SolarWorld’s net loss widened to €40m ($51.5m) in the first quarter from a small deficit of €0.3m a year earlier, the company said in a statement today. Earnings before interests and taxes (Ebit) turned into a loss of €36.2m from a profit of €26.6m in the first quarter of 2012.

The company’s sales volume fell to 109MW from 147MW in the year-ago three months.

“Essential