Americas

Sol Systems has expanded its Washington DC base with five new recruits, and intends to continue with future recruitment growth in coming months.

First Solar will start a 100MW manufacturing line for crystalline silicon cells for the residential distributed market from the end of next year with production scaling from 2015, it was revealed yesterday.

South Korean business conglomerate SK Group has invested a further US$19 million into Texas-based CIGS thin-film PV module manufacturer HelioVolt.

Microinverter market leader, Enphase Energy continues to gain traction in international markets, reporting second quarter 2013 sales up 28% sequentially.

Chinese PV module manufacturer ReneSola is to provide solar plant installer Saferay with 29.1MW of its modules for use in construction of La Huayca II solar power plant, Chile.

First Solar has announced that it has purchased Element Power’s 1.5GW project pipeline for the US and Mexico.

US-based third-party ownership (TPO) PV installer Vivint Solar has secured US$200 million in two separate tax equity funds.

Energy utility Edison International has acquired SoCore Energy, a Chicago-based commercial rooftop solar developing company.

Canadian Solar subsidiary Canadian Solar Solutions announced that it has reached an agreement to sell five utility-scale solar power plants in Ontario valued at more than C$290 million (US$277 million) to Concord Green Energy.

Solar industry and environmental groups in Colorado have united to oppose proposals by utility company Xcel Energy they say could restrict the growth of rooftop PV in the state.