Venture capital investments in solar plunged to US$992 million in 2012 compared to US$1.9 billion the previous year, representing the lowest amount since 2007, reports consulting firm Mercom Capital.
Schott Solar is to transfer to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems 111 patent families relating to crystalline silicon photovoltaics, it has been announced.
Thin-film manufacturer First Solar, in conjunction with developer Fundación Chile, has announced the acquisition of Solar Chile as part of its its endeavour to advance into new markets.
Solar Frontier has broken the record for CIS thin-film solar cell conversion efficiency using a sputtering and selenization process. The current CIS efficiency record at 20.3% was set with the co-evaporation processes.
ASP declines in 2012, driven by industry overcapacity throughout the PV supply chain, forced over 350 companies in China, from equipment suppliers, polysilicon producers to module manufacturers, to stop operations entirely, according to market research firm ENF.
Materials IP developer, Applied Nanotech has opened a proprietary PV metallic inks and paste production plant in China with JV partner Sichuan Anxian Yinhe Constructional & Chemical Group Co., Ltd (YHCC), an electronic paste manufacturer focused on the PV industry.
PV manufacturer China Sunergy has established a new manufacturing facility in Istanbul, Turkey with its local partner Seul Energy Investment Corp, PV systems provider and installer in Turkey.
Continuing Kuwait government efforts to build-out a renewable energy mix for the future, Kuwait University (KU) has teamed with European R&D centre, imec on its silicon solar cell industrial affiliation program.
