Projects

Taiwan is expected to see a significant uptick in solar deployment in Q4 this year or early 2018 after the recent allocation of high-efficiency equipment certifications, but there are concerns around manufacturing capacity constraints.

The Japanese subsidiary of leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has signed a cooperation agreement with Japanese EPC Quantum Power GK for 187MW of solar PV.

With the Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) scheme for UK-based solar incentives finishing on 31 March 2017, the domestic sector once again showed its resilience by installing a healthy 640MW during Q1 2017.

Struggling former ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Yingli Green Energy and Amtech Group’s Tempress Systems BV jointly opened what is claimed to be Europe’s largest bifacial PV solar plant next to the Tempress headquarters in Vaassen, the Netherlands.

Enel Green Power (EGP) has partnered with the Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM) of the National Research Council (NRC) to create a dedicated laboratory to explore renewable energy technologies, and in particular, develop bifacial PV modules.

SB Energy, a joint venture between Japanese tech firm Softbank, Bharti Enterprises and Foxconn Technology Group, has started operations at a 455MW solar project in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, according to a release from the module supplier Trina Solar.

News in Brief: Santa Barbara, California, is the 30th US city to vote in a 100% renewable energy mandate, North Carolina legislators instate a competitive bidding process and leasing programme for solar PV while South Carolina's SCE&G launches the state's largest community solar programme; there's also more community solar online in Texas, and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources releases its final guidelines for its solar incentive SMART programme.

PV solar system provider First Solar has signed a syndicated development loan facility agreement of approximately US$64 million with Mizuho Bank.

A 30MW solar PV project in Tanzania is one of the winners of Access Power’s US$7 million Access Co-Development Facility (ACF).

Australia’s chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel has delivered his major energy review to the Australian government recommending various changes that will impact the solar PV sector.