German photovoltaics manufacturer, Conergy has opened an eight megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Grimmen, near Germany’s Baltic Sea coastline. Around 35,000 Conergy PowerPlus modules were used in the installation, which is spread over 20 hectares.

A new report into the CIS/CIGS photovoltaic manufacturing market, by market and technology analysts Yole Développement, has concluded that while a number of small copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS) manufacturers are likely not to survive present market conditions, opportunities still remain.

In a sign of continued consolidation, Australian photovoltaic module manufacturer SilexSolar announced today that it will permanently close its manufacturing operations. The move will cost around AUD10 million (US$9.77 million).

Photovoltaic and electronics equipment manufacturer Manz has moved closer to many of its clients, by opening a equipment manufacturing fab in Suzhou, two hours west of Shanghai.

Exhibitor numbers were down and uncertainty over future subsidies reigned at the three-day Solar Expo in Verona, which winds up today. However, with the vast majority of major photovoltaic firms exhibiting there was still considerable optimism about the future of the Italy in the commercial and residential rooftop market segments.

The last of Japan’s 50 nuclear reactors was shutdown over the weekend, as the country heads into the electricity-hungry summer months. With proposed feed-in tariff (FIT) rates promising healthy returns to investors, the stage appears set for a photovoltaic boom.

U.S.-based vertically integrated thin film manufacturer First Solar has posted a non-GAAP loss for the first quarter (Q1) of 2012 of US$449 million or US$5.20 per share. The company also announced new management in the shape of James Hughes as CEO and Raffi Garabedian as CTO. In related news, major construction has begun at its 550 megawatt (MW) at Topaz Solar Farms project.

While criticism is often aimed at renewables for playing a major role in increasing consumers’ electricity bills, new data from Australia predicts that only three percent of forecast price rises in the country will be due to support for renewables. The newly-formed Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) Agents Association released the figures.

After a considerable period of deliberation, the committee formed to set Japan’s revamped feed in tariffs (FIT) for renewable energy has announced today that a tariff of 42 yen (US$0.51) will be paid for photovoltaics. The tariff is not far off the amount requested by the Japanese solar industry.

Chinese module producer, Phono Solar and German EPC, Sybac Solar signed a 500 megawatt (MW) strategic supply agreement at the vast Hannover Messe industry trade show yesterday. The agreement underpinned a broader theme prominent at the diverse trade show, which was the cooperation between Chinese and German firms.