lightsource

Lightsource BP has announced the appointment of Kevin Smith as CEO for the Americas, with the renewable-energy industry veteran tasked with helping lead Lightsource BP’s expansion across the region.

PV energy asset owner-operator Lightsource BP has signed 20-year power purchase agreements with California's Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and Continental Divide Electric Cooperative (CDEC) for a PV pipeline of 25MW in the Western US.

Lightsource BP will build the largest solar project in Kansas having signed a 25-year PPA with the utility Mid-Kansas Electric Company, an affiliate of Sunflower Electric Power Corp.

PV Tech caught up with Ugo Salerno, chairman and CEO of Italy-based advisory RINA, alongside the firm’s technical director for power and renewables, Simon Turner, to discuss storage retrofits in the UK, financing floating PV and upgrading hastily built European solar plants.

BP has said the promising “fundamentals” behind the current global solar market triggered it to re-enter and the petrol giant now has ambitious plans for worldwide growth.

BP is to acquire a 43% stake in prolific UK-based solar developer Lightsource in what stands to be a significant new solar partnership.

'The next step of evolution in the Indian market is going to be permanent capital', says James Brooks.

UK-based developer Lightsource Renewable Energy has now also reached financial close on a 60MW project in the state of Maharashtra.

UK developer Lightsource Renewable Energy is to expand into the Netherlands’ local energy market.

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.