Europe

The UK’s main support mechanisms for large-scale and rooftop solar look in doubt following the publication of two government consultations this morning.

SunEdison has continued its acquisition spree with the purchase of UK-based energy provider, Mark Group, for an undisclosed fee.

PV developer SunEdison and its yieldco, TerraForm Power, are to acquire US residential PV provider Vivint Solar for around US$2.2 billion.

Germany-headquartered PV manufacturer SolarWorld has had a record efficiency for a PERC solar cell of 21.7% independently verified by the photovoltaic calibration laboratory (CalLab) of Fraunhofer ISE.

Zep Solar, the US rooftop PV mounting systems specialist backed by SolarCity, will launch its products into the UK market later this year, the company has told PV Tech.

Bluefield European Solar Fund (BESF), a new solar investment vehicle to be advised by Bluefield Partners, has announced its intention to list on the London Stock Exchange and raise €200 million (US$220 million) for PV acquisitions.

The Intersolar Europe trade show and EU PVSEC conference will be held at the same time and venue as of next year.

Foresight Group has purchased a large-scale UK solar farm from the Chinese tier-one PV module manufacturer Renesola, with Foresight claiming that its UK solar portfolio now exceeds 400MW of generation assets.

Solar Frontier, the vertically integrated thin-film PV manufacturer and project developer headquartered in Japan, has opened an office in London aimed at steering its activities in the currently buoyant UK market.

French PV developers Solairedirect and ENGIE are to merge after ENGIE acquired a 95% stake in its compatriot firm.