Asia & Oceania

India’s Ministry of new and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is moving forward with its off-grid solar programme, as part of the National Solar Mission (NSM), after a year of the utility-scale sector stealing the limelight.

Solar investment firm GSSG Solar has announced the financial close and ground breaking of its new 47MW PV project in Japan.

India-based companies have dominated the latest solar auction for 350MW in the state of Telangana with winning tariffs ranging between INR4.66-4.77/kWh (~US$0.07).

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is targeting 100% renewable energy by 2020 instead of the previous goal of 90%.

India-based solar EPC firm Sterling & Wilson (S&W) has been awarded EPC and O&M contracts for 350MW of solar projects in India by Canada-based developer SkyPower.

Australia’s opposition party Labor has released its ‘Climate Change Action Plan’ to the approval of solar advocates in the country.

Leading ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar said it had achieved a new world record for a large-area Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) solar cell.

According to Taiwan-based market research firm, EnergyTrend polysilicon spot market prices in China have surpassed US$20/kg and are expected to climb higher in the next month.

Grid integration and availability are the key challenges ahead for India’s solar sector, according to the latest report from consultancy firm Bridge to India.

India has officially appealed against the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) ruling that upheld the US' finding that India’s Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) was discriminatory and in breach of international trade rules.