Europe

Perovskite thin-film solar cells could be closer to commercialisation than expected after Oxford Photovoltaics (Oxford PV) made a critical appointment of a veteran leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing technologist as its Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Chris Case.

The German cabinet approved changes to the country’s energy reforms on Tuesday that could ramp up the pressure on the county’s PV sector.

UK PV developer, Lightsource Renewable Energy, has revealed that it connected 26 separate solar farms across the UK in March alone.

Portuguese renewable energy developer, EDP Renováveis (EDPR), has secured €30 million (US$41 million) in project finance for 50MW of Romanian PV, despite recent cuts to the county's solar incentives.

Komax Group has taken its first step away from the solar industry, selling its 51% stake in joint venture (JV) company Komax Jinchen to its Chinese JV partner, Yingkou Jinchen.

Solar PV has reached grid parity in Spain, Germany and Italy according to a new report by the consultancy Eclareon.

Ukraine’s ministry of energy and coal industry has announced Crimea’s solar power projects are to stop receiving payments under the country’s feed-in tariff.

The minimum price for Chinese PV modules imported into the EU free of tariffs is set to be cut from €0.56 (US$0.77) to €0.53/Watt (US$0.73), according to reports in China.

The European Council is expected to approve an October deadline to decide its 2030 climate change and energy policy, according to a leaked draft of the meeting's conclusion.

Italy’s electricity transmission system operator has awarded a tender to Younicos, Samsung SDI and Italian renewable energy producer Green Utility to provide 1MW/1MWh of battery storage aimed at stabilising Sardinia's electrical grid.