OEM giant Flextronic’s acquisition of tracking manufacturer NEXTracker could help it take advantage of an expected boom in utility-scale solar installations in the US ahead of the drop in the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) at the end of 2016, according to a leading industry analyst.
The worldwide market for module-level power electronics (MLPEs), including PV microinverters and power optimisers, is expected to reach US$1 billion by 2019, according to IHS.
The precarious financial position of major tier-one PV manufacturer Yingli Green was further highlighted in its second quarter financial results and subsequent earnings call with financial analysts.
Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the government body aiming to mobilise capital investment in the country’s renewable energy sector, has introduced an AU$250 million (US$175 million) financing programme for the development of large-scale solar.
GCL Poly is in the process of selling off its non-solar businesses and will emerge from a proposed US$500 million sale to focus on polysilicon and wafer manufacturing and sales, as well as PV plant development.
The EU-China solar trade dispute looks set to reignite with every indication suggesting that EU ProSun will request a review of the impending expiry of duties on Chinese solar imports into Europe put in place in 2013.
Pakistan’s energy regulator, NEPRA (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority), has approved and put into effect net metering schemes for solar and wind generation of up to 1MW.
Brazil must establish a “specific industrial policy” for domestic PV manufacturing so it can produce the 2GW of solar equipment necessary to operate 61 solar plants planned for 2017, according to the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (Absolar).
The CEO of the UK’s largest owner and operator of solar PV, Lightsource Renewable Energy, has expressed concern over government proposals to drastically reduce the support available under the feed-in tariff.
