This was a pretty big week for California in the solar space. First Solar
On top of those 616 megawatts of PPAs, the Golden State also saw two large solar thermal projects, one owned by NextEra Energy
Last year, LDK Solar
This is probably the last thing CSI needs right now, as the firm recovers from an SEC-launched accounting investigation and struggles to keep up with more integrated competitors. The firm just reported its second-quarter results, and gross margins of 13.6% came in far short of those seen over at Yingli Green Energy
Speaking of vertical integration, LDK announced that it has its first solar cell line up and running, and is targeting 120 megawatts of annualized capacity by the end of the quarter.
On the technology front, MiaSole announced a record 14.3% conversion efficiency with a large-area CIGS (copper indium gallium (di)selenide) module, as verified by the National Renewable Energy Lab. The company expects to ship modules with over 13% efficiency beginning next year. Elsewhere in CIGS land, Global Solar unveiled the PowerFLEX BIPV, a module designed for building-integrated applications. That offering will directly compete with the thin-film laminates offered by Energy Conversion Devices