Up to 180 union and green jobs will be created in California, the U.S. The news comes following the announcement at Intersolar North America that Yingli Green Energy Americas, Inc. has been selected to provide 15 megawatts (MW) of solar modules for 16 solar power system projects across the state.

In a bid to strengthen its presence in the U.S. solar power plants market, Concentrix Solar GmbH says it has launched a U.S.-based subsidiary, hired additional industry professionals and won listing from the California Energy Commission.

Clear Skies Solar, Inc. (CSS) and New Jersey commercial developer, GS Investor have reached an agreement to deliver 10 megawatts (MW) of solar energy projects in New Jersey, the U.S. over the next 12 months. CSS estimates the agreement to be worth over USD$20 million.

STR Holdings, Inc. has announced that the one gigawatt (GW) expansion of its Malaysian plant has become operational, in order to meet growing global market demand. The company has also announced it is to add a further one GW of production capacity, due to be installed during the third quarter of next year.

Intersolar North America 2010 has opened its doors to an expected 20,000 attendees in San Francisco, the U.S. More than 580 exhibitors span the 130,000 net square feet and all three levels of the Moscone West Hall.

Idaho Power Co., based in the U.S. has entered into a 20-year agreement with Grand View Solar PV One to develop a 20 megawatt (MW) solar project. Assuming the application for development is approved, construction is scheduled to be completed this autumn and should be online by next January.

Germany-based Centrosolar Group AG has announced its profit predictions have almost doubled from between €14 – €16 million to between €24 – €28 million. The company also expects to see a total revenue of around €370 million this year, which is above the company’s original expectations.

JA Solar has signed a three-year supply agreement for silicon nanoparticle ink from Innovalight for the production of JA Solar’s recently announced Secium solar cells.

The performance of crystalline silicon – widely considered a reliable solar module construction – declines amid rising temperatures of rooftop modules, according to studies performed by TÜV Rheinland PTL, LLC.  

Asia-Pacific photovoltaics (PV) markets are poised to make a significant contribution to global PV market growth this year, according to the Solarbuzz Asia and Pacific Major PV Markets 2010 report, following improvements in the policy environment in most of the key countries in the region.