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Solar deployment will reach 77GW this year, and will grow to 79GW in 2017, according to the latest report from analyst firm IHS Markit.

Political changes over the last four years and the recent death of King Bhumibol has brought some inertia to the Thailand market, but industry members expect the market will return to strong growth in the second half of 2017.

Choosing good quality solar equipment will be essential to keep the solar industry sustainable in Southeast Asia, according to Wandee Khunchornyakong Juljarern, chairwoman and chief executive, SPCG, the largest solar installer in Thailand.

Solar PV manufacturers have been flooding into Malaysia, but its domestic solar deployment remains relatively modest. PV Tech caught up with Catherine Ridu, chief executive officer of the Malaysia Sustainable Development Authority (SEDA), to discuss the newly-launched net metering programme and what other policies could encourage solar deployment, as well as how to leverage the manufacturing boom for domestic solar gains.

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.

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.

The island plans to add 1.52GW over two years between mid-2016 and July 2018, which will help it to join Thailand in the top 10, according to EnergyTrend, a division of TrendForce.

Nuclear reactors approaching end-of-life, a sound PV manufacturing industry and a robust legal system all make a strong case for solar PV to muscle into Taiwan’s energy mix. Last year, a new government set a target of 20GW solar by 2025, but the industry must deal with scarce land availability and the threat of typhoons. PV Tech examines some of the huge numbers being proposed and what it will take to realise them.

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar plans to build a 40MW solar PV plant in Vietnam, a company spokesperson has confirmed.

The solar centric political campaigning group EU ProSun, established by integrated PV module manufacturer, SolarWorld, has condemned China and Chinese module manufacturers for causing SolarWorld to make 500 ‘temporary’ workers at its manufacturing plants in Germany, redundant.