Sharp is expanding its European photovoltaics (PV) production after announcing that PV is one of the company’s “core” business fields. It added that turnover in the solar segment has increased by 65.7 percent to €533 million in the first quarter of this year, in comparison with the same period last year.

SunPower has announced that up to 1,000 local jobs are expected to be created after the company was selected to install a “minimum” of 20 megawatts (MW) worth of new solar projects at several U.S. government properties, including the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), the General Services Administration (GSA), the Navy and the Air Force.

Avancis has laid the foundation stone for its second solar module plant in Torgau, in the German state of Saxony. Construction work is expected to last for 18 months, said the company, with production at the 100 megawatt peak (MWp) factory set to commence in the first quarter of 2012.

Trina Solar (U.S.) Inc., has signed a sales agreement to supply around 35 megawatts (MW) of solar modules to SunEdison over the remainder of this year. The financial sum was not disclosed.

Researchers at the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) at the University of Wollongong in Australia have been awarded a new Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant of AUD$320,000 over three years. As such, they will work with Konarka Technologies in an effort to increase the efficiency of organic polymer solar cells.

First Solar may be looking to takeover SMA Solar Technology AG after saying it would be willing to purchase each SMA share for €110, according to several brokers. Following this, SMA’s shares significantly rose by around five percent today to almost €85 on the German TecDAX stock index.

Egypt is currently planning to connect its first solar energy station to the grid, according to the General Authority for Investment (GAFI).

Germany-based Solar Millennium AG, Erlangen has sold 50 percent of the stakes in its 50-megawatt (MW) parabolic trough solar thermal power plant – Ibersol – to Ferrostaal AG, Essen for an undisclosed amount. Located in the province of Extremadura, Spain, construction is expected to begin on the plant this autumn. It is hoped by spring 2013, it will be connected to the grid.

Nevada Solar Works LLC. has won a contract to install 1.3 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics (PV) projects in the City of Reno, the U.S. The Reno City Council announced the contract, approving a one MW fixed tilt ground mount system at the Reno-Stead Water Treatment Plant, and 295 kW in fixed tilt roof and ground mount installations at five other locations throughout the city.

centrotherm photovoltaics AG, based in Germany, has signed several contracts for production systems and equipment in its solar cell business area with “well-known” Asian customers for undisclosed sums of money.