Emiliano Bellini
Poland added 94 MW of PV capacity in 2016
The Polish solar market has seen its largest growth in 2016 with approximately 94 MW in new installations. The country’s cumulative installed PV power had reached 192 MW at the end of December. A more stable regulatory framework is giving investors more confidence.
Enertronica secures engineering contract for 50 MW of solar in the U.S.
The Italian solar company has secured an engineering contract to build two PV plants totaling 50 MW in the United States. Furthermore, Enertronica has set up a new subsidiary in Delaware.
Reunert takes 51% interest in South African EPC contractor Terra Firma Solutions
The South-African investment company has acquired a 51% stake in solar EPC contractor Terra Firma Solutions. The company provides EPC services for rooftop solar projects in sub-Saharan Africa
Algeria to launch 4 GW solar tender by the end of March
The Algerian government is set to launch a tender for the construction of large-scale PV projects totaling 4 GW. The tender will be held in three 1,350 MW phases and will select projects with an average capacity of 100 MW.
Netherlands’ PV market set to reach 2 GW milestone
The Dutch market keeps showing signs of sustained growth. Estimated new installed PV power for 2016 is expected to surpass 500 MW, while another 600 MW is forecast for this year. Several PV projects developed under the SDE+ program for large-scale renewable energy projects began to come online in the past months.
Slovenia’s PV capacity tops 259 MW, net-metering expected to support more growth
The small eastern European country has been adding around 10 MW of new PV systems each year over the past four years. A net-metering scheme introduced in 2015 is expected to increase demand for residential installations.
Dutch water and railway operator make space for PV
Dutch government agencies Rijkswaterstaat and ProRail are making land and water surfaces available for the installation of ground-mounted and floating PV plants, as well as for projects from other renewable technologies.
France allocates 534 MW in first tender for large-scale PV, average price came in at €62.5 ($65.9)/MWh
The French government announced that 79 ground-mounted PV projects with a combined capacity of 534.5 MW were selected through the latest bidding round for large-scale solar. Average price for the sale of power from these projects came in at €62.5 ($65.9) per MWh.
Wacker’s Christian Westermeier elected SolarPower Europe president
SolarPower Europe announced that Christian Westermeier has been elected as the organization’s new president. Westermeier is the Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Application Engineering of German chemical company and polysilicon manufacturer Wacker Chemie.
Solar Systems LLC builds 15 MW PV plant in Russian region of Astrakhan
The government of the Russian region of Astrakhan announced that work on the first large-scale PV plant in the area has begun. Completion on the 15 MW project, which is being developed by local developer Solar Systems, is scheduled for the third quarter of this year.
