Americas

The US is lagging behind the likes of Australia and Germany in pushing down the labour costs associated with residential PV installation, a Rocky Mountain Institute study has revealed.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that US import duties applied to Chinese solar products in 2012 broke global trade rules.

Pacific Energy Solutions, LLC (PES) has received a US$334 million contract from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific to develop, built, own and operate PV plants at military bases in Hawaii.

US-based solar installer Greenskies Renewable Energy has reached a US$82 million financing deal with Dutch multinational company Rabobank that will see Greenskies finance more than 60 solar projects in Connecticut and three other states, HartfordBusiness.com reports.

PV in Latin America is gathering momentum with a pipeline approaching 20GW and 1GW expected to be installed this year, according to GTM Research.

Recurrent Energy has completed a 10MW solar project in Ontario, the twentieth, and final, in a 220MW portfolio.

US residential installer Astrum Solar will receive US$100 million in financing from private equity firm Hudson Clean Energy, aimed at lowering PV system costs for its customers.

US PV module and cell manufacturer Suniva will take up the responsibility of powering the US-held Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.

Market research firm IHS expects the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) reserve capacity auction to be held October 2014 to be a catalyst for further PV market growth in the country.

Module manufacturer, Canadian Solar’s subsidiary Canadian Solar Solutions has completed the sale of a 10MW solar power plant.