Policy

The second Solar and Off-Grid Renewables West Africa event in Ghana in April heard mixed views on the progress of solar in the region. But with the first projects reaching completion and others moving forward, brighter times seem to be around the corner. Tom Kenning reports

Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy is to postpone its first reserve energy auction from its scheduling for 29 July.

Analysts at Swedbank are working on the basis of an increased probability that solar trade duties in the US will be removed.

Analysts at Swedbank raised their expectations for REC Silicon, partly on basis that US trade duties are closer to being dropped.

A panel of development finance institutions and project developers at the annual Africa Energy Forum on Friday discussed how they are shaping the continent’s emerging energy sector; in taking on the risk that commercial capital typically will not.

Capacity for a solar park in the Indian state of Gujarat has been awarded to four companies in the latest National Solar Mission (NSM) auction after changes to VGF funding garnered more interest from developers.

The Africa Energy Forum kicked-off with British MP Nick Hurd calling for off-grid solar to be “at the heart of Africa’s energy future”.

The US is leading the charge for solar in North America, but its next-door neighbours, Canada and Mexico, are also pressing ahead with plans to boost deployment. Danielle Ola reports on the policy developments expected to underpin the growth of solar in the two countries.

Stringent energy efficiency rules for buildings would make it “almost a no-brainer” to integrate PV at time of construction and would “change the whole cost equation”, solar analyst Finlay Colville has said.

The Delhi government approved its first solar policy this month with a particular focus on the rooftop segment. Jyoti Gulia, senior manager, market intelligence, at consultancy firm Bridge to India, explains how the policy brings some innovative firsts to India especially in net metering.