Over the past 12 months, the US solar business has been on a rollercoaster ride, with the high-profile bankruptcy of SunEdison and the merger of SolarCity and Tesla stealing the headlines. Danielle Ola talks to the experts about some of the key trends shaping the world of solar finance
and investment in the US.
Indian corporates are taking a significant share of the domestic solar PV market with Indian conglomerate Adani taking top spot in terms of capacity additions in the last year, according to consultancy firm Bridge to India.
Summer wildfires across the West Coast of the US have significantly impacted the output of solar PV projects in the region with smoke cover reducing irradiance levels, according to environmental and industrial measurement firm Vaisala.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Hanwha Q CELLS is planning to introduce its first ever monocrystalline modules, which will use its PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) cell technology. New and prototype products will be showcased at Solar Power International (SPI) in Las Vegas next week.
Third party financing could support more than half of India’s solar rooftop segment by 2022, but several policy initiatives must be introduced to make this model attractive to consumers, according to a report from advisory organisation the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI).
Dubai-based solar financing company Adenium Energy Capital and California-based renewables firm RAI Energy International have started commercial operation of a 20MW solar PV project north of Amman in Mafraq, Jordan.
SolarWorld has launched a new era of modules for free-field and flat roof systems. The new ‘Sunmodule Bisun’ is a solar module active on both sides (bifacial) that converts light from all directions into electrical energy. This ensures up to 25 % more yield per installed kWp, depending on the surface on which it is installed. The modules are expected to be provided in 270Wp through 331Wp configurations. SolarWorld has also developed a new racking system for flat roofs that is optimized for the bifacial technology.
Renewable energy firm BayWa r.e has partnered with US PV project developer, Geenex Solar to build 350MW of PV power plant projects across North Carolina and Virginia. BayWa r.e. will provide turn-key engineering, procurement, construction, financing and O&M services.
Integrated PV module manufacturer SolarWorld is offering US solar installers commercial project funding resources amounting to US$225 million, guaranteed by REC Solar majority-owner Duke Energy, in California, Hawaii and the Northeast states of Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.
