JA Solar has beaten its own record for solar conversion efficiency, surpassing 19% efficiency. In August 2013, JA Solar announced that its multicrystalline silicon (multi-Si) solar cells had achieved 18.3% conversion efficiency - at the time, an industry record. [ + ]

Australia's new automation, control and instrumentation conference, ACI Connect, will feature a panel discussion aimed at debunking the myths surrounding cybersecurity and its potential impact on the engineering and manufacturing sectors. [ + ]

An app that helps with the shopping: that's something most of us would like to see (particularly if it could then make dinner while you put your feet up). Royal Philips has developed an intelligent lighting system that could bring this idea to life. [ + ]

The Kangaroo Island Visible Solar Project was officially launched this week by Jayne Bates OAM, Kangaroo Island's Mayor. The project boasts the first dual-axis solar trackers in Australia to power electric vehicles. [ + ]

Energy Matters and Yingli Solar have entered into a distribution agreement which will see Energy Matters supply and install Yingli's monocrystalline PANDA Series modules and multicrystalline YGE Series modules to homes and businesses. [ + ]

The federal government's review of the Renewable Energy Target could jeopardise thousands of renewable energy sector jobs, the Australian Solar Council says. [ + ]

The National Electrical Contractors Association backs the government's decision to proceed with the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. [ + ]

REC, a global supplier of solar energy solutions, is joining forces with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in the development of an improved hydrogen passivation process that was first discovered at UNSW. [ + ]

In a move to strengthen its footprint in Australia, SolarMax has appointed Derek Durham as Region Manager East as part of the company’s global executive leadership team. [ + ]

ABB has won an order worth around $55 million to supply a submarine AC (alternating current) power cable system for a new wind farm located off the coast of Norfolk. The underwater cables will feed the electricity generated by the 400 MW Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm into the UK national grid. [ + ]

Standards Australia has released three draft Standards on Energy Audits for public comment.

Harting Electric has won the Manufacturing Excellence (MX) Award in the 'sustainability' category with its highly effective deployment of sustainable and eco-friendly production processes. [ + ]

Yingli Green Energy has signed a distribution deal with Energy Matters, a leading Australia solar supply and installation company. [ + ]

Legrand has announced the acquisition of Lastar Inc, a US provider of preterminated solutions for VDI and A/V networks. [ + ]

Lighting Council Australia has organised LED seminars in Brisbane (17 February), Sydney (19 February) and Melbourne (21 February). The seminars will be useful for lighting industry specialists, utilities, municipalities, town planners, facility managers, architects, engineers and other professionals with an interest in lighting. [ + ]