Solar Fields, the owner of CdTe thin-film module manufacturer Calyxo, will continue to financially support the company through 2012 thanks to Calyxo's new aperture area efficiencies of 13.4%, as confirmed by SGS Germany. The latest improved module performance is said to be the cornerstone of its next-generation module series and potentially improves their market competitiveness in the future.
As expected by solar industry observers and trade groups, Germany’s cabinet of Chancellor, Angela Merkel has approved plans proposed by Economy Minister Philipp Roesler and Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen to drastically curtail the feed-in tariff in an attempt to limit future PV installations, after a record 7.5GW was installed in 2011.
The Plastics Electronics Conference, co-located with SEMICON Europa since 2010, has been acquired by trade group, SEMI. The conference the committee has organized includes industry and academic leaders in the field of organic and inorganic large area electronics (OLAE will serve as a plastic electronics special interest group, guiding SEMI activities and services worldwide). SEMI said the conference and exhibition format would be extended to other regions in the future.
Martifer Solar announced the completion of its 2.07MW ground-mounted Les Mées, solar plant. The PV installation was built across 4 hectares with Martifer Solar overseeing the EPC and supplying all PV equipment. The company will also be providing the operation and maintenance of the plant, which is to be operated by Leonidas Associates IV.
Following a disappointing financial performance in 2011, COLEXON Energy to streamline its business continues. The company has sold two further solar project companies in southern Germany and Italy.
Solar PV capacity in the Ukraine is set to double in 2012, as a result of generous renewable incentives. Europe’s second-largest country currently hosts Europe’s biggest photovoltaic plant, a 100MW behemoth installed by Activ Solar GmbH last year, and is set to benefit from continued investment due to the scaling back of feed-in tariff schemes across Europe.
SPI Solar, US-based EPC services provider, has announced its third Greek venture, having acquired the necessary paperwork. Working alongside local partners SDL Solar and Global Energy Services, the installation is expected to be a 1MW fixed-ground-mount solar facility, located in Rhodope Prefecture, north-eastern Greece. The electricity will be purchased by Greek Public Power Corporation through a 20-year PPA.
Scandinavia is to receive 5MWp in equipment for solar projects from Premier Power Renewable Energy. The plants will be funded through an agreement with Danish firm, Viasol. Equipment will be shipped out this month, with all systems scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.
Updated: Due to an aggressive FiT cut of between 20% for residential and 30% for large-scale PV installations, the German government will introduce the FiT cuts from March 9, 2012 to eliminate a rush of installations to beat the tariff change. However, this would first need to be ratified in the cabinet and parliament, which could be sanctioned next week.
TÜV Rheinland has certified Emmvee modules as compliant with the Italian Energy Agency’s GSE guidelines. The TÜV Rheinland confirmation certifies that Emmvee modules are equipped with cells manufactured in Europe, primarily in Germany. The company notes that TÜV Rheinland will soon begin testing the origin of the cells in order to certify their manufacture and production sites.
