First generation PV thin-film adopters are falling like flies as Berlin-based Inventux files for bankruptcy. Inventux was a customer of Oerlikon Solar and an early adopter of its micromorph silicon turnkey technology. A temporary insolvency administrator has been appointed by the local court in Berlin-Charlottenburg, which is understood to be looking for new investors and secure some of the 200 jobs at risk at the company.
A report published by Reuters has advised that the Constitutional Court has endorsed a Czech tax on solar power producers as part of the government’s push to cut budget deficits and subdue the solar boom in the country. The ruling means that solar plants which came online in 2009 and 2010 are affected.
Following his defeat to be premier of North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday by the Social Democrats (SPD), Norbert Roettgen, once seen as a potential successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, was fired by Merkel today from his position as her environment minister. Reuters reported that Merkel has nominated Peter Altmaier, parliamentary whip for her conservative party, to replace Roettgen.
The UK Solar Trade Association (STA) has called for a delay to planned feed-in tariff cuts in a bid to boost installed capacity figures. In a letter to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) the association asks for the proposed July cuts to be held off until figures pick up.
According to the Hellenic Transmission System Operator (HTSO), Greece has installed 535MW of PV capacity in March 2012. This is an increase of 53MW from the beginning of the year. The HTSO published these numbers in its monthly bulletin, mentioning a power output of 61.577 MWh per year in March.
In February, EuPD Research awarded Germany-based Sovello the TOP BRAND PV seal; this week, the module manufacturer announced it has filed for insolvency in self-administration at the district court in Dessau. This very same court handled proceedings for Q-Cells last month and CIGS thin-film firm Odersun. The dramatic reduction in government subsidies and competition from Chinese manufacturers are being blamed for the moves by German companies that are unable to pay their mounting debts.
Italy could alter its subsidy cuts deadline from July 1 to October 1, reports Deutsche Bank. At a technical meeting of state regions conference last week, former undersecretary of industrial activity, Stefano Saglia, announced the current Conto Energia 4 would remain in place until the €7 billion limit were reached if this change was to occur.
S.A.G. Solarstrom has announced a significant increase in sales volume with a positive EBIT. The company closed the first quarter of 2012 with sales of €21.4 million (Q1 2011: €78.9 million) and an EBIT of -€2.8 million (Q1 2011: €5.1 million), claiming these results are in line with its schedule for 2012. The company states that in the previous year’s quarter, sales and EBIT had been influenced to a very great extent by the large-scale Serenissima project.
Bloomberg is reporting that Conergy stock rose to its highest point since February following a report from the Financial Times Deutschland. The paper stated that the company was near ready to sell a 30% stake of Conergy to an undisclosed Chinese buyer. Bloomberg noted that company stocks rose as much as 16% to €0.57 per share.
The German Federal Council has determined that that the bill earlier adopted by the German Parliament for the reduction of solar subsidies will be going to a mediation committee, which will allow for the federal and state governments to negotiate finding a comprise. If the members do not find a resolution, the Federal Council has the ability to file an appeal against the bill, which could override Parliament’s decision with an absolute majority vote.
