Europe

Developers Baywa r.e. and Solairedirect have separately announced €228 million (US$264 million) in financing for French PV projects.

The French government is looking to kick-start the country’s residential market with an adjustment to the feed-in tariff (FiT) for projects up to 36kW.

Germany-headquartered developer juwi has recruited a 46-year old “finance and energy expert” from the ranks of its new majority owner, MVV Energie, to act as chief financial officer (CFO).

The Hungarian government has imposed an import tax on solar panels claiming the move is necessary on environmental grounds to cover disposal costs.

Specialist PV equipment supplier RENA, which is in the middle of restructuring efforts, has said its new order intake in the fourth quarter of 2014 totalled €30 million.

Independent energy company Neoen and juwi AG have signed a deal that will see Neoen acquire 100% of juwi EnR — the French subsidiary of juwi AG.

European R&D facility, imec has achieved new solar cell record efficiency for its N-type, monocrystalline n-PERT (passivated emitter, rear totally diffused) process using commercial sized wafers and processing equipment.

PV equipment specialist SoLayTec, recently acquired by Amtech Systems has secured an evaluation testing period for its ALD (atomic layer deposition) system with Hanwha Q CELLS.

The Italian government has confirmed a raft of new charges for PV system owners.

One of the founders of PV inverter maker SMA Solar Technology, Günther Cramer, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 62 after a “long, difficult illness,” the company has announced.