Seraphim Solar will establish 500MW of solar cell manufacturing capacity in South Africa. The expansion plans also include facilities for 200MW of half-cut cell module assembly in the country.
European solar industry trade body SolarPower Europe has said it has started a major campaign to bring back at least 5GW of large-scale PV manufacturing in the region, including the complete supply chain required to support the scheme.
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has issued a tender to purchase power from 1GW of solar PV capacity, with certain projects under construction, not yet commissioned or that don't have a long-term PPA also eligible.
Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, helped lead a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the 60MW Salima Solar project within the country.
Kenya's government has launched a plan for total electrification in the country by 2022, which acknowledges the role that off-grid systems, mini-grids and stand-alone solar plants can have in complementing extensions to the grid and mitigating higher loads.
Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) has signed off on contracts with two solar developers for three new PV projects as part of its agreement to supply 100% renewable energy for Facebook's data center in Newton County, Georgia.
UPDATED: Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has gone ahead with an auction for its 1.2GW hybrid tender, despite the tender being undersubscribed and attracting just two technical bids.
Chinese firm Shuangdeng Group has signed a contract with Afghanistan's Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) to set up a 5MW solar PV project in the central Ghor Province.