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 According to an unpublished draft put together by the government, this kind of installation will no longer receive financial support.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 largest PV inverter manufacturer, SMA Solar Technology, beat it own sales forecast for 2009, while posting record sales of €934 million, a 37% increase over 2008 sales of €682 million. Sold inverter output reached 3.4GW in 2009. The company claimed it had gained 2 percentage points of market share last year, taking its global share to 40%. SMA’s ability to ramp production from 342MW in the first quarter of 2009 to 1,415MW in the fourth quarter, contributed to the market share gains.
The state of Pennsylvania has announced new grants totaling more than $5 million in 13 solar energy projects, which will add more than 4.25MW of photovoltaics installations in 11 counties. The projects have a total value of more than $23 million and will include rooftop, parking structure, and ground-mount systems, ranging in size from 20KW to 1MW, to be deployed at schools, condos, businesses, and other commercial and industrial sites.
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.
Despite an expected higher level of solar module shipments, Canadian Solar has been forced to reduce its previously issued gross margin guidance for the fourth quarter because of what the company describes as “higher processing costs and lower yields caused by certain defective production equipment” at its new ingot and wafer production facilities in Luoyang, China. The vertically integrated solar manufacturer says that it “is in the process of correcting these issues with the equipment vendor.” Sources say the company in question is a locally based tool supplier.
eSolar and Ferrostaal have formed a partnership to deploy turnkey concentrating solar thermal power plants in Spain, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and other unnamed countries. Under the terms of the deal, eSolar will provide solar field and receiver technology, while Ferrostaal will provide the power block as well as manage the overall realization as general contractor, including financing activities.
Enphase Energy has hired Sanjeev Kumar as its new CFO. Kumar, who will be the PV microinverter company's first chief financial officer, brings more than 15 years of experience in global renewable and traditional energy markets.
Tom Larsen, previously responsible for the IPP-segment of COLEXON Energy AG and its subsidiary Renewagy A/S, has resigned from his Management Board position with immediate effect in order to concentrate on his responsibilities as CEO of Renewagy A/S.
Richard Erskine, partner and CEO of Energy Capital Management, is resigning his position as a director on the Ascent Solar board, a position he has held at the CIGS thin-film company since March 2008.
Hoku announced that effective March 31, Dustin Shindo will step down as Hoku chairman, president and CEO, although he will continue to serve the company in advisory position as a consultant. Scott Paul, Hoku's former chief operating officer, has been approved to succeed Shindo as president and CEO.
