Siemens Industry has debuted a new program that allows customers to take advantage of solar power benefits without making a large initial capital investment. The Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) platform from Siemens building technologies division presents all different customers the chance to take part in the PPA, but is especially aimed to entice the public sector who is unable to take advantage of solar federal tax incentives.
Q-Cells Malaysia has appointed Franz Vollmann as its new managing director. Vollmann succeeds Q-Cells Malaysia founder Bernhard Rack and will be responsible for managing the operation and future growth of the company’s production facilities. He starts his new role on April 1.
According to the latest report by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) the feed-in tariff rates in Australia’s Capital Territory (ACT) need to be reduced. The report proposes that the premium cash rate paid to generators of renewable energy - including those with home solar energy systems - should drop from 45.7c a kilowatt hour to 39c a kilowatt hour. Any changes made will only affect new market entrants who install after July 1, 2011.
During the European Photovoltaics Industry Association’s (EPIA) annual general meeting in Paris, France, the members of the association elected Dr. Martin Heming as its new director of the board. In addition to his board appointment, Heming serves as Schott Solar’s CEO.
David Goldman and Jay Meridew have joined Solon as executives in the company’s finance division. Goldman has been appointed the new vice president of project finance and strategic planning and will manage all financing for Solon’s commercial and utility-scale solar projects. Meridew will oversee accounting and information technology practices in his role as vice president of finance.
After last week closing seven nuclear plants for at least three months the German Government is now said to be discussing plans to raise the size of its renewable energy fund from €300 million to €1 billion. Amid fears of radiation leaks following Japan's nuclear crisis Chancellor Angela Merkel has ordered safety checks on the country’s plants constructed before 1980.
The Italian solar industry looks set to receive a major boost after the government appeared to come out in support of leaving subsidies for pre-existing projects unchanged at a meeting with the four Italian solar associations. The meeting took place in Rome on Friday and relates to all projects connected to the grid before the end of 2011.
Hanwha Holdings (USA) has established Hanwha Solar America LLC as a U.S. subsidiary, which will set up an advanced photovoltaic technology research and development center in Silicon Valley. Industry veteran Chris Eberspacher has been named president of HSA and will also serve as global CTO of Hanwha’s various solar businesses.
Monocrystalline solar wafer manufacturer Comtec Solar System Group has finalized and released their financial results for the 2010, posting record revenue and wafer shipment totals for the year. The company cites high demand and a better pricing environment led to their improved financial results. Revenue for 2010 was US$155.15 million (RMB1.02 billion), compared to 2009’s US$77.08 million (RMB506.8 million). Comtec’s total shipments, including sales and processing services, were 175.3MW in 2010, representing a year-long sales volume of 165.5MW – the company’s highest shipments in its history.
Wagner Solar U.K. has appointed Kamil Shah as its new Marketing Manager. Shah, who arrives from Sanyo where he was European corporate communications manager, will be responsible for setting up the marketing department and coordinating all promotion and communication activities in the U.K.
