SKI Corp, Japanese a mobile phone sales agency, has signalled its intent to build a 24MW solar farm in the west of Japan and to borrow ¥8 billion (US$67 million), for the purposes of doing so.
Thin-film maker Hanergy, which has been the subject of recent press reports over “unusual” share trading, has opened a number of retail stores in its homeland, China.
Market research firm IHS expects continued adoption of single-axis PV module trackers for large-scale ground mounted PV power plants globally, while it expects the systems to become the preferred technology in North America through the next five years.
The cost of solar in Japan declined as much as 15% in one year, but a lack of clear policy direction from the government has left a number of businesses with a “pessimistic” outlook of the industry’s future, according to a survey by the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (JREF).
Brazil can expect to see the capacity of PV projects contracted under its national power auction process more than double by the end of this year, according to the head of the country’s solar trade body.
Solar investors in South Africa are losing confidence in the country's market due to ongoing delays by the government to reveal successful bidders in the latest round of its national renewables procurement programme, claims South African PV Industry Association (SAPVIA) spokesman Wido Schnabel.
President Obama signed an executive order that the administration hopes will entice businesses to commit to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and supporting renewable energy and efficiency initiatives.
Japan has confirmed it will make big cuts to the feed-in tariff (FiT) payable for solar, which have been expected for some time, dropping the rate by around 16%, from ¥32 (US$0.27) per kWh to ¥27 per kWh by July.
US Bancorp and ORIX USA Corp. have announced the closing of US Bancorp’s first renewable energy conglomerate, which is expected to help SolarCity install around 2,500 PV systems at homes and businesses in nine states.
