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
US-based flexible CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) thin-film producer MiaSolé a subsidiary of struggling Hanergy Group has signed a supply contract with a leading Italian roofing firm, General Membrane SpA.
This year saw Ghana not only install the largest solar project in East and West Africa, but also a major 30MW module manufacturing facility near its capital, Accra, in what is a major milestone for the upstream solar sector across Africa. PV Tech visited the plant to understand some of developer 3SIL's thinking behind location and business.
Bankrupt renewables firm SunEdison, currently in Chapter 11 proceedings said the recently appointed CFO designee, Ilan Daskal had resigned from the company on June 27. Separately, SunEdison said in an SEC filing that it was further delaying the release of its 2015 annual report.
German PV company IBC Solar has partnered with DHYBRID Power Systems to capitalise on their respective competencies in order to emerge as a market-leading provider of diesel-PV hybrid systems.
IPP Sonnedix, operating via its Japanese operator, Nippon Solar Services (NSS) has closed financing and selected an EPC contractor for its 30MW Miyako-based 'mega solar' PV plant in Iwate Prefecture.
Kuwait government-owned company and renewables developer EnerTech has signed a bilateral agreement with the government of Pakistan to set up 500MW of solar plants in Balochistan Province of Pakistan.