold an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on 11 July 2013 in Bonn, Germany, after the company revealed a 50% loss in capital stocks.

Canadian Solar has won a court case relating to an alleged breach of contract concerning its wafer supply contracts with LDK Solar.

Powerway Renewable Energy has signed a contract with an unnamed Chilean company to supply mounting systems for a 3MW solar power plant in Chile.

Japan's Shinsei Bank has signed a project financing agreement with Japan Renewable Energy to provide a ¥10 billion (US$97 million) loan to fund the development of 40MW worth of PV projects.

In a 24 hour whirlwind trip to Switzerland, I visited the headquarters of technology start-up firm SwissINSO, where I was able to see first hand the development of a new technology that is set to bring more colour to the PV market, specifically the BIPV and solar thermal sector.

Empower Energies, a renewable energy company, has completed the installation of four PV arrays at the General Motors Warren Technical Center campus in Warren, Michigan, US.

SGI-Mitabu, a company formed by two Australian firms The Solar Guys International and Mitabu Australia, has entered into a partnership with the government of South Sumatra, Indonesia to develop megawatt-scale solar power projects.

Renewable energy developer Japan Asia Group is reportedly readying a pipeline of 500MW of PV projects in Japan as it considers reducing its European operations.

Chinese thin-film manufacturer Hanergy has acquired Engensa, a UK-based home energy systems provider, for an undisclosed purchase price.