The north-east Australian state of Queensland has slashed its feed in tariff (FIT) program, reducing tariffs from AUD0.44/kWh (US$0.43) down to AUD0.08/kWh (US$0.07). The conservative Newman Government, which came to power only months ago, said that the scheme’s original aim of stimulating a solar industry in the state had been achieved.

DuPont has filed a law suit against Heraeus Materials, and its client SolarWorld Industries America. DuPont alleges that Heraeus and SolarWorld have infringed on the DuPont patent relating to front-side sliver pastes.

SunPower has supplied modules and a tracker system to a Campbell Soup Company site in Ohio. The ground-mounted system, called the SunPower Oasis, will supply 15 percent of the Campbell facility’s power.

Norway-based manufacturer REC carried out major financial restructuring today, issuing almost 870,000 million new shares, in an attempt to raise NOK1.3 billion (US$218 million). REC also refinanced its revolving debt facilities, into a NOK2 billion (US$335 million) facility.

Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC took the decision three years ago to enter the solar market. The company licensed CIGS technology, built a fab and started shipping modules last quarter. Despite extremely competitive module prices, the company is confident that it has the backing, technology and process experience to prosper when the solar market turns the corner.

In an exclusive interview, pioneering photovoltaic researcher, Martin Green has called for more efforts to be made in advocating photovoltaics in the wider community and within the power industry.

While the expectations of SolarWorld launching a Sino-EU photovoltaic trade case during Intersolar Europe begin to the fade, the company has highlighted projects in the U.S. where municipal governments are turning to photovoltaics.

Bloomberg has reported that changes to Germany’s photovoltaic support program, introduced to the German parliament by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government, may not go through, after negotiations with the parliament’s upper house broke down.

Comeback kid Scheuten Solar has celebrated its revival, from the brink, at the Intersolar Europe trade show. With Chinese investor Aikosolar taking over the intellectual property, commercial team and also German manufacturing facilities, the company believes it demonstrates a new way forward for troubled European producers. Scheuten Solar CCO Perry Verberne spoke with pv magazine.

A report from Australia’s leading national science and the technology research organization has found that the challenges posed by the intermitted supply of electricity produced by solar installations can be overcome.