Americas

PV project developer Gehrlicher Solar America (GSAC) has reported a 400% revenue growth for its PV systems business in the US in 2012.

PV inverter sales at Advanced Energy (AE) remained strong in the fourth quarter of 2012 at US$59.6 million, down only 1.8% from US$60.7 million reported in the third quarter of 2012.

PV project developer NRG Energy has completed the installation of a 66MW PV facility in Los Angeles and has begun commercial operations.

US energy provider SolarCity has installed PV systems with a total capacity of 2.3MW at all 19 district schools and a district support centre which make up the Murrieta Valley Unified School District in California.

Thin-film manufacturer First Solar has announced the acquisition of the 50MW Macho Springs Solar project from developer Element Power in Luna County.

PV project developer SunEdison and Chilean mining and steel group CAP have signed an agreement to develop, they claim, the largest PV plant in Latin America.

Mage Solar and Paradise Energy have completed the installation of a 1.1MW PV system for concrete manufacturer Martin Limestone.

Arizona-based Solar Bankers and its German affiliate Apollon have developed a new CPV module which, the companies claim, has low production costs and a 28% conversion rate.

Inti Pacific 2, an affiliate of Spanish renewable energy developer Nexer, is seeking approval for its proposed 54MW PV project in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile and has submitted plans to the Chilean environmental authority, Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (SEA).

Swedish furniture store IKEA has completed its 35th solar project in the US at its store in store in the city of Sunrise in southern Florida.