More sunny news

There are too many solar news this week to put them in my Weekly News Roundup.

But first, according to a recent report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the US solar energy market last year saw photovoltaic manufacturing increased 74% led by thin-film production. Big-box retail stores led the PV installation boom including Wal-Mart,Best Buy, Home Depot and others. The US is said to be the fourth largest market after Germany, Japan, and Spain.

Another report from the Tioga Energy titled "Hedging Against Utility Rate Fluctuations with a Solar PPA" analyzed the cost-savings of solar energy in the long run. Using Tioga's solar savings model, the paper demonstrates a solar energy power purchase agreement's (PPA's) validity as a sound financial choice to guard against the probable electric utility rate increases caused by rising utility fuel and construction costs and environmental regulation associated with global climate change.

And finally, here are several solar announcements compiled this week:

1. Suntech Announces Strategic Investment in Shunda and 7GW Wafer Supply Agreement

2. Quantum and Asola Awarded $17 Million Solar Module Supply Contract by a Leading German Solar System Supplier

3. Signet Solar Rolls Out Industry's Largest Silicon Thin Film Solar Photovoltaic Modules

4. Q-Cells AG to invest in Mexico

5. Abu Dhabi Heats Up the Global Solar Market with $2 Billion Investment in Photovoltaic Manufacturing

6. SPG Solar and TTI Join Far Niente Winery in Unveiling the First-Ever FLOATOVOLTAIC(TM) Solar Array

7 . Enerize Corporation of Florida Invents a Major Breakthrough in Improving Performance of Photovoltaic Module with Transparent Polymers to Replace Glass

8. Yingli Green Energy Signs a Polysilicon Supply Contract with Sailing

9. SunPower Corporation Completes Two Solar Power Plants in Spain

And last but not the least,

10. Rumors are out on Solar LCD Powered iPods, iPhones and Laptops