Africa & Middle East

A global coalition aimed at driving investment in clean energy R&D looks set to be finalised by the middle of this year, the UK’s special envoy on climate change has said.

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JA Solar says its portfolio of PV modules have passed the 96-hour potential-induced degradation (PID) resistance test under the conditions of 85-degrees Celsius and 85% relative humidity at -1,000V of system voltage bias as required to meet the IEC62804 standard.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has told a meeting of investors representing US$22 trillion in assets that they must double their investment in clean energy.

The former CEO of US power generator NRG Energy, David Crane, has joined the board of Saudi Arabian firm ACWA Power.

First Solar has installed a 684kW pilot PV system for a major agricultural firm in Saudi Arabia.

Project developer juwi has appointed two new CEOs to run its Middle East and Africa operations, through a Dubai-based subsidiary.

Solar deployment worldwide was 59GW in 2015, according to provisional figures released by analyst firm GTM Research.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA), spearheaded by India, is about to take shape with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and French president Francois Hollande due to lay a foundation stone for the new ISA headquarters in Delhi on 25 January.

CIGS thin-film solar technology manufacturer SoloPower Systems has completed its first commercial-scale deployment in South Africa.

A “narrow focus” on the initial costs of energy storage is leading to misconceptions about the true value of the technology, a report has concluded.