PV inverter manufacturers SMA Solar, SolarEdge and Enphase have all recently reported first quarter 2017 financial results. As already highlighted by PV Tech, US residential PV installers have reported softer than normal sales in the quarter and dependence on the US market for SMA Solar and Enphase, coupled to continued pricing pressure took a toll on revenues.
Analysts and developers alike have been saying that Mexico will be the next biggest solar market for years now. But according to GTM Research’s Manan Parikh, the time is finally approaching for solar to ‘take-off’ in Mexico.
The seasonally soft first quarter of the year for the residential solar rooftop market in the US played out again in 2017, with the addition of much heavier rainfall, notably in California. A basket of primarily US residential installers that are publically listed have recently reported first quarter results.
Saudi Arabia’s Alfanar Energy has signed a PPA with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) for the development of a 50MW solar plant in Egypt, according to local reports.
Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has commissioned a 3MW solar plant in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli for the region’s power distribution corporation.
Sungrow’s 1500VDC string inverter is designed to significantly reduce installation and balance of system costs for utility-scale PV systems. Sungrow was the first inverter manufacturer to introduce a 1500VDC string inverter with its SG80HV, which has a power output of 80KW. The latest inverter, SG125HV, puts 125kW of capacity in a suitcase-sized cabinet weighing just 68kg. At a higher rated voltage, the SG125HV is claimed to further reduce installation and balance of system costs.
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Canadian Solar has secured a US$97 million debt facility for a 92MWp project in North Carolina, US, from Prudential Capital Group and a tax equity investment commitment from US Bancorp Community Development Corporation (USBCDC).
A 50MW grid-tied solar PV plant in Nigeria’s Kaduna state has been selected as one of the winners for financing under Access Power’s Access Co-Development Facility (ACF) fund – the first crowdsourcing origination platform of its kind that provides funding to local developers.
