News in Brief: Santa Barbara, California, is the 30th US city to vote in a 100% renewable energy mandate, North Carolina legislators instate a competitive bidding process and leasing programme for solar PV while South Carolina's SCE&G launches the state's largest community solar programme; there's also more community solar online in Texas, and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources releases its final guidelines for its solar incentive SMART programme.
Nevada solar moved up in a big way earlier this week, with the state legislature passing several bills to ensure the industry will return to its former heights.
Today’s surprise general election result of a hung parliament has led to increasing concern within the renewables industry that the government’s eagerly anticipated Clean Growth Plan (CGP) could be delayed once more.
Australia’s chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel has delivered his major energy review to the Australian government recommending various changes that will impact the solar PV sector.
Whilst African solar is still firmly an emerging market, investors have confirmed that issues remain with development finance, insofar as it is holding back the market from truly taking off. Whilst development finance institutions (DFIs) are a crucial part of allowing the market to find its feet, the continent’s economic infrastructure needs to move beyond the realm of development finance for commercial financiers to be enticed.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) are collaborating on efforts towards the energy transition, including work on integrating high quantities of wind and solar power, interconnections and smart grids.
The International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, announced Wednesday that it will provide a financial package of US$55 million to build Mozambique’s first utility-scale PV project.
Residential solar provider Vivint Solar announced Thursday that it plans to re-enter the Nevada solar sector, with the company offering its residential PV systems to residents within the state.
