The state government in New South Wales is set to buck the trend around the country and adopt a bullish stance on renewables. The populous state’s environment minister told attendees at the Clean Energy Week in Sydney today that the government intends to make the state “the number one in energy and environmental policy.”

Thin-crystalline cell and module startup Solexel has closed a D-round of financing, bringing in a further $31 million. The funds will be used to begin commercial production of its advanced thin-silicon PV modules.

The Australian Federal Parliament voted to scrap the country’s carbon price last week, causing concerns as to the future of PV in the country. However, the Australian Solar Council says that the move won’t halt the growth of solar.

Efforts to establish a global solar PV association are picking up pace, with some national and regional bodies meeting for a third time tomorrow to try and hammer out a plan for the embryonic global industry body.

The booming Chinese market remains a major challenge for European PV component suppliers. Swiss inverter manufacturer SolarMax has reported that it received a “bloody nose” through its attempt to develop business in the country.

Solar crowdfunder Mosaic has launched a solar loan coupled with operations and maintenance (O&M) for residential PV arrays. The new product is being offered in partnership with microinverter manufacturer Enphase Energy.

California “is and will remain the leader in renewables, trying to make a sustainable world,” said Michael R. Peevey, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, as he accepted the Intersolar Award for helping to usher in the era of California solar.

While it may be finding the going tough in established PV markets, Conergy continues to build on its strong reputation and track record in Southeast Asia. The latest announcement is that it is to build a 8 MW power plant in the Philippines, its second in the country.

The Australian solar industry has welcomed the announcement today by businessman turned politician Clive Palmer that he will support the Renewable Energy Target (RET). The votes of Mr Palmer’s political party to maintain the RET, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the Climate Change Commission is likely to reinvigorate the large scale PV sector and maintain support for residential and commercial PV.

The UK’s Solar Trade Association (STA) believes that over last weekend solar PV broke electricity production records in the country. With Midsummer occurring over the weekend, on Saturday, the STA estimates that solar’s production contribution in the country peaked at 7.8% of daytime electricity.