Financial & Legal

IFC, a global development institution for the private sector and a member of the World Bank Group, has issued a US$1 billion green bond which will be used to support IFC “climate-friendly” projects in developing countries.

The third-party financing business model is dominating the booming US residential market, according to the latest report from GTM Research.

Less than six-months after Ferro put its conductive paste business up for grabs, major materials supplier, Heraeus has purchased the business for an undisclosed sum.

PV project developer Gehrlicher Solar America (GSAC) has reported a 400% revenue growth for its PV systems business in the US in 2012.

PV manufacturer Isofoton will draw up a restructuring plan which is expected to impact 380 employees at its Malaga factory.

PV inverter sales at Advanced Energy (AE) remained strong in the fourth quarter of 2012 at US$59.6 million, down only 1.8% from US$60.7 million reported in the third quarter of 2012.

Sharp Corporation reported PV product sales of 55.9 billion yen for its FYQ3 2012, up 9.4% compared to the previous quarter.

PV inverter specialist, Power-One reported fourth quarter revenue of US$192 million, within revised guidance but sales declined 32% in Europe, forcing the company to adjust production to demand with the planned loss of 300 jobs.

Solar module sales at Kyocera are expected to increase significantly in the first quarter of 2013, boosted by a rush to install systems before expected feed-in tariff reductions are introduced at the beginning of April.

Thin-film manufacturer First Solar has announced the acquisition of the 50MW Macho Springs Solar project from developer Element Power in Luna County.