Power Plants

China-based PV manufacturer, Goldpoly New Energy, has reached an agreement with Kunlun, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, to acquire a 500MW PV project portfolio in China.

The joint secretary for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Shri Tarun Kapoor said invitations for tenders for the 4GW mega solar project in India will begin in a few months.

Specialist encapsulant supplier, STR Holdings, continues to struggle following the loss of its major customer, First Solar, last year, as third quarter sales continued to decline, forcing further plant closures and restructuring efforts.

A poll in Arizona has found that 77% of people would be less likely to vote for an election candidate if they proposed ending support for solar.

2013 will be the year of stabilisation for the global PV market, according to clean technology market research and consultancy firm Navigant Research.

The largest solar farm in the UK, the 33MWp plant in Wymeswold, Leicestershire, has been sold by Hazel Capital Solar and SAG Solarstrom for £43.7 million (US$70 million) to institutional investor Foresight Solar Fund.

Swedish furniture retailer, Ikea, is doubling the size of its US Maryland PV installation.

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), which represents all investor owned utilities in the US, has been urged to confess or condemn the use of so-called “dark money” to pay for campaigns against solar net metering.

Real Goods Solar (RGS) has reported higher revenue and gross profit, lower operational costs and lower net loss for the third quarter of 2013.

German project developer SAG Solarstrom has insisted it is weathering continued difficulties in Europe's PV market despite posting a €6.9 million (US$9.3 million) loss for the first nine months of the year.