Growing 43% year over year in 2016, the US solar industry is taking off at a pace no one could have foreseen. Naysayers may cite the industry’s slow start, hampered by high upfront costs and initial niche appeal as reasons why solar still will not experience a consumer boom. But panellists at the opening session of the 13th annual Solar Power International convention made it clear just how solar energy could exceed expectations and is poised for not only growth, but mainstream acceptance.
Over the past 12 months, the US solar business has been on a rollercoaster ride, with the high-profile bankruptcy of SunEdison and the merger of SolarCity and Tesla stealing the headlines. Danielle Ola talks to the experts about some of the key trends shaping the world of solar finance
and investment in the US.
Third party financing could support more than half of India’s solar rooftop segment by 2022, but several policy initiatives must be introduced to make this model attractive to consumers, according to a report from advisory organisation the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI).
A total of 12 projects have been awarded funding in Australia’s breakthrough utility-scale solar funding round, with AU$91 million set aside for 482MW of capacity.
Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has approved plans for the state utility to procure another 500MW of solar power to make up for a projected shortfall in reaching its solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).
BCPG, the renewable energy power producer of Thai oil refiner Bangchak Petroleum, could potentially raise up to 5.9 billion baht (US$170 million) from an initial public offering (IPO) this month, according to the company.
United PV and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have partnered to jointly launch the “Panda Solar Power Plant”, which promotes both youth engagement and sustainable development in China.
