Americas

The Colombian government has created Gecelca Solar, a solar PV-focused arm of its public utility company Gecelca.

Proper training and adherence to best field practices are necessary to halt the steady trend of PV connector failures resulting from poor workmanship, write Brian Mills and Grayson Maurer.

Spanish IPP Zelestra has signed an agreement to sell its 3.5GW Latin America renewables platform to Colombian natural gas firm Promigas.

Origis Energy has raised US$265 million in finance from Advantage Capital to support the development of a 305MW solar PV portfolio in the US.

Over 140 US solar companies have urged Congress to reconsider changes to permitting which they say have resulted in “a nearly complete moratorium” on solar project permits.

In November, the Colorado PUC ordered utility Xcel Energy to provide higher-quality information, and introduce flexible tariffs.

Nextpower, formerly Nextracker, will double its steel solar tracker manufacturing capacity in Tennessee and has established a new “regional hub” in the Southeast US.

Terra-Gen has closed financing for its 205MW Lockhart III & IV solar PV project in San Bernadino County, California.

Buyers should prepare for increases in the price of vital solar module components, such as polysilicon, wafers and cells, but “remain cautious” of accepting new contractual terms from Chinese suppliers until formal market policies are agreed.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) the National Laboratory of the Rockies.