As the price of PV falls, the technology will become more competitively priced in Europe and the U.S. before its prices are competitive in China.

Freescale: Harvesting Energy From Each Solar Cell

The company says plans to launch a chip that can extract and amplify ultra-low voltages, making it possible to charge devices with a single solar cell.

Solar

HelioVolt Delays Mass Production Until 2010

The CIGS startup plans had hoped to start mass production in the first quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the company is on the hunt for a new CEO.

Solar

Germans Claim New Solar Cell Breakthrough

The Fraunhofer solar institute says its three-layer solar cell can make a good candidate for commercial deployment of concentrating solar energy systems.

Solar

Solyndra's Chief Scientist Moves to First Solar

Markus Beck, a well regarded solar researcher, has left Solyndra for First Solar. Let the speculation about Solyndra's future begin.

Solar

Budget Shortfalls Could Shrink States' Solar Incentives

Maryland and Connecticut are struggling to come up with statewide budgets while trying to figure out how or whether to fund solar power programs that have run out of money early.

Solar

Report: Recycling Programs Could Curb Solar Panel Toxicity

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition has released a report outlining the potential environmental and health dangers posed by materials used to make solar panels.

Solar

Suntech Laid Off 10%, Factories Running at 50%–60% Capacity

UPDATED: Suntech spokesman said he erred in saying some workers had to take long unpaid leave. The Chinese solar panel maker refutes claims made by a news story reporting that the company has carried out a massive layoff.

All-in-One Solar Panels and Solar Thermal

A group of companies want to make hot water and power from the same piece of equipment. It won't be that expensive either, they claim.

Solar

SolFocus Scores $47.5M to Peddle Concentrating Solar Technology

The California startup aims to increase the total installations of its solar energy systems from 0.5 MW to 100 MW by 2010.

Solar

Suntech Boasts 1GW Capacity Amid Tough Times for Solar Market

The Chinese solar panel maker could use the manufacturing might to undercut competitors during a year when a panel bumper crop will likely happen.

Solar

Taiwanese LCD Giant AUO Jumpstarts Thin-Film Solar Business

AU Optronics plans to set up a pilot production line this year, joining other Taiwanese electronics makers in producing thin-film solar panels.

Solar

LDK Solar Lowers Sales Outlook, Delays Factory Plan

The Chinese silicon wafer maker saw its fourth-quarter sales drop by 23 percent as customers delayed taking deliveries. Stock fell 15 percent.

Solar

China Plans World’s Largest Solar Power Plant

At 1 gigawatt, the solar power plant in northwest China would be the world's biggest, but the timeline is a bit iffy at the moment. Construction starts next year.

Solar

The Year in Solar: A Mix of Victories and Woes

More government incentives are becoming available to boost solar energy projects in 2008, while new solar technologies are making their market debuts. But the credit crunch has caused no small amount of heartaches.

Solar

Solar Fraud Could Eliminate Spanish Market

A government investigation has uncovered many incomplete projects that were reported as finished by a September deadline. Those projects could qualify for the new 500MW cap for 2009, blocking new project applications.

Solar

First Solar Panels Piling Up?

ThinkEquity analyst believes there's a surplus of low-cost panels from First Solar out there. That could spell trouble for crystalline silicon panel makers as well.

Solar

American Solar Industry's Secret Sauce: Innovation

A new Greentech Media market research report surveys the North American solar industry and finds the explosive growth in emerging technologies the key to U.S. dominance in the global solar market.

Solar

Nanosolar: Tubular Thin Films Are Overrated

Nanosolar CEO Martin Roscheisen penned a blog to refute claims by Solyndra, which came out of stealth mode earlier this year to announce unusual solar panel designs and big contracts.

Solar

Splitting the Thin-Film Difference

NanoGram is building a 5-megawatt factory where it hopes to make thinner solar cells that match crystalline silicon's efficiency.

Solar