Hanwha Q-Cells to inaugurate Turkey panel factory in November
The winning consortium of Turkey’s tender for a 1 GW solar PV plant in Konya has announced its plan to also inaugurate a panel factory in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, in November. pv magazine provides an update on the 1 GW PV plant and the solar panel factory.
Greece’s PV restart: Hellenic Petroleum secures financing for at least 8.6 MW
Greece’s Hellenic Petroleum has secured financing to develop 190 MW of combined solar PV and wind power capacity in Greece. The company was awarded 8.6 MW of PV capacity in Greece’s inaugural renewable energy tender in December 2016.
Greece’s PPC utility targets 550 MW of new solar
Greece’s incumbent utility, the Public Power Corporation (PPC) has announced a target for new solar PV projects. The move, while justified, may come too late to save the PPC, which is trying to reduce its reliance on lignite and avoid bankruptcy.
Turkey’s Erdoğan threatens to not ratify the Paris climate accord
In another show off for Turkey’s populist president this weekend, Erdogan threatened global leaders that his country “will not ratify the Paris climate accord” if certain conditions are not met.
EBRD launches loan scheme for rooftop solar in Romania
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a new framework aiming to help Romanian households to invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy and water-saving solutions. Solar PV is also part of the framework, which is the first serious effort to support the development of rooftop PV in the country.
Kenya’s newly signed 160 MW of solar PPAs: expensive?
Kenya signed this month PPAs for 160 MW of new solar PV plants at a price of US$0.12 per kWh. The price has sparked controversy.
Kenya’s solar wakes up: 160 MW under development
Kenya is currently generating less than 1% of its electricity from solar PV installations, but this is going to change soon.
Africa solar: competitive tenders or negotiated deals?
Given increasing activity in the solar PV sector in Africa, a critical question has emerged: should African states aim for competitive tenders or negotiated deals? This question was among those discussed at the Africa Energy Forum (AEF) that took place last week in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Zambia’s solar: mini grids and scaling solar projects pick up
Several sessions during last week’s Africa Energy Forum (AEF) depicted the dynamics of solar energy development in Zambia that is currently taking the form of mini grids as well as larger projects via the scaling solar program.
Power Africa: focus on creating opportunities for USA exports
A working roundtable discussion on the USA’s commercial partnership with Africa depicts the changes in the American agency in the Trump administration era.
