Markets & Finance

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.

The French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy has published the feed-in tariffs for PV installations for the last quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013.

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.

Spain has announced a cut of 0.028% to its solar PV feed-in tariff, due to modifications to its consumer price index (CPI).

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.