Polysilicon producer REC Silicon expects its FBR (Fluidized bed reactor) polysilicon production to decline 42% in the third quarter of 2018, after recently announcing further cuts in workforce and production at its Moses Lake facility that would operate at only 25% utilisation rates. The company noted that it was evaluating the possible suspension of all of its solar related materials business in the US.
More than 8.6 million households have been electrified through India’s ‘Saubhagya' scheme, which seeks to provide solar, storage, LED lighting and other amenities to every willing household across the country, according to a release from the Prime Minister’s office.
Australia-based renewable energy company Renew Estate has been granted planning approval to build the 300MW Rodds Bay Solar Farm, located roughly 50 kilometres south of Gladstone, near the town of Bororen.
Major China-based PV module manufacturer Risen Energy, which entered PV Tech’s Top 10 module manufacturer’s rankings for the first time in 2017, has recently held a ground-breaking ceremony for its planned 5GW solar module manufacturing base in the Yiwu Information Optoelectronics High-tech Industrial Park, Zhejiang, China.
Africa-focused independent power producer Globeleq is to acquire Brookfield Asset Management’s interests in a South African renewable energy portfolio, involving six projects with a cumulative capacity of 178MW.
The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has tendered 200MW(AC) of grid-connected solar PV projects to be developed across four locations in the country.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) has launched a new global service, offering a PV Power Plant Certificate to verify the performance of PV systems at several key stages, such as commissioning or during operation. The delivered certificate is also made publicly available in UL’s online database, providing greater transparency for all stake holders.
Major PV metallization paste producer Heraeus Photovoltaics has announced that its President, Andreas Liebheit has already stepped down from his position, due to personal reasons.
China-based integrated monocrystalline PV manufacturer Solargiga Energy Holdings has reported a small increase in external shipments in the first half of 2018, while revenue declined by less than 10%.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JA Solar has said that its previously planned acquisition by an investor consortium via an all-cash transaction led by its founder, chairman and CEO, Baofang Jin had been completed, resulting in de-listing from the NASDAQ stock exchange.