News

Domestic shipments of solar cells and modules in Japan showed consistent growth again in the second fiscal quarter of 2013, according to the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA).

Shunfeng Photovoltaic is planning to place a 10-year convertible bond valued at HK$3,580,000,000 (US$461.77 million) with selected investors to pay for the US$492.3 million acquisition of Wuxi Suntech via court administrators in China.

Major tier one PV manufacturer, Trina Solar, is to take over operations of tier two module manufacturer, NESL Solartech, and expand capacity to 500MW.

Mozambique has officially opened the country’s first PV module production facility.

Bulgaria’s parliament has proposed legislative changes that could see a 20% tax imposed on revenue from solar and wind energy.

Canadian gold producer IamGold has announced that it will build a 5MW solar power plant at its Rosebel Gold Mine in Suriname, South America.

Manufacturing equipment firm Manz AG has raised around €26.9 million (US$36.6 million) an increase in cash capital, to be used for the ‘internal and external growth of the company’.

PV equipment specialist, Spire Corporation said that its founder, Roger G. Little would retire at the end of the year and serve only as chairman.

Fraunhofer ISE said it had developed a low-cost rear contact Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact ‘TOPCon’ n-Type solar cell that has achieved a conversion efficiency of 24%.

The settlement of coalition talks over the make-up of the next German government could include changes to renewable energy policies that favour solar power generation.