Residential PV

In 2017, 54 new solar projects with a total capacity of 460 MW will be implemented enabling the country to exceed 1 GW of installed PV plants.

While much of this decline is due to lower system costs, it was a difficult year for the solar industry despite a 20% growth in installation capacity.

U.S. residential solar system provider Vivint Solar has started 2017 on a high, with the closing of USD 303 million in new financing from a total of five different investors, which will allow the company to repay existing borrowing and install a large chuck of new residential systems.

It was not a pretty year for solar finance, but some sectors remained unscathed.

The agreement includes a direct investment of $100 million by the utility to fund 200 MW of solar projects across the installer’s national portfolio.

2017 begins with yet more positive price reduction momentum, while Spain reveals details of its renewables auction and Comtec Solar and Longi agree to asset purchase.

Trading platform for solar projects launched to connect potential investors with distributed solar PV assets across China.

New data from state California Solar Initiative (CSI) program Go Solar California reports that over the first 10 months of 2016, a total of 128,485 Californian families went solar, according to California Citisuns, the solar consumer advocacy based in Sacramento. The total suggests a 2016 total of over 154,000 new solar homes in the state.

Fully-integrated solar developer ReneSolar has signed a framework agreement with emerging PV player Beijing Enterprises Clean Energy Group to act as EPC for 335 MW of solar rooftop projects in China, which are due to be completed in just six months.

Pace of Indian solar growth to accelerate this year as the nation is set to more than double 2016’s 4 GW capacity; however, headwinds regarding transmission and evacuation issues could slow expansion, Mercom says.