California: 33% RPS a step closer to reality
New Californian legislation which, if approved would see private and public utilities in the U.S. state obtain 33 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020, has taken a step closer to becoming a reality.
Suntech responds to SolarWorld threat
Competition in the PV sector is getting tougher, and companies are getting nervous. Suntech has reacted calmly to reported attacks from German competitor SolarWorld.
Spain stops subsidies for 350 solar plants
Spains national energy commission, CNE has suspended solar subsidies for 350 installations, after finding that that they were not generating electricity when they claimed to be.
PV: Second quarter 2011 predicted to be "exceptionally challenging"
According to new research, the global PV market demand has got off to a weak start, with price reductions failing to boost the market. Furthermore, the second quarter of the year is predicted to be “exceptionally challenging”.
Global solar shares boosted by Germanys first Green win
Solar stocks around the world have risen after Winfried Kretschmann became the first regional Green Party president in German history. In an interview with pv magazine Wolfgang Seeliger speaks about the countrys political influence on the rest of the world, as well as what the win could mean for PV.
Solar Frontier claims new thin film CIS efficiency record
According to its in-house measurements, Solar Frontier says it has achieved 17.2 percent aperture area efficiency on a 30 x 30 cm thin film CIS-based PV submodule. This, states the company, is a world record.
Australia: Sunshine Coast to get 10 MW solar farm
Local business, Energy Parks Australia (EPA), has lodged a Development Application with the council which, if approved, would see the Sunshine Coast boast one of Australias largest solar parks.
Wagner Solar UK offers help to Japan
Wagner Solar UK Ltd, has announced the decision to donate three percent from the sales of Sanyo modules during the entire month of April, to World Vision for Japan related causes.
United Solar awarded patent for nano-crystalline technology
United Solar, manufacturer of light-weight, flexible thin-film solar modules, announced today that its team has received the patent for “Method for depositing high-quality microcrystalline semiconductor materials.”
Germany: 17 percent renewable electricity
Germanys conservative government has issued its annual report on the contribution of renewable energy to the German energy market in 2010. Wind turbines, hydroelectric plants, solar cells, and biogas digesters now provide nearly 17 percent of the country’s electricity.
