Electricity storage technology looks set to get a boost with two major companies active in the space forming a strategic partnership. Power and automation giant ABB will form a partnership with major Chinese company BYD to collaborate in battery storage for grid-connected, micro grid, solar and marine storage applications.

New research from analysts Navigant Research predicts that revenues from distributed generation (DG) are set to reach $182 billion, by 2023. Navigant reports that in Western Europe, the growth of DG is causing the most disruption to utility business models.

US-based PV developer SPI Solar has acquired a 30.5 MW pipeline in the UK. The agreement also grants SPI the exclusive rights to develop a further 50 MW of projects.

OCI Solar Power announced today that it will add 145 MW of PV capacity in Texas this year. The developer has tapped local manufacturers for components.

Australian solar installers are reporting high levels of inquiries as the axe hovers over the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) – which subsidizes rooftop PV. The SRES looks likely to be scrapped or wound up early, although the final decision from the government has not yet been handed down.

The recommendations of the review into Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) released yesterday looks set to deal a 30% blow to the country’s rooftop solar industry – by its own estimations. The Australian Solar Council says that 8,000 solar jobs could be loss and many small businesses close.

On Friday the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall notice for 1.5 million SolarWorld modules used in installations in the U.S. and Canada. SolarWorld has responded to the notice, saying that installer error not the SolarWorld modules themselves are responsible for the notice being issued.

After announcing last August that it attended to sell it’s solar business, equipment supplier Komax Group announced this week that Komax Solar has been sold in a management buyout of the company. Komax Solar, a stringer supplier, will now become Xcell Automation. pv magazine spoke to incoming Komax Solar President and CEO Brian Micciche about the move.

The organized opposition to the federal government’s moves to abolish or reduce Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) has begun. More than 500 people attended a rally in Brisbane to protest against changes to the RET.

The Chinse solar giant has become more competitive in getting its products to customers, says Ben Hill, the company’s president Europe. Trina’s global strategy, including operations in the U.K., the U.S. and Japan, remain key to its success.