Smaller companies are finding it increasingly difficult to enter the Indian large-scale solar market and partake in the multi-gigawatts of competitive auctions for PV capacity.
Major PV inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply Co, recently reported a relatively strong rebound in revenue (up 10%) in the first half of 2018 but on a quarterly basis the second quarter sales increased 29% from the previous quarter, indicating that greater dependence on China and the utility-scale market with central inverters, creates a ‘solarcoaster’ ride.
PV and electronics equipment manufacturing and automation specialist Manz AG has secured another advanced payment for CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium, DiSelenide) thin-film manufacturing equipment, which is part of a major production order with Chinese partners, the Shanghai Electric Group and the Shenhua Group.
Major US solar farm buyer Capital Dynamics has closed on a US$1.2 billion fund to continue investing in utility-scale renewable energy projects in the US.
A majority of the British public would be willing to install rooftop solar and batteries fit for an evolving energy system, provided the government met them half way, a new survey has found.
Arcadia Power has closed on a US$25 million investment round that the company will now use to expand its outreach to consumers and offer its services. In addition, the company announced that it is developing 120MW of new community solar projects across the US.
Three more vast projects pairing battery energy storage with utility-scale renewable energy installations are in the pipeline in New South Wales, Australia, through developer CWP Renewables.
Fund manager African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) has acquired majority stakes in nine new solar and wind power plants in South Africa, totaling 800MW.
