PV trends of 2020: Part 2
Despite much of the world being on lockdown for a big chunk of 2020, there are few who could say it has been an uneventful year. And while the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic will be what defines 2020 for many, in the solar industry there’s plenty more to shout about, from the rapid rollout of high-powered modules to a drastic increase in carbon-neutral pledges from companies and governments around the world. Across five installments, pv magazine takes a look back at the year in solar. First up were the U.S. election and carbon neutral pledges. Today, we’re talking about auctions and green bonds.
The weekend read: New EU financing mechanism set to boost PV investments
A new EU framework designed to incentivize cross-border renewables financing could help accelerate the roll-out of solar PV projects across Europe. However, investors are awaiting more clarity about how the system will work in practice.
Somali solar providers can apply for grants from $8.5m pot
Solar distributors and service providers and microfinance businesses which are rolling out PV systems in Somalia and the self-declared Republic of Somalil and have been offered access to grants from development donors.
Crossboundary offers up its mini grids business model for African peers to benefit
The Kenyan financial services business has been developing rural mini grids across Africa and has announced plans to show its rivals how such networks can thrive, in a bid to accelerate access to electricity on the continent.
US developer Eleris plans 2.2 GW of solar in Bangladesh
The proposal includes 1 GW of solar farms on an army training base island in the estuary of the Meghna river.
Ten-year renewal of Estonia’s renewables support program
New €450 million incentive regime needed to be approved under EU state aid rules.
Cubico buys T-Solar for €1.5bn
Through the transaction, Cubico acquired 47 operating assets with a capacity of 274 MW – including 167 MW of PV in Spain as well as 7 MW of solar plants in Italy –and a portfolio of solar projects under development of about 1.4 GW.
Finance platform targets underserved small-scale solar projects
A spin-off of the Connecticut Green Bank, IPC is a not-for-profit investment fund that scales clean energy financing and channels investment capital to communities that need it most.
End of subsidies could fuel the corporate PPA boom in Europe
Pioneering solar projects which signed ten-year feed-in tariff agreements will soon need to operate free of subsidy and with local authorities like the City of London starting to embrace direct contracts with renewables generators, the PPA market could be set for another turbo charge.
African Development Bank opens $50-60m pot for off-grid solar Covid recovery
The development lender has established a Covid-19 Off-Grid Recovery Platform with impact investors from the Netherlands, U.S. and U.K., to offer affordable loans to off-grid solar companies operating in Africa.
