Europe

Solar irradiance in Southeast Asia last year was 10% higher than long-term averages - the best-performing region across the globe - according to Solargis.

Renewables investor Aquila European Renewables has secured a €50 million (US$54.7 million) debt facility through a 180MWp solar PV portfolio in Spain.

Andel and Better Energy have entered a joint partnership to build a portfolio of “energy parks” with a total power capacity of 2GW.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has invested €100 million to into Taaleri Energia's renewables fund SolarWind III.

The European Commission (EC) has approved a €2.9 billion (US$3.2 billion) French aid scheme supporting investment in green industries.

Iberdrola says that of the agreed amount €170 million has already been committed to finance onshore wind projects in Poland.

GreenIT, an Italian joint venture by oil group Eni and state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) Equity, has signed an agreement with renewables developer Galileo to build 140MW of solar PV in Italy.

Chinese solar tracker manufacturer Arctech has expanded its business to Turkey by forming a partnership with Alpon Energy, a solar company specialised in solar trackers, as well as EPC works.

Wind energy supplied 25% of the consumption in Portugal, followed by hydropower (23%), solar PV (7%), and biomass (6%).

Spanish oil major Repsol has started producing electricity on its 204MW solar PV project Sigma in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia.