Ayala Corporation, part of Filipino conglomerate Ayala Group, has acquired a controlling stake in Silicon Valley-based firm Merlin Solar Technologies, which produces flexible, mobile and wearable crystalline silicon solar modules.
Malaysia and the Philippines have joined the growing list of countries heading to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to request consultations with the US over its 30% solar import tariffs, according to WTO filings both dated 21 February.
Filipino energy secretary Alfonso Cusi has euphemistically admitted that the suspension of four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) may cause delays in power projects, while the already inert solar industry has seen conditions go from bad to worse.
Philippines-based commercial bank, BDO Unibank, has issued its first green bond investment for US$150 million to sole investor the International Finance Cooperation (IFC), to expand finance for private sector investments and to tackle climate change.
The case for solar remains strong in Southeast Asia since power demand is still growing rapidly in many of its markets, but traversing the unique regulations and policies of each country and knowing which PV segment is most suitable remains challenging. Here are some of PV Tech’s key takeaways from last week’s Solar and Off-Grid Renewables Southeast Asia (SORSEA) 2017 conference in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has aborted a proposed 200MW solar project and industrial area development at the Redondo Peninsula, due to the developer’s apparent lack of both funding and experience.
Integrated solar firm Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) has been in discussion with the Filipino government regarding future collaboration opportunities in growing the PV sector in the Philippines.
The Filipino National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) is conducting a series of public consultations in order to shape a new off-grid renewable energy policy with a particular focus on islands, mountains and far-away villages.
