Markets & Finance

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.

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

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.

Trendforce research division EnergyTrend has issued a report claiming that PV demand is expected to remain strong in Japan for 2014 and 2015 in spite of rumoured feed-in tariff cuts.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help Uzbekistan to build a 100MW solar project, the country's first utility-scale solar power plant.

A solar survey in parallel with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) – or abolition Bill 2013 entering the senate reveals Australians love solar.

SolarCity has completed the US$54.4 million funding round, the first secured against solar energy assets.