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.
SunPower secures 29.9 MW order from French developer Tenergie
The U.S. manufacturer will provide its modules for 157 rooftop projects totaling 26.8 MW and three ground-mounted PV plants equaling 3.1 MW, that will all be located in France.
Neoen signs PPA for 100 MW in Australia
French power producer Neoen has agreed to provide electricity to EnergyAustralia from 100 MW of solar capacity it plans to build in New South Wales. The two companies did not disclose the terms of the deal.
World Bank approves $660 million fund for 500 MW of projects at Benban solar complex in Egypt
The funds will be used to support the construction of 11 solar plants with a combined capacity of 500 MW.
China H1 solar panel production surges 25% in a year
Data from the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) reveals a 25.9% rise in solar module production over the first six months of the year, reaching 34 GW. Q2 utilization rates stood at 85%, data shows.
Spain’s Balearic Islands fast-track 20 MW solar project
The Sa Caseta PV plant has received the status of public utility project from the archipelago’s Directorate for Energy and Climate Change.
Construction begins on 30 MW solar plant in Iran
The solar facility is being built under the country’s FIT program in North Khorasan, a province located in northeastern Iran.
CP Clean Energy’s H1 output declines offset by PV
China Power Clean Energy Development’s (CP Clean Energy) total power generation fell 10.67% year on year to 4,659,796.77 MWh in the first half of 2017. However, the completion of several solar projects — as well as improvements related to the PV curtailment rate in China — helped to balance out the declines.
Etrion completes 9.5 MW in northern Japan
Etrion has connected 4.2 MW (DC) of solar capacity to the grid at two sites in Japan’s Aomori prefecture. The two arrays are part of a 9.5 MW project spanning four locations.
Sparx completes 13 MW near Tokyo
Sparx Green Energy and Technology — a unit of Tokyo-based asset manager Sparx — has switched on a 12.8 MW solar project in eastern Japan. It claims that the installation — which stretches roughly 10 kilometres between Shiroi and Inzai, Chiba prefecture — is the “longest” PV project in Japan.
