Global clean energy investment in the first quarter of 2017 was down 17% compared to Q1 2016, as market leaders China and the US scaled back support for wind and solar farms.
Spain has made the second of four steps necessary to carry out its 2-3GW renewable energy tender by passing a ministerial order, but the country’s main solar association has taken issue with with what it believes is a blatant favouring of wind energy in what should be a technology neutral auction.
German PV inverter manufacturer KACO new energy said it expected shipment volumes in 2017 to reach almost 2.5GW after booking 600MW in the first quarter.
China-based PV energy provider (PVEP) United Photovoltaics Group said it would be changing its name in response to its direct involvement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) designed to promote both youth engagement and sustainable development and build PV power plant in the shape of a Panda.
Despite a significant drop in global renewable energy investment last year, a corresponding rise in renewables deployment spelled encouraging news for the sector, according to a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report entitled ‘More Bang for the Buck’.
In this week's Movers & Shakers segment, PV Tech focuses in solar jobs in the US, with the UK's Lightsource embarking on its pilot expansion into North America, and Panasonic's Coronal Energy likewise strengthening its North American operations with new strategic leaders. An early-stage investor exits India's Azure Power and The Solar Foundation launches a new online career platform, in other news.
A joint investment of £240 million has been unveiled by the UK and Indian governments to encourage investment into India’s rapidly growing energy and renewables market and deepen trading ties between the two countries.
Prominent solar developers in the UK have started to tally up their recent work, totalling what was connected to the grid prior to last Friday’s Renewables Obligation deadline.
International PV developer and investor Sonnedix has acquired a 136MW solar portfolio from Centerbridge Partners, in what is claimed to be one of the largest PV transactions in Europe.
