Markets

The suggestion has been put forth to reduce photovoltaic feed-in tariffs on a monthly basis instead of a half-yearly one. Via this solution, the Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen hopes to prevent anymore occurrences of final spurts of PV installations, like it happened in December 2011.

Siemens Energy and Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in the UAE have signed a one-year agreement for cooperation in solar energy technology research and development to enhance the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels in the Middle East region.

As installed photovoltaic capacity for the fourth quarter, 2011, surprises many, pv magazine speaks with consumer protection expert, Holger Krawinkel, the Head of Building, Energy and the Environment at the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv).

Earlier this week, some news outlets published claims that MEMC Electronic Materials, through its SunEdison subsidiary, was going to invest 350 billion yen (USD4.6 billion) in Japan’s downstream photovoltaic market. The report said that the funds had been earmarked despite many details surrounding Japan’s feed-in tariff being unclear.

The Environment Minister is for stronger cuts in solar feed-in tariffs (FITs) in Germany. There will be a discussion with industry representatives tomorrow.

First Solar has announced today that it has achieved 14.4 percent total area efficiency for its CdTe (cadmium-telluride) PV modules. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) confirmed the record, which eclipsed the prior record of 13.4 percent, which also was set by First Solar.

Solar photovoltaic electricity is competitive with conventional fossil fuel-based electricity generation, particularly for peak demand during the middle of the day, in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), according to a new report.

German-based photovoltaic manufacturer and distributer aleo solar today announced earning forecasts for 2011. Coming in at 462 million euros, the result represents a 17 percent decrease in revenues from 2010.

In a week where mixed signals have been emerging from the photovoltaic equipment market, NPD Solarbuzz figures indicate growing revenues during 2011. Looking to the future is another story however, with the analysts predicting a sharp downturn.

Japanese thin-film producer Solar Frontier has announced today that it will supply a 100 MW Californian power plant. The company has already delivered 26 MW Catalina Solar Project, in Kern County, California, which is set to become the world’s biggest installation of its kind.