Last year saw a number of emerging solar markets begin to fulfil their potential, setting up some promising prospects for 2016. Josefin Berg, senior solar analyst at market research firm, IHS, discusses the emerging-market highlights of 2015 and what to expect in 2016.
State-owned firm the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is to issue INR17.2 billion (US$257 million) in tax-free bonds from today for the financing of renewable energy projects in the financial year 2015/16.
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has signed an MoU with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to work together on developing an initial 500MW capacity of off-site solar projects over three years.
Global corporate funding in the solar industry reached US$25.3 billion in 2015, with a record year for residential and commercial solar, according to consultancy firm Mercom Capital.
Major renewable energy provider SunEdison has secured new term loans to reduce debts but carry an interest rate of LIBOR + 10.0% per annum through mid-2018.
US residential installer Sunrun said it would exit the PV market in Nevada with the loss of hundreds of jobs due to the recent negative changes by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in Nevada to net metering and charges on people operating solar systems.
Valentin Software will launch the next generation of its design software PV*SOL premium at the end of 2015. New features are designed to make the process of designing a PV system easier and faster. The shading analysis of roof and ground-mounted systems in 3D mode remains the central feature as it calculates how often the modules are covered by shade, and how this affects the system yield, presenting the results graphically. All shading objects can be freely selected and placed anywhere on the ground or building.
Delhi-based private distribution company (Discom) BSES, which is backed by Indian conglomerate Reliance Infra, plans to procure 700MW of clean energy including solar power using a reverse auction process.
Google is expanding its online solar service that helps customers assess cost and benefits of installing solar on rooftops to be able to reach more homeowners.
China-based Photovoltaics Energy Provider (PVEP) GCL New Energy, a subsidiary of leading polysilicon and solar wafer producer, GCL-Poly expects to raise approximately US$302 million by way of a rights issue.
