First Solar has improved the efficiency in its solar panels, boosting conversion efficiency to 14.4 % and finally getting into the 14 % to 16 % range that many of its low - cost Chinese solar - panel manufacturer rivals manage to achieve.
Germany, one of Europe's green superpowers, is home to clean - tech manufacturers like wind turbine maker Siemens and solar - panel producer Solarworld; there's hope such companies might one day rival legends like Volkswagen and BMW.