Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) is forecasting global PV demand in 2018 to be at 107GW, up from its estimate of 98GW in 2017. However, BNEF has given the largest single market China a wide installation range after its massive underestimation last year.
The new chairman of the Global Solar Council (GSC), Gongshan Zhu the founder, chairman and largest shareholder in the largest group of affiliated companies in the solar industry, GCL Group wants its members to raise between US$3 billion and US$5 billion for a new foundation to fund PV power plant projects as part of China’s ‘One Road and Belt’ business initiative.
Multinational construction firm Skanska AB is to test semi-transparent perovskite solar modules from start-up Saule Technologies on commercial office buildings with the first applications planned to be installed in Poland in 2018.
Sunseap signs 4MW commercial solar PPA with PSA in Singapore, Luxcara acquires 45MW solar project in southern Spain for institutional investors, Equis commissions 5MW of solar in Taiwan, Local firm completes 1.5MW PV project in iran.
Acwa Power has contracted China’s Chint Group to provide EPC services for three solar PV plants totalling 165.5MW at the Benban Solar Park in Aswan, Egypt.
The IFC has arranged a financing package of up to US$188 million for Jordan’s largest PV plant, a 200MWac / 248MWdc project developed by Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company.
Dealing with module warranties from out of business manufacturers is a standard problem in today’s market, according to representatives from an advisory firm that oversaw one of the largest renewable energy deals to date.
Independent power producer Coronal Energy has closed US$235 million in total financing, which includes tax equity and debt for its Gulf Coast Solar Center portfolio.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) has reported that Global solar investments topped US$160.8 billion in 2017, an 18% increase over the previous year and importantly, despite capital costs declining around 25%.
