Chinese manufacturer Trina Solar announced today that it is opening a sales and business development office in Santiago, Chile. The new site will give the company coverage throughout the Americas including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The government of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria announced today that it will cut its photovoltaic FIT for the second time this year. The FIT paid will be reduced from AU$0.25/kWh (US$0.26) to $0.08kWh (US$0.08), approximately less than half of the retail price of electricity charged to consumers.

Chinese module manufacturer, JinkoSolar has said it will supply South Africa’s first off grid utility scale photovoltaic system. The 1 MW plant will supply electricity to a chrome mine in the Limpopo province, in the north east of the country.

In its Q2 results released today, Chinese vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturer, ReneSola has announced that it has exceeded revenue and shipment guidance. Despite this strong result, the company posted a US$34.6 million operating loss.

In a sign that major Japanese corporations are mobilizing to develop photovoltaic projects in the country under the revamped FIT regime, the Japan Mega Solar Power Co. has formed. The new company plans to invest 100 billion yen (US$1.3 billion) to develop utility-scale photovoltaic projects in the country.

Chinese manufacturer ReneSola announced today that it has signed an eight MW supply agreement with one of Australia’s largest solar specialist companies, True Value Solar.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has responded to EU anti-dumping trade case against Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers. MOFCOM has claimed that the aggressive pricing of Chinese modules is a result of cost reductions, economies of scale and low polysilicon prices.

During the Intersolar North America, held in San Francisco July 10 – 12, pv magazine took the chance to turn the spotlight on some key firms in the City and Bay Area. Part three of our series features CIGS innovator, Stion.

Preannouncements of financial results in Q2 have revealed a mixed bag from Chinese manufacturers, which are facing tariffs on their products in the U.S. and potential anti-dumping measures in the E.U.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held yesterday in Hackensack New Jersey, at a brownfield site that will be converted into a 1.06 megawatt (MW) solar farm. At the same time, local utility Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G), a subsidiary of PSEG, has applied to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for approval the expansion of its 233 MW “Solar 4 All” solar loan program.