Americas

The director of the US Department of Energy’s (DoE) solar cost cutting programme has hailed the “phenomenal jobs growth rate” that the US solar industry has enjoyed in recent times.

Major US utility Duke Energy has acquired a majority stake in US PV installer, REC Solar for an undisclosed sum.

The falling cost of solar energy could have as much impact on energy markets as the so-called “shale revolution”, according to a new report.

ABB has provided central inverters to an unnamed 70MW project in South America.

Solar microinverter manufacturer Enphase has stepped up its involvement in a collaborative effort with Hawaii’s main electric utility to stabilise the US state’s grid networks.

Plans by Apple to build a solar powered data centre at an Arizona facility once owned by First Solar have been welcomed by environmental advocacy group Greenpeace.

CIGS thin-film start-up Siva Power has recently raised a total of US$10 million to fund its build of what it claims is the world's highest capacity co-evaporation source, the key tool for its claimed ultra-low cost CIGS modules.

President Obama has proposed the permanent extension of the investment tax credit for solar energy projects.

The present buoyant relations between the US and India over clean energy policy could face their first test next week as a World Trade Organization panel prepares to hear a US complaint over India’s solar domestic content requirement.

Solar energy finance and investment firm Sol Systems is set to deploy over US$200 million in capital to finance at least 150MW of projects.