News in Brief: Vivint Solar is taking advantage of Rhode Island's optimal residential solar conditions and expanding into the state, BBOX and Aeris are partnering to provide plug-and-play solar systems with IoT connectivity in East and Central Africa, Sri Lankan energy ministers are allocating funding to install solar systems in selected public buildings and India's Space Research Organisation has developed a new solar app for Android.
Polysilicon producer REC Silicon ASA reported a slump in polysilicon sales in the first quarter of 2017 as market demand weakness resumed after strong demand in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has commissioned a 3MW solar plant in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli for the region’s power distribution corporation.
Distributed energy technologies such as solar and battery-based storage could save Australia AU$101 billion (US$75 billion) by 2050 and completely eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report from the government's scientific R&D agency CSIRO and Energy Networks Australia (ENA).
Struggling China-based PV manufacturer Yingli Green Energy has avoided another bond default with the payment of approximately US$46 million on one of its five-year unsecured medium-term notes (MTNs) that were due on May 3, 2017.
The state distribution company in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has issued a tender for 100MW of solar PV at the Ananthapuramu-II solar park in Talaricheruvu via an EPC contract.
Specialist semiconductor and PV equipment supplier Intevac reported first quarter 2017 financial results that included a 40% increase in new orders, driven by its largest single order in its Thin-film Equipment segment that includes its solar product offerings with a 12 system follow-on order in March for its solar ‘ENERGi’ implant tools.
Downer EDI has been awarded an EPC and O&M contract for a 148MW solar farm in Queensland by Palisade Investment Partners (Palisade) and ESCO Pacific (ESCO).
Australian energy infrastructure firm APA Group has agreed to purchase a 110MW solar plant that is currently under development near Dalby in south-western Queensland, Australia, for AU$200 million (US$150 million).
