Markets & Finance

A property tax exemption for solar power systems in California has been extended to 2025, following the passing of a bill as part of the annual state budget.

Japan installed 7,185,000kW of PV by the end of the country’s 2013 financial year, which ended on 31 March, according to the latest figures from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Retroactive changes to Italy’s feed-in tariff (FiT) are “illegitimate” and could face similar legal challenges to those seen in Spain, according to a major PV investor.

Market research firm, IHS, has again raised its global PV market demand forecast for 2014.

Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulation Authority (NEPRA) has considered energy service company, Buksh Energy, eligible to receive a feed-in tariff for a 10MW proposed solar power plant.

The PV industry’s largest manufacturer, Yingli Green Energy reported a US$55 million net loss for the first quarter of 2014, compared to a net loss of US$128.2 million in the previous quarter.

Renewable energy accounted for a record share of global energy consumption last year, but so too did coal, hitting its highest level since 1970.

PacifiCorp’s Utah utility, Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) has proposed a monthly charge for solar customers.

Independent power producer, Tenaska, has reached financial close on its 150MW Imperial Solar Energy Center West project in California.

The Chinese government has announced changes to tax rules for distributed PV as it looks to make up ground on its 8GW target for 2014.