Emerging countries imported $1.8bn of Chinese solar modules in Q1, finds BNEF
More than half of all Chinese solar shipments in March this year went to India, while emerging countries alone now account for 60% of China’s PV exports, according to the latest Bloomberg New Energy Finance 3Q Frontier Power Market Outlook.
Australia: 10 remote Aboriginal communities add 3.325 MW solar
Aimed at phasing out diesel fuel for electricity generation in remote Aboriginal communities, the Solar Energy Transformation Program (SETuP) has switched on solar PV systems for the first 10 indigenous communities in Australia’s Northern Territory
UK: Nearly 126,000 employed in thriving renewables industry, report shows
In the first year energy storage and electric vehicle sectors are included, REA’s annual publication reveals a 2.5% YoY increase in the number of jobs in the renewable energy industry, but also a significant decline in growth from two years previous when it was at nearly 9%. The Association points to negative policy changes as the reason behind the downward trend.
Belgian region of Flanders plans fiscal incentive for community solar and wind projects
The Minister of Energy of the Flanders hopes that another 6.4 million solar modules can be installed in the region under his mandate until 2020.
Solarcentury to build EU, UNDP-backed 2.25 MW solar+storage mini-grids in Eritrea
The €5.7 million project is being part-financed by the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme and the government of Eritrea to deliver solar electricity to up to 40,000 homes and businesses in the remotest parts of the country.
Solar PV tenders top 17.4 GW with Europe out in front, GTM Research finds
As demand is becoming geographically diversified, with strong growth of emerging markets set to make up for slowing demand in East Asia, GTM Research is now tracking 17.4 GW of confirmed solar tenders between Q2 and the end of 2019 across the globe, 9.6 GW of which is expected to be awarded in Q3 2017.
Clean energy spending in 2016 hits 43% share of total supply investment, finds IEA
The International Energy Agency’s World Energy Investment report sees global spending on energy fall by 12% overall in 2016, marking the second-consecutive year that investment has dropped as less money is poured into costly gas and oil infrastructure. Clean energy spending, meanwhile, is on the up.
QTC Energy unit buys 15% stake in GEP
Bangkok-based QTC Global Power has paid 67.84 million baht ($1.9 million) for a stake in Thai PV developer Green Earth Power (GEP), which is building a 220 MW solar installation in Myanmar.
Wind, solar to be cheapest power source in G20 by 2030, Greenpeace study finds
In around half of the G20 countries, renewables have been equal or cheaper in price to electricity generated from coal and nuclear power plants since 2015, and are set to outcompete all other energy sources in the world’s 20 major economies by 2030, finds a new study commissioned by Greenpeace Germany.
Mobisol acquires Lumeter for software, product expansion, and data
Acquisitions within the off-grid solar space are still rare. Mobisol recently acquired Lumeter for their software capability, opportunities for product expansion, and data on customer repayment.
