Lyon’s BePositive event shows confidence in French PV market remains strong
The solar event in Lyon illustrated how expectations of French solar remain big despite lower-than-expected development and issues related to regulations and carbon footprint requirements. The large participation of international and Chinese players seeking business among installers and distributors is a signal things may improve in the short term, and larger volumes may be deployed in the coming years.
First Middle Eastern utility-scale solar-plus-storage plant comes online
The 23 MW/12.6 MWh facility is near Mafraq, in northern Jordan. The storage system will offer peak shaving to increase grid stability while enhancing solar output.
Rise in Chinese mono PERC cell output helps stabilize multi cell price as Indian orders slow
The big manufacturers turned their Chinese new year production efforts to higher efficiency products but order volumes for standard cells fell during India’s peak PV season, according to PV Info Link.
GCL Poly extends loan term to subsidiary – has the wafer maker had help with its debt pile?
The polysilicon giant has extended the repayment date for a loan to an EPC subsidiary by 10 months and, with its share price rising sharply, should investors prepare themselves for some as yet unannounced good news?
PI Berlin findings say little about module quality in Europe
PI Berlin analysis has suggested the quality of modules is particularly high in Asian factories with a large throughput. However, just 2% of the 67 GW of production capacity audited for the study originated in Europe. The audits for the white paper were mostly carried out by Solarbuyer between 2012 and 2018.
Chint’s 103 MW Dutch solar park will use Astronergy panels
Chinese module maker announces start of construction on big project in the Netherlands weeks after announcing production of solar panels at its German Astronergy unit would be halted.
ABN Amro takes majority stake in Dutch PV module testing company Eternal Sun
The controlling interest in Eternal Sun group was acquired by the Dutch bank’s Energy Transition Fund. The value of the transaction was not revealed.
Turkey’s 1 GW Konya project in doubt
Project partners Hanwha Q Cells and local company Kalyon Enerji appear to have ended their partnership and to be negotiating the terms of a ‘divorce’.
Chile wants to know amount of local content of its solar plants
Public body Codesser wants to hire experts to carry out a “Study to determine the participation of national suppliers in the provision of construction, operation and maintenance components and services in solar energy projects in Chile”.
REC Silicon to suspend production at Moses Lake poly factory
Norway-headquartered REC Silicon has revealed plans to halt operations at its Moses Lake facility in the U.S. in 17 days’ time. The company says it has taken the decision to maintain liquidity for its semiconductor business with American workers set to pay the price for President Trump’s trade war with China.
