Southeast Asia

Household solar systems have taken hold in Laos, but PV deployment on a grand-scale is being held back by a focus on hydropower, according to delegates at the Solar & Off-Grid Renewables Southeast Asia Event, in Bangkok.

Leading thin-film producer First Solar has decided to skip the previously planned migration to its Series 5 module platform, while bringing plans forward to migrate to its large-area Series 6 module technology to 2018.

France, Brazil, India and several other countries have signed a framework agreement as part of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the COP22 conference in Marrakech, according to Indian energy and mines minister Piyush Goyal.

The Thai Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) has announced new solar development plans for 2017, which open up several opportunities for foreign investors to participate.

Neo Solar creates a new IPP for PV projects, Vivint Solar secures US$200m in tax equity, OneRoof closes new fund, and Mexico to small-medium-scale residential solar t by 71%.

PV Tech’s preliminary analysis of global PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in October 2016, reflect the continued reaction to the rapid decent into overcapacity at the beginning of the second half of the year.

In this week's Movers & Shakers, PV Tech reports on various executive board shuffles; Meyer Burger lets go of its COO, SPI Energy revamps its senior management team and SEPA expands its board of directors. In addition, Mainstream Renewable Power establishes an investment arm and Chile appoints a new energy minister amidst a time of energy policy upheaval.

Leading CdTe thin-film producer First Solar has reacted to plummeting global PV module and PV power plant PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) prices by undertaking a major review of its production capacity requirements and planned migrations to its Series 5 and Series 6 modules.

Solar PV is taking off in Vietnam with many international and domestic investors showing intention to develop projects in the central and south of the country, according to Hoa Vu Phuong, specialist, international relations department, Institute of Energy, Vietnam.

A provision in the Philippines giving medium-scale electricity consumers the ability to choose between retail electricity suppliers other than the local utility has had a major boost after a Supreme Court issuance in its favour.