With 20.5% market share, Panasonic has emerged as the leading lithium ion battery cell supplier to the global market for the first half of the year. The data comes from Korean market research firm SNE Research, which found that East Asian manufacturers are dominating the space, with Samsung SDI, LG Chem, ATL and Sony rounding out the top five suppliers.

First Solar has reported a doubling of revenues Q/Q on the back of the sale or majority interest sale of three projects. The company reports sales of US$896 million for the quarter, with revenues from its joint 8point3 Energy Partners’ IPO adding to revenues.

Californian microinverter company Enphase has signed a deal with Sunrun, to supply the lease provider’s ‘direct installation services business’. Enphase has supplied Sunrun certified installers for some time, with this most recent announcement representing a strengthening in the relationship.

Major U.S. solar player SunPower has released its Q2 2015 results, in which it reports falling revenues both on a Y/Y and M/M basis, as it either holds completed projects on its books or drops them down into joint yieldco 8point3 Energy Partners. U.S. residential market continues to deliver strong demand.

France’s Langa Group has selected Schneider Electric and Saft to provide the power electronics and battery storage, respectively, for two 1 MW/1MWh solar+storage arrays on the island of Corsica. The plants are expected to be completed and grid connected by the end of the year.

One week after closing its doors for the 8th time, Intersolar North America has reported modest visitor growth and a slight decline in exhibitors over 2014. Solar Promotion has reported that the 8th annual Intersolar North America attracted around 18,000 visitors across three days, up around 1,000 on the previous year.

New project finance provider Open Energy Group believes vast potential of the U.S. commercial rooftop market is set to be tapped. Financing can be extended to solar+storage projects.

The U.S. Department of Commerce ruling to maintain tariffs on Chinese crystalline silicon modules, although at adjusted rates, has been met with mixed responses from the global industry.

Two independent sources close to leading Chinese solar manufacturer Yingli have reported to pv magazine that production has been suspended at Yingli Green Energy.

GTM Research has published analysis showing that Advanced Energy currently holds 17% inverter market share in the U.S., meaning the firm’s exit from the market has left a sizable opportunity for competitors.