As part of a $600 million investment, GE is planning to build the largest solar panel manufacturing plant in the United States, after a breakthrough in technology.

Yesterday, GE announced that its CdTe (cadmium telluride) thin film solar panel has achieved 12.8 percent efficiency, as measured by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)—the highest-ever reported efficiency for a thin film solar panel. A one-percent increase in panel efficiency equals around a 10 percent decrease in system cost.

Engineering and construction group Costain has snapped up 75 per cent of Aberdeen-based energy engineering consultancy ClerkMaxwell for £3.2 million.

ClerkMaxwell’s management team of five will share approximately 70 per cent of the money paid for the business they started less than three years ago.

Costain also has the option to acquire the remaining 25 per cent of ClerkMaxwell’s shares.

Microsoft and Toyota have announced a $12 million investment in Toyota Media Services, a strategic partnership to make the automobile the ultimate mobile device.

The partnership intends to use Microsoft’s “cloud computing” Windows Azure platform to develop next-generation telematics services, fusing telecommunications and information technologies in vehicles for GPS systems, energy management and other multimedia technologies.

Toyota’s electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will be equipped with the new services in 2012, with worldwide roll-out by 2015.

South Africa is planning to invest R15 billion in a new rare metals processing facility, according to a report in the newspaper Business Report.

The project, which is expected to take four years to complete, would create 43,000 direct and 86,000 indirect jobs. Staff needed to work at the facility would number around 7,000, the report said.

After years of planning, design and construction, Singapore’s sophisticated new driverless Circle Line metro system is ramping up to full operation. Khoo Hean Siang, executive vice president at multi-modal transport company SMRT, explains to Gay Sutton how the knowledge and experience gained from operating and maintaining the majority of Singapore’s rail systems is benefiting rail projects across Asia.

Vopak Horizon has been a major contributor to the development of Fujairah, a major regional oil hub. CEO Walter Moone talks to Gay Sutton about the latest phases of expansion.

Since the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia in 1938, the country’s economy has grown exponentially, along with its hydrocarbon infrastructure. Over the last two decades, Yanbu Steel has become the country’s largest indigenous fabricator of specialist structures.

The African nation of Botswana is a shining example of how a country can use its natural resources wisely to reverse its fortunes, as Alan Swaby learns.

Dampier Port Authority is on the threshold of a major expansion programme. Gay Sutton finds out from port development manager Dr Rochelle Macdonald how Australia’s second largest bulk export port is preparing to satisfy the export needs of the rapidly growing oil & gas and mining sectors.

Andre van Niekerk, managing director of plant hire group Masshire, talks to Jayne Alverca about the unique benefits he believes the company offers to its growing network of franchisees.