Standard Bank helps solar developers in South Africa November, 2011: The South African Standard Bank reports that it has provided R12 billion (about $1.5 billion) in funding to renewable energy projects in South Africa. Nigerian solar module factory targets off-grid installations November, 2011: The Nigerian National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has partnered with an unnamed foreign company to establish a 7.5 MW solar module factory that will produce photovoltaic panels for small-scale off-grid installations throughout Nigeria.     European Commission: Spanish moratorium will “have a disturbing impact on investment” February, 2012: The European Commission (EC) has harshly criticized the Spanish moratorium on renewable energy projects, stating that the suspension of the pre-allocation process and incentives for new projects will “have a disturbing impact on investment in this sector.” Uproar over renewable energy moratorium continues in Spain February, 2012: About 40 organizations and groups have signed a petition against the Spanish government’s recently introduced moratorium on renewable energy projects.     PHOTON Conference Series: First Solar dumped CIGS on eve of success February, 2012: The recently disbanded advanced technology team within cadmium-telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer First Solar Inc. did what its competitors in the space have yet to accomplish – develop a better recipe for producing thin-film PV modules. MidAmerican Energy completes acquisition of 550 MW Topaz Solar Park February, 2012: US-based MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, which is controlled by Berkshire Hathaway, has completed its acquisition of the 550 MW (AC) Topaz Solar Farm from US thin-film module manufacturer First Solar Inc.     GSF Capital signs agreement with regional government to develop 1 GW of solar in Qinghai province January, 2012: China’s People’s Daily Online reports that the regional government of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture has signed a memorandum of understanding with European renewable energy investment company GSF Capital to develop 1 GW of solar capacity in Qinghai province. Gujarat extends commissioning deadline by one month January, 2012: The government of the Indian state of Gujarat announced that it has extended the commissioning deadline for solar power projects from Dec. 31, 2011 to Jan. 28, which means that solar parks commissioned before Jan. 28 will receive preferential tariff rates.     Australian Capital Territory approves feed-in-tariff scheme December, 2011: The government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has passed legislation aimed at improving support for the development of large-scale solar power plants in Canberra. Australian Senate passes renewable energy legislation November, 2011: The Australian Senate has passed the Clean Energy Legislative Package, which is aimed at boosting support for renewable energy in the country.     27.7 GW of grid-connected PV was installed in 2011 January, 2012: According to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association’s (EPIA) Market Report 2011, total global grid-connected PV capacity increased from 39.7 MW in 2010 to 67.4 GW at the end of 2011. BNEF says over $1 trillion has been invested in clean energy since 2004 December, 2011: News and research company Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) announced that over $1 trillion has been invested in renewable energy, energy efficiency and smart energy technologies since BNEF started tracking investments in clean energy in 2004.     Short circuit on demand October, 2011: National Semiconductor introduces its Orion safety solution to switch off PV modules The GT 4000 from Taiwan-based Opti-Solar has a long way to go if it wants to keep up with the competition July, 2011: Opti-Solar’s GT 4000 is a single-phase string inverter with a DC nominal power of 4,230 W; after testing was completed, the company updated its software, so both versions were tested. The device’s MPP range stretches from 250 to 400 V Its maximum conversion efficiency with the new software is 96.6 percent, while its European efficiency is 95.7 percent and its Californian efficiency is 96.3 percent.     How to profit from California’s solar power boom January, 2012: PHOTON’s 7th Solar Electric Utility Conference convenes on Feb. 2 in San Francisco PHOTON's Solar Terawatt-hours Conference Series, Feb. 1-2 in San Francisco – How to participate in solar’s growth in the US after expiration of the cash grant January, 2012: San Francisco, Jan. 5, 2012: As the US PV sector’s annual PV installation output has reached a terawatthour scale, PHOTON – the world's leading PV publisher – is organizing its Solar Terawatt-hours Conference Series in San Francisco, California, from Feb. 1-2, 2012. »Solar’s strong growth path in the US will continue in 2012 despite the termination of the cash grant,« says Michael Schmela, chairman of the conference series and editor-in-chief of PHOTON International – The Solar Power Magazine. »     Cost parity is not enough September, 2011: Interview with SunPower founder Dick Swanson about his vision for incentive-free PV Interview with José Luis Gioja, governor of the Argentinean province of San Juan August, 2011: Gioja explains how Argentina has a competitive advantage