Power Plants

Although the shutdown of its Sichuan Phase I polysilicon production line impacted profitability in 2013, tier one PV manufacturer, ReneSola reported a 142.5% year-on-year increase in PV module shipments, reaching 1,728.8MW with plans to reach 2.5GW in 2014.

As part of the expected IPO of SunEdison’s semiconductor wafer and polysilicon operations into SunEdison Semiconductor Limited (SSL), Samsung Fine Chemicals is planning to purchase US$100 million in shares in the spin-off company in private placement.

Chinese PV manufacturer Baoding Tianwei Baobian Electric has had its bonds de-listed from the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE).

A US$250 million loan for a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in Israel has been approved by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a US government development finance group.

PV developer American Capital Energy (ACE) has begun construction on nine solar power projects totalling 22MW on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Chile’s installed PV capacity has seen another increase in the past month, with 150MW now operational and a further 225MW under construction.

Sempra US Gas & Power and Consolidated Edison Development have announced they will partner on a 360MW solar portfolio in the US.

Sungrow Power Supply reported more than a doubling of PV inverter sales and shipments in 2013, supported by its first move advantage and leadership position in the rapidly growing Chinese market.

Tier one manufacturer Hanwha SolarOne has begun establishing a “long-term strategic partnership to develop downstream PV projects” with the Wuxi New District Administrative Committee in China.

The European Council is expected to approve an October deadline to decide its 2030 climate change and energy policy, according to a leaked draft of the meeting's conclusion.