Solarbuzz, which carries out market research on the solar energy and photovoltaic industries, has been bought by sales data house The NPD Group.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. NPD sees the new acquisition as complementary to its flat panel display and electronics market research business DisplaySearch, with Solarbuzz absorbing DisplaySearch’s existing solar energy research reports and services.

NPD chairman Tod Johnson said: “As the flat panel display supply chain matures and extends its manufacturing expertise into the solar energy sector, we see an opportunity to quickly expand out business in this segment.”

Meanwhile Cleantech’s $3.2m in financing comes Credit Suisse, Sail Venture Partners, Consensus Business Group and others. It is the company’s third funding round, and the firm says it will use the money to “enhance” its global research efforts – tracking and reporting on innovations in the cleantech space to companies and government agencies.

News of the investment comes as the company makes a number of executive and board appointments, including Sheeraz Haji as president, Richard Youngman, as European MD and vice president of global research, and Greg Neichin as vice president of advisory services.