Europe

Polysilicon producer REC Silicon expects its FBR (Fluidized bed reactor) polysilicon production to decline 42% in the third quarter of 2018, after recently announcing further cuts in workforce and production at its Moses Lake facility that would operate at only 25% utilisation rates. The company noted that it was evaluating the possible suspension of all of its solar related materials business in the US.

UL (Underwriters Laboratories) has launched a new global service, offering a PV Power Plant Certificate to verify the performance of PV systems at several key stages, such as commissioning or during operation. The delivered certificate is also made publicly available in UL’s online database, providing greater transparency for all stake holders.

Major PV metallization paste producer Heraeus Photovoltaics has announced that its President, Andreas Liebheit has already stepped down from his position, due to personal reasons.

German CdTe thin-film module manufacturer Calyxo will resume production after finding a buyer for the business.

Europe’s installed base of electrical energy storage leaped by almost 50% during 2017 but perhaps the bigger takeaway is the growing share of battery systems installed behind-the-meter, an analyst has said

NEXTracker has purchased the intellectual property (IP) of French firm Optimum Tracker.

NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF) has made another acquisition, its fourth this year, with the purchase of a 66.8MW operational portfolio in the UK.

French energy major Total has completed the acquisition of a 73.04% stake in gas and renewable power provider Direct Energie.

Oslo-headquartered clean energy firm Scatec Solar has entered into agreements with Ukrainian developer Rengy Development to deliver 47MW of solar projects in the Mykolaiv region in the south of Ukraine.

Spanish energy company Endesa, a subsidiary of utility Enel, has announced plans to invest US$68.8 million for the construction of a 84.9MW PV project set to be developed in Totana, Spain.