Semprius has secured US$20 million in its first tranche of Series C venture fundraising for a pilot high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) module production plant. Siemens Venture Capital led the investment round and was joined by Arch Venture Partners, Applied Ventures, Illinois Ventures, Intersouth Partners, In-Q-Tel and GVC Investment.
Spanish regulators have suspended subsidies for 360 solar plants after they failed to prove their eligibility for the feed-in tariff. The sanctioning brings the number of projects punished by the regulators to 1,919 and concludes the investigation into fraudulent subsidy claims within the country’s solar industry.
The Antaris Solar Group has appointed Gerhard Steinebrunner to its senior management team. Steinebrunner joins company founder Michael Goede and Thomas Perr on the expanded team, which is looking to strengthen the company’s presence in both the German and worldwide markets.
Leading French renewable energy producer Fonroche Energie has secured a €52-million credit line with a banking syndicate led by Credit Agricole. This finance will help Fonroche to increase its green portfolio, an expansion plan highlighted by the construction of 20MW of solar greenhouses in France.
Yet more uncertainty overshadowed Australia’s solar industry at the end of last week as the South Australian Government discussed the future of the state’s feed-in tariff. Having originally planned to increase the incentive rate from 44c to 54c, plus a mandatory additional contribution from electricity retailers, the Government is now tipped to keep the tariff at 44c until the end of September for solar households entering the scheme.
Suntech Power’s Just-Roof building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solution has been approved by French certification body CEIAB (Comité d'Evaluation de l'Intégration au Bâti). CEIAB is France’s official evaluation committee for all BIPV products, and its endorsement sees Just Roof gain eligibility for the country’s highest available feed-in-tariff.
A major reshuffling of executive positions has been made at Hanwha SolarOne, which said the move was designed to strengthen the management team as it continued to build-out the company to become a major player within the solar industry. Stepping aside is Dr. Peter Xie, CEO and Gareth Kung, CFO, both former Solarfun executives, who are being replaced by Hanwha Group executives, Ki-Joon Hong and Jung Pyo Seo, respectively. Hong is currently the chairman of the Board of SolarOne and CEO of Hanwha Chemical Corporation, which acquired a majority stake in the former Solarfun.
Reporting to REC’s EVP, John Andersen, former LG Electronics manager, Luc Graré has been appointed the firms new senior vice president, sales and marketing, cells & modules. Graré will be tasked with strengthening REC’s sales and marketing activities, and will join REC on July 1st.
Alex Vanderpol has been appointed as Astronergy’s general counsel, a role in which he will oversee all the legal operations for the company. Vanderpol has practiced corporate and commercial law and worked for various organizations based in Asia including the Singapore and Shanghai branches of AMB AMRO Bank and Solarfun Power Holdings, Hanwha Solar One, in Shanghai.
Transphorm has completed the latest round of financing for the development of its Galiium Nitride GaN power conversion module. Quantum Strategic Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Google Ventures, Foundation Capital and Lux Capital were the investors behind the US$25 million Series D financing round, which takes the total capital raised to US$63 million.
