Emiliano Bellini
Solar Systems LLC gets $15 million financing from Gazbank
The seven-year loan will be used by the Russian solar developer to finance the construction of its 15 MW solar project in the Astrakhan region of Russia.
Belgium: Wallonia’s regulator imposes grid-fee for solar starting from 2019
The Belgian French-speaking region of Wallonia could introduce a grid-fee for residential PV starting from 2019. PV systems operators fear an annual fee ranging from €330 to €560.
South Africa’s new energy minister postpones long-expected signing of 37 PPAs for solar and renewables
The signing of the PPAs was expected to enable financial closure of several PV and wind power projects being developed under South Africa’s REIPPPP program.
Enel and DIF invest $157 million in Australian solar project
The Italian power utility and the Dutch investment firm have agreed to acquire the first 137.5 MW of a 275 MW PV project under development in Australia. The second 137.5 MW project’s unit will be bought by the two companies later this year.
NPC Incorporated swings to profit in first half of fiscal year ending 8/2017
The Japanese equipment provider reported a profit of JPY 151 million ($1.3 million) for the first half of the current fiscal year. Revenue grew 231.3% year-on-year to JPY 2,227 million ($20.0 million).
Russia plans to introduce net-metering for residential PV
If approved, the new net-metering scheme would come into force by the end of this year. Power surplus woul be sold to the grid at a rate of RUB 1 ($0.0174)/kWh.
Sri Lanka seeks bids for 60 MW of large-scale PV
Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board has issued a tender for the construction of 60 PV power plants with a capacity of 1 MW each. Bids must be submitted by April 26.
Powerfield plans 300 MW module factory in the Netherlands
The Dutch solar company has launched a plan to build a 300 MW solar module manufacturing facility in Noord-Groningen, northern Netherlands. The factory is expected to begin manufacturing activities in 2018.
Algeria adopts decree implementing tender for 4 GW of solar
Algeria’s government has published the long-awaited decree implementing the 4 GW solar auction in the country’s official journal. The decree provides more details on the upcoming bid for large-scale PV projects.
Zambia issues tender for 500 MW of large-scale PV capacity
Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation Limited (IDC) has issued a Request for Prequalification for the construction of several large-scale solar plants across the country. Selected projects will be developed under the ‘Scaling Solar’ initiative.
