M+W Group, a German EPC provider, has completed the acquisition of Reliable Plant Solutions GmbH (RPS), a power plant developer with headquarters in Schkeuditz, Germany. Following the takeover, the company has become a 100%-owned subsidiary of M+W Group and has been renamed as M+W Power Solutions GmbH with immediate effect. Its headquarters will remain in Schkeuditz.
Ahead of the official release from the four leading German high voltage network operators (TSOs) next week, Reuters has released information that the push towards green power could cause the country’s renewable energy surcharge to rocket by almost 47% by next year. The article states that this is a reflection of the increasing amount of electricity from renewable sources, bought from producers at guaranteed prices above market rates.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has released figures announcing that 885MW of new PV capacity was installed in Japan between April and September 2012, equating to the launch of Japan’s FiT.
German project developer Conergy and local firm Spercheios S.A. have constructed four PV plants for private Greek investors with a combined capacity of 1.9MW and a total output of 2.8 million kWh of solar power every year.
The long and winding road to this final determination imposing anti-dumping and countervailing duties against Chinese manufacturers has finally been reached. The US Department of Commerce (DoC) has announced that Chinese producers/exporters have sold solar cells in the United States at dumping margins ranging from 18.32% to 249.96%. The DoC also determined that Chinese producers/exporters have received countervailable subsidies of 14.78% to 15.97%. This is approximately the same as the ruling in May and in some cases 10% lower.
Through a subsidiary, S.A.G. Solarstrom will be partnering with Valsolar 2006 and Cavalum SGPS to develop and construct four PV plants in Badajoz, Spain (in the region of Extremadura), as part of their newly developed joint venture. The plants will have a total output of around 440MWp with the project holding a total investment volume in the three-digit million range.
Spain-based BIPV firm Unisolar, also known as Soliker, filed for insolvency on September 6, Photon has confirmed after speaking with the general manager of the company.
Having sold its 1MW Uterne PV plant last week, SunPower has announced it has invested in Diamond Energy, a privately-owned, alternative energy project developer and clean electricity retailer headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. SunPower has acquired a minority stake of approximately 42% in Diamond Energy and under terms of the agreement has an option to increase its ownership percentage over time. SunPower will also assume a seat on the company's board of directors.
Swiss electricity, water and gas provider SIG has appointed Sunergis to manage its 44kW PV carport project at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland while Italian carport manufacturer Giulio Barbieri has been selected to supply its PV carport system for the project.
The Chinese government’s actions this summer to further raise the country’s PV installation targets appears to have had the desired effect. IMS Research’s latest report provides hope to the Chinese market forecasting a surge in the second half of 2012 with more than 4GW of PV installations to be completed, taking full-year installations to 5GW, even though it experienced a slow start to the year with just 720MW installed in the first half.
