Inline with previous guidance, PV equipment supplier, Amtech posted net revenue of US$24.7 million for its financial year first quarter, 2012, a decline of 59% compared to the previous quarter. The company reported minimal order cancellations but noted shipment push-outs as PV manufacturers tackle severe overcapacity. Revenue for FY2Q12 was guided down to be in the range of US$20 - US$22 million.
A US$646 million US DOE loan and loan guarantee for First Solar’s 230MW Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (AVSR) PV power plant project in northern Los Angeles County, California has hit a snag over an outstanding construction permit issue. The timeframe for initial funding of the loan has been pushed back to February 24, 2012 but if the issue isn’t resolved by that date, First solar said it could have to acquire the project from customer, Exelon for approximately US$75 million.
An undisclosed Chinese investment company that is said to own a portfolio of PV power plants in Italy is planning to recoup the investment in a frame agreement signed with 3Power Energy Group.
Private equity firm Element Partners has announced that it is to acquire both Bekaert Advanced Coatings (BAC) and Soleras Ltd, with the two companies merging to form Soleras Advanced Coatings.
SunPower has become entangled in a lawsuit directed at the US Departments of the Interior, Treasury and Navy. Judicial Watch, an organization that investigates government corruption and Human Events, a weekly American conservative magazine, filed a Freedom of Information (FOIA) act to sue the Obama administration on February 1, 2012.
Europe’s second-largest oil company, British Petroleum (BP), has failed to meet a financing deadline despite today’s announcement that the company has raised dividends to shareholders by 14%. The Australian government has reopened a solar funding competition to AGL Energy, TRUenergy and Suntech Power, to construct the Moree solar farm in New South Wales.
MiaSolé noted that it had welcomed a new member to its executive management team with the selection of Richard Hossfeld as VP of global business development and sales. Hossfeld previously served as VP of business development for both First Solar and Fluidic Energy and holds experience in developing and leading market entry and go-to market strategies in North America, Asia and Latin America. Before his appointment at First Solar, Hossfeld was a corporate lawyer with Cravath, Swaine & Moore.
PV module encapsulant material supplier, STR Holdings warned late last week that sales would not meet previously guided levels. The company had previously guided sales to be in the range of US$44-US$48 million. However STR has revised guidance to approximately US$36.5 million, well below that level.
Considering the country’s decision in 2011 to phase out nuclear power by 2022, Germany has made a smart decision to take definite steps towards incentivizing the uptake of renewable energy technologies from a fiscal point of view. The country recently reached the point where 20% of its electricity is generated from renewable sources, and in order to maintain this rise in uptake, the federal KfW bank group has increased its lending in the multimillion euro business loan sector.
Victor Lee, executive director of TFG Radiant Group, will now serve as Ascent Solar Technologies’ president and CEO. TFG Radiant owns approximately 20% of the outstanding shares of Ascent and this past December agreed to purchase an additional 21% of the outstanding stock in a private transaction. Lee will remain as a board member for the company, but advised that he takes on the roles of president and CEO voluntarily and without any compensation.
