The University of Luxembourg’s Laboratory of Photovoltaics has received a sizable grant to develop technologies for more efficient and cheaper solar cells. The University is part of a consortium of 14 partners, known as the Scalenano project, which has been awarded €10 million by the European Union.
PV manufacturer PVA TePla AG has announced it has generated sales revenues of €31.0 million in the first quarter of 2012 (previous year: €23.1 million), its EBIT amounted to €2.9 million (previous year: €1.8 million).
GERO Solarpark GmbH’s 28MW solar power plant was inaugurated in Amsdorf, near Halle, Germany, with Saxony-Anhalt prime minister Dr Reiner Haseloff in attendance. The project is a joint venture set up by GETEC green energy AG and the ROMONTA group. Despite the €50 million investment being overshadowed by federal government plans to bring forward cuts to solar power subsidies, the companies have been able to realize the project in seven weeks after ground was broken on the site.
According to a report by EMG, representatives from Serbia’s government and the Securum Equity Partners Europe signed a memorandum for the development of what is being called the world’s largest solar park. Minister of the Environment, Oliver Dulic, and members of Securum’s management board, including Alessio Colussi and Ivan Matejak, signed the memo in the presence of Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic.
Westinghouse Solar and CBD Energy are hoping that the definitive merger agreement both companies signed this week will be completed by Q3 2012. Approvals from both companies’ board of directors have been received. Limited closing conditions and approval by both companies’ shareholders need to be finalized in order to complete the deal.
HYET Solar, a relatively new company founded by Rombout Swanborn, recently bought all assets of Helianthos from Nuon. The company plans to further develop Helianthos’ technology with a team of 15 to 20 employees. HYET advised that its long term goal is to eventually bring the Helianthos flexible solar cell foil to market on a large scale.
The former CEO of Scheuten Solar, Frans van den Heuvel, has been named CEO of UK-based Solarcentury. Van den Heuvel holds over 13 years of industry experience, previously working with ProxEnergy, a solar installation and smart-grid product development company. Van den Heuvel began his new role with Solarcentury on May 8.
The European Photovoltaic Industry Association has reported that, for the first time ever, solar PV power became the most installed energy source in Europe in 2011.The increased uptake of solar power, which rose 63% to reach 21.9GW last year, has been attributed to the implementation of incentive schemes and widespread subsidization by governments.
ET Solar has announced the completion of four rooftop projects, totalling 4MW generating capacity, in partnership with French developer Langa Solar. The projects are expected to begin power production by June, 2012.
Multi-Contact’s Westlake junction box (PV-JB/WL-H) has been certified by TÜV and UL following the product’s passing of the DIN EN 60068-2-52:1996 salt mist spray test.
