Mark Osborne

BELECTRIC's new 3.0 MegaWattBlock is claimed to set new standards in solar power production. The power plant unit is designed to create electricity at the lowest possible levelized costs of electricity (LCOE). On a par with the functionality of large conventional power plants, the grid-stabilizing plant technology is designed to intelligently integrate renewable energy sources in existing power grids.

In reporting improving sales in the first-half of 2013, Chinese thin-film equipment supplier and module manufacturer, Hanergy expects a ‘wide window of opportunity’ in Europe to gain module sales and market share after the anti-dumping dispute between the EU and China has been resolved.

Hanergy Holding is transferring the intellectual property (IP) rights to Solibro’s copper-indium-gallium-selenium (CIGS) thin-film technology to subsidiary, Apollo Kunming.

To benefit from a new feed-in tariff (FiT) system to be introduced in Indonesia, Canadian Solar is planning to partner with local PV module manufacturer, PT Swadaya Prima Utama on a proposed 60MW plant.

Distressed capital management firms, Clearwater Capital Partners and Spinnaker Capital are working with Suntech Power Holdings to prepare a major restructuring plan for the ailing PV module manufacturing, including downsizing through asset sales and a recapitalisation that could mean majority share takeover by unidentified investors.

China-based monocrystalline wafer supplier, Comtec Solar Systems Group reported a wafer, ingot and polysilicon shipment increase of approximately 102% for the first-half of 2013, compared to the same period of 2012.

Leading machine vision systems specialist, ISRA Vision has hinted at further PV equipment acquisitions and a whiff of recovery in equipment enquiries within the PV sector in reporting third quarter financial year results.

Market research firm IHS believes that Belgium-based PV project developer and systems integrator, Enfinity has been taken over by American investment group EverStream Energy Capital Management, established by SunEdison.

Running at near full-capacity for the first time since 2010, JA Solar’s quarterly revenue for six consecutive quarters has basically flatlined.

With previous guidance given on developing between 50MW - 100MW of PV projects in 2013, JA Solar is significantly boosting its plans for next year with agreements from the Hebei Provincial Development to develop three 100MW projects.