Europe

Intelligent Systems Robotics and Automation (ISRA) is expanding its range of production automation and quality inspection technology through the acquisition of PV inspection companies GP Solar and GP Inspect.

Chinese solar manufacturer ReneSola has opened a new office in Newhavan, UK, to establish what it said would be a long-term presence in the country.

Chinese thin-film manufacturer Hanergy has acquired Engensa, a UK-based home energy systems provider, for an undisclosed purchase price.

German chemical company Merck will lead a consortium to develop high-efficiency cobalt-based dye-sensitised solar cells.

The Greek government is to introduce retroactive cuts to the country’s feed-in tariff in a bid to reduce a deficit in the fund it uses for renewable energy.

A report commissioned by the group lobbying for trade duties on Chinese solar products has described claims made in an earlier study that tariffs would cost the European solar industry €27.8 billion as “highly questionable".

First quarter 2013 new order intake at manufacturing equipment specialist Singulus Technologies may have been at a low level but sales in the quarter increased to €22.8 million.

Having lost its line of credit from its banks, Germany-based PV supplier Sunways, majority-owned by struggling Chinese manufacturer LDK Solar, has been forced into insolvency proceedings.

PV-Tech can confirm the European Commission is planning to impose between 37.2% and 67.9% tariffs on Chinese solar module manufacturers.

A five-year global solar forecast by the European Photovoltaics Association (EPIA) has confirmed other recent reports of a major shift in activity away from solar’s traditional stronghold in Europe.