Ethiopia announces procurement for 500 MW of solar
Developers have until May 29 to register for the first stage of the process to procure four solar projects. With work under way on the second round of the IFC’s Scaling Solar program in the nation, 12 bidders have been identified to compete for the two projects previously offered under the initiative.
Shunfeng’s steadily rising revenue cannot distract from its debt worries
Straining under a $2 billion debt mountain, the solar manufacturer is pinning its hopes on the proposed sale of its Jiangsu Shunfeng subsidiary to prevent it suffering the same fate as the original parent company of the Wuxi Suntech unit that makes up part of the Jiangsu division.
Iraq kicks off huge 755 MW solar tender
The Ministry of Electricity is tendering a 30 MW plant, four 50 MW projects, and two much bigger projects, with capacities of 225 MW and 300 MW. The plants are intended to begin commercial operations next year.
Interview: Is Russia’s embrace of renewable energy a reality or a myth?
The superpower has always been seen as a fortress for oil and gas but positive signs are emerging from its renewable energy sector.
Guatemala launches tender for 110 MW solar project
The plant, for which no official documents are available online, is being opposed by the nation’s Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations which claims it is against the interest of its promoter, utility INDE.
Lukewarm response as Indian state of Gujarat re-tenders 700 MW of PV
A reduction in solar park charges was not enough to attract developers in the same numbers that flocked to a separate, 500 MW exercise two months earlier. The Raghanesda Solar Park continues to be a headache after a previous procurement was cancelled because the tariffs were deemed too costly.
Region’s first utility scale solar-plus-storage project comes online in Mexico
Located in the town of La Paz, in Baja California Sur, the Aura Solar III plant has a generation capacity of 32 MW and includes a lithium-ion battery storage system with a capacity of 10.5 MW/7.0 MWh.
Germany added 350 MW of new solar capacity in March
The strong growth registered in the first quarter of the year – when 1.27 GW of new PV was deployed – will prompt a 1.4% reduction in the FIT price for the three-month period up to July.
China confirms FIT level payments – but they will be ‘subject to competition’
The Beijing authorities have confirmed the payment levels to be made according to type of project and region from July onwards but an auction process will be involved so the figures are for guidance only. No decision has yet been made on the 30 GW of capacity added since the end of May.
Fotowatio starts commercial operations at latest Jordan project
The Saudi-owned developer has announced an ambition to have installed 5.8 GW of renewables capacity by 2024 and took a small step in that direction with its 66.7 MW Al Safawi Solar Plant.
