According to Greentech Media Research, 2009 was the most challenging year to date for the PV industry. Although, global PV cell production grew by 51% from 7.1GW in 2008 to 10.7GW in 2009 and PV panel production increased 41% to 8.9GW, many of the solar panels were produced in Germany during the third and fourth quarters of 2009.
Solon has brought together locations in Tucson, Arizona, San Pietro, Italy and Berlin, Germany, for their Global Test Site (GTS) network. The three identical outdoor proving grounds will test and provide data for Solon to better understand regional affects on PV modules and related technologies for the best module and system design.
Abound Solar released the signing of an open-ended sales contract with EME Energy Management Eberlein. EME is located in Kitzingen, Germany and specializes in technical planning, sizing PV systems and logistics activities in solar PV components and turnkey systems.
Global renewables operator Acciona Energy and the Franco-Spanish group Dhamma Energy will collaborate on a range of utility-scale solar projects in France, with a plan of installing 250MW. Although timelines were not given, the initial collaboration will see a 12MW plant built in Ardèche, Rhône-Alpes, and will be the largest solar power plant yet built in France.
The significant capacity expansions of Asia-based solar module manufacturers and the shift of several high-profile U.S.-based producers and Germany-based Q-Cells to locate major production plants in the low-cost region suggest that a shift in the solar industry manufacturing base is ongoing. However, with the official inauguration of SolarWorld’s newest solar wafer plant in Freiberg, the company is putting faith in its ability to remain competitive with its major rivals by retaining a strong presence in Europe.
Gadot Solar Solutions and SolarEdge have signed a joint agreement for the global distribution and installation of SolarEdge solar power harvesting systems. By signing the contract, SolarEdge takes advantage of Gadot Solar's European market presence.
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change in Victoria, Australia, has announced a AUS$3 million investment in solar cell R&D technology development in Melbourne. The venture is a direct result of collaboration between Swinburne University of Technology and China's Suntech Power Holdings. The Victoria-Suntech Advanced Solar Facility at Swinburne has been established through a grant of $3 million from Victoria's Science Agenda Investment Fund.
The government of Western Australia has finalized the long-awaited feed-in tariff. Energy minister Peter Collier has announced State Budget funding of AUS$23million to introduce the residential net feed-in tariff scheme, providing a subsidy to householders with new and existing photovoltaic, wind and micro-hydro systems. The scheme, which will pay out over a period of 10 years, will open for applications from July 1, with payments to be made from August 1.
Suntech has received official certification under the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for its modules. The British Board of Agreement (BBA) certifies that Suntech's modules meet or exceed relevant standards for sales in the UK.
Solar Thin Films has completed its acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding share of Atlantis Solar and will retain Atlantis as a wholly owned subsidiary. Atlantis is led by James Molinaro, who is the former head of Akrion Systems.
