German photovoltaic and renewable energy product wholesaler, AS Solar, is set to unveil a new logo at the EU PVSEC conference and trade-show in Hamburg, September 5 – 9. It will compliment the company’s new headquarters that are located in a century-old factory building outside of Hannover, which they renovated to become an “energy plus” building.

Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer Trina Solar has revised down its shipment and gross margin guidance for quarter two (Q2) 2011, ahead of posting Q2 results. Falling demand in Italy is blamed for the reductions.

The latest IMS Research photovoltaic 2011 forecast predicts installed capacity to increase by one gigawatt (GW) over previous estimates. Growing demand in Asia, the Americas and the German market driving demand.

A new downstream report by Solarbuzz indicates that as the European markets represent a smaller proportion of the worldwide photovoltaic market, U.S. and Asian markets will continue to grow. This growth will be so vigorous, the report’s authors argue, that by 2015 Asia will represent almost 26 percent of the market.

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute has developed an off-grid photovoltaic solution to maximize utility of power supply while minimizing the need for storage solutions.

In a deal announced today, Canadian Solar Inc. has signed a sales agreement to supply Indian firm Cirus Solar Systems with photovoltaic modules in quarter three and four of 2011.

Regional governments in Australia continue to suspend photovoltaic feed-in tariff (FIT) schemes, with Western Australia the latest to do so. Applications to the scheme have been immediately suspended as of August 1.

China has continued its march into the renewable energy and photovoltaic sector with a new feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme, to compliment its already rapidly expanding module and equipment businesses. The Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) today announced the details.

Japanese thin-film manufacturer Solar Frontier has announced today that its new 900 megawatt (MW) CIS thin-film factory has reached full commercial operation, with all production lines open. At full capacity and in combination with the two existing plants, the new facility brings Solar Frontier’s annual capacity to around one gigawatt (GW).

Chinese photovoltaic manufacturuer Suntech Power Holdings has recently received the necessary certification that will allow it to expand into the French building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market.