First Solar has won module supply contracts for two of the three projects that Duke Energy plans to build in North Carolina. Yingli will supply a third 23 MW project, and each of the three will feature a different EPC contractor.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will join France and the EU in supporting a PV project in Burkina Faso, as one of the largest in the continent outside of South Africa to receive funding to date.

The fab is the third commercial-scale crystalline silicon PV cell factory in the United States, and will use n-type mono wafers for high-efficiency PV. The plant will supply OCI’s 400 MW portfolio of solar projects in Texas.

With the Pavana Solar Park, Honduras has reached 74 MW of solar PV under construction, giving it a leading position in Central America. GTM Research says that this is only the beginning for the region.

The latest report by Berkeley Lab shows that installed PV costs in the United States fell 12-15% during 2013, despite a stabilization in PV module costs. However, America still has the highest installed costs among major markets for systems under 100 kW.

Regulators at the California Energy Commission have recommended approval of a new plan for the Palen solar CSP project with a single solar tower and reduced acreage. A final decision on the controversial project will be made on October 29.

Following on its February RFP, Duke has announced that it will acquire and construct three PV plants totaling 128 MW, including the largest PV project east of the Mississippi River, and sign PPAs with another five totaling 150 MW. This will increase the existing PV capacity in North Carolina by 44%.

Following on its February 2014 RFP, Duke plans to acquire and construct three PV plants totaling 128 MW, including the largest PV project east of the Mississippi River, and sign PPAs with another five totaling 150 MW. This will increase the existing PV capacity in North Carolina by over 50%.

The U.S. state of Massachusetts has proposed not setting aside any capacity in 2016 for traditional solar PV projects larger than 650 kW under the new SREC II program. The state’s solar industry warns that this will have major impacts.

As outlined in an initial draft, the ambitious program will work with state governments to set up a series of solar parks and mega-solar projects. Mercom Capital says that the announcement is good sign for solar policy under the Modi Administration, but questions remain.