Asia & Oceania

Japan added 1,394MW in clean energy capacity between 1 April 2012 and 31 January 2013, of which solar PV accounted for 1,329MW.

Solar system supplier SunPower is to construct two solar power projects for Yolo County in California.

China is looking to diffuse tensions with Europe over the trade case launched against its manufacturers claimed to be dumping modules on the European market.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will fund a 57MW solar power project in central Thailand by providing a financing package worth US$85 million.

Solar Systems, an Australian concentrating PV (CPV) systems manufacture, has announced the operational start up of its Mildura solar demonstration facility in Mildura in the Australian state of Victoria.

Importers of Chinese cells into the US may be evading anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD), according to the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM).

The European solar industry is split over whether the European Commission should impose trade duties on Chinese module manufacturers.

Shares in China’s troubled PV manufacturer Suntech rallied yesterday following unconfirmed rumours that US investor Warren Buffet is considering buying the company.

Taiwan has announced its intention to increase its 2013 solar PV target to 130MW from 100MW.

The government of Balochistan and CK Solar Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a 300MW PV project near Quetta, Pakistan.