Major China-based PV module manufacturer Risen Energy, which entered PV Tech’s Top 10 module manufacturer’s rankings for the first time in 2017, has reported that its operating income exceeded RMB 10 billion (US$1.56 billion) in 2017, a new record for the company.
The World Bank plans to make energy storage an integral part of its ‘Scaling Solar’ program, that until now has been focused purely on facilitating large-scale solar tendering, predominantly in Africa.
Shell Energy Europe has signed an initial five year power purchase agreement (PPA) with British Solar Renewables (BSR) to take power generated at England’s largest solar farm at RAF Lyneham.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) is forecasting global PV demand in 2018 to be at 107GW, up from its estimate of 98GW in 2017. However, BNEF has given the largest single market China a wide installation range after its massive underestimation last year.
The new chairman of the Global Solar Council (GSC), Gongshan Zhu the founder, chairman and largest shareholder in the largest group of affiliated companies in the solar industry, GCL Group wants its members to raise between US$3 billion and US$5 billion for a new foundation to fund PV power plant projects as part of China’s ‘One Road and Belt’ business initiative.
Sunseap signs 4MW commercial solar PPA with PSA in Singapore, Luxcara acquires 45MW solar project in southern Spain for institutional investors, Equis commissions 5MW of solar in Taiwan, Local firm completes 1.5MW PV project in iran.
Acwa Power has contracted China’s Chint Group to provide EPC services for three solar PV plants totalling 165.5MW at the Benban Solar Park in Aswan, Egypt.
The IFC has arranged a financing package of up to US$188 million for Jordan’s largest PV plant, a 200MWac / 248MWdc project developed by Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company.
Independent power producer Coronal Energy has closed US$235 million in total financing, which includes tax equity and debt for its Gulf Coast Solar Center portfolio.