PV CYCLE, a non-for-profit association managing a fully operational collection and recycling scheme for end-of-life photovoltaic modules throughout Europe, is opening new offices in Germany and Italy.

“By bringing our collection and recycling services closer to the market, we want to foster existing partnerships, encourage new ones and proactively contribute to national, regional and local developments”, said Wilfried Taetow, President of PV CYCLE. For full press release, please visit pvcycle.org.

RenewableEnergyWorld.com argues: “As the solar PV market goes through its trials and tribulations, thin-film manufacturers could be poised to take on more market share.” One of the reasons are technical advantages of thin-film, namely that thin-film works better in low light conditions and in hot environments. Read the full article here.

German solar power plants produced a world record 22 GW of electricity per hour - which is the same as 20 nuclear power stations – through the midday hours on a Friday and Saturyday this May, a renewable energy institute told reuters. 

Full story: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/05/26/climate-germany-solar-idINDEE84P05M20120526

The Thin-Film Industry Forum 2012, being held in Berlin on 19 and 20 April 2012, looked at all the current issues around thin-film technology – from the political environment, through market growth expectations, finance and bankability, to production matters, quality assurance, recycling and laser technology.

The forum coincided with the “4th Photovoltaics Thin-Film Week” – the only week in the world that is dedicated exclusively to thin-film photovoltaics, combining scientific and technological workshops with a practice-oriented industry forum. For further information, please go here.

On March 6, 2012, leading representatives of the thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) industry value chain  announced the establishment of a new industry coalition, PVthin. For further information, go here for pv magazine reporting.

Greentech Media wrote that First Solar produced a cadmium telluride solar cell with a 17.3 percent efficiency – a new record.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/first-solar-sets-efficiency-record-17.3-percent/