Emiliano Bellini
World Bank to help Afghanistan tender 40 MW solar project
The International Financial Corporation will help the country’s government competitively tender the project, which is expected to be developed through a public-private partnership.
Netherlands begins inquiry into fire accidents involving rooftop PV
The investigation will be carried out by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research on behalf of the national enterprise agency and at the request of PV association Holland Solar and Uneto-VNI, the country’s installers’ association.
Neoen prepares for €450 million IPO
Through the listing on the French stock market, the independent power producer hopes to raise enough capital to increase its renewable energy assets from 2 GW to 5 GW. Impala intends to subscribe to the offering and remain majority shareholder.
ADB supports rooftop solar in Sri Lanka with $50 million
The funds will be used to finance the Battle for Solar Power Programme, a loan scheme for households and businesses willing to install rooftop PV under net metering or net accounting mechanisms.
Poland: Solar sees bidding prices slightly increase in simulated RE tenders
A simulation of Poland’s two upcoming mixed wind/solar auctions held by the Polish wind energy association has shown that wind may prove more competitive than solar, especially in the auction for projects over 1 MW. The real auctions are expected to be launched between November and December.
Another Facebook data center goes solar
The company data center in Singapore will be provided with solar power by Sembcorp Industries under a 20-year PPA. The required electricity will be generated across 900 rooftop PV systems totaling 50 MW.
Hard times for Taiwan’s PV manufacturers
Taiwanese solar cell manufacturer, Motech has announced plans to reduce its workforce by 300 and further adjust production capacity, while Sino-American Silicon’s CEO has revealed the company may exit the wafer business.
Solar is always shinier on the other side of the fence
A new study from the University of New Brunswick confirms that homeowners are more likely to install a residential PV array if they live in areas with a high concentration of rooftop solar power generators. Investments from public entities installling rooftop solar, according to the study’s authors, can indirectly promote renewable energy just by making it more visible to people.
Qatar’s Nebras enters Dutch solar market
The Qatar-based investment firm has agreed to acquire a 75% stake in Netherlands-based Zon Exploitatie Nederland Holding B.V. (ZEN). The Dutch company owns a PV plant porftfolio of around 96 MW.
Angola creates new entity to support IPPs for renewables
The Energy Project Implementation Support Unit (EPISU) will help independent power producers (IPPs) improve the bankability of projects. The new entity is being created with the financial support of the African Development Bank.
