Solyndra is the biggest independent power producer winner to date in the Southern California Edison 250MW rooftop solar sweepstakes. The thin-film PV company’s heretofore unknown and still somewhat mysterious wholly owned subsidiary, Photon Solar LLC, has come through the initial competitive solicitation process and been awarded a bundle of 20-year power purchase agreement contracts to build nearly 16.2MW (DC) of rooftop PV systems at 15 commercial/industrial building sites in various locations in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties within the utility’s service area. Solyndra also becomes the first CIGS firm to get its panels in the pipeline of the prestigious SCE distributed-generation program.

SolarMarkt, a wholesaler and project planner for photovoltaic systems, has been acquired by Würth Solar. Alongside the declaration of this acquisition, Würth also presented its extended company strategy at a press conference in the Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. The company said that it plans to anchor its dynamic growth on five pillars and is planning to increase its sales to over €500 million by 2014.

Despite module and inverter shortages and a lack of well-trained installers as well as significantly higher prices than seen in Germany, the UK solar market is claimed to be the fastest growing in the world right now. According to market research firm iSuppli, solar system installations will reach 96MW in 2010, up 1500% from barely a year ago and before the feed-in tariff (FiT) was introduced in April. In 2009, only 6MW had been installed.

Crystalline growth equipment supplier GT Solar is venturing into new markets with the acquisition of privately held Crystal Systems, which manufactures high-quality, large-area sapphire substrates used in the LED, defense, medical and aerospace industries. Under the terms of the agreement, approximately US$24 million in cash, 5.4 million shares of GT Solar common stock, and a US$21 million cash earn-out secured the deal. Crystal Systems’ development and manufacturing operations are located in Salem, Massachusetts.

The Spanish feed-in tariff saga has moved another step towards conclusion, as the government joins solar power producers in forming an agreement for subsidy reduction and electricity price reduction, aiming at the same time to preserve the country’s renewable energy industry.

ISRA Vision has completed its acquisition of Graphikon, Gesellschaft für Bildverarbeitung und Computergraphik, based in Berlin. Graphikon’s product range includes wafer-based solar cell and glass tube inspection tools. ISRA will also obtain the company’s client list which includes the likes of Aleo Solar, Q-Cells, Würth Solar, Solarwatt, Schott, Evergreen Solar, Epcos and Solarworld.

NV Energy is in the process of requesting proposals for the sale of renewable energy credits and all other renewable energy benefits. The Request for Offers (RFO) is sought for credits from qualified renewable energy generators, but does not look for the associated renewable energy from generation sources. Proposals will be accepted for contractual time lengths of five to 25 years.

NJR Clean Energy Ventures will be leasing over 300,000 square feet of roof space from CertainTeed’s Berlin, New Jersey, facility for the installation of a solar power system. United Solar’s silicon thin-film laminates will be used to generate 870kW of energy. The 20-year lease between NJR and CertainTeed has also resulted in a power purchase agreement for the US$5 million project.

The official letter of agreement was signed today between Trina Solar and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which ties Trina Solar with the University’s Industrial Liaison Program (ILP). The ILP is a program that looks to encourage university-industry collaboration and technology transfer.

In a continuation of their partnership since 2005, SunPower and Pardee Homes are coming together once again for the development of nine new home communities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.  In three communities in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, as part of Pardee’s “Summer of Solar” promotion, 1.4KW SunPower SunTile solar electric systems are included as a standard feature of the homes, with the ability to upgrade to a larger 2.4KW system on most homes. In six other communities in San Diego County and the Inland Empire, the SunTile systems will be offered as an option.