EBRD turns to carbon pricing for future project assessments
The European development bank will amend its methodology to determine the financial viability of energy projects. Putting a price on the environmental and societal effects of air pollution, the EBRD is likely to funnel more funds into renewables.
EU clean energy transition receives an €800 million boost
The funds will come from the Connecting Europe Facility. Around €504 million will be used for electricity infrastructure and smart grids and another €286 million will be devoted to gas. The remaining €9 million will be allocated to studies on the development of carbon dioxide transport infrastructure.
Rejection of Azure Power bid confirms failure of India’s 10 GW ‘mega-tender’
Delhi-based developer Azure had bid for a 2 GW project on a single site – plus 600 MW of manufacturing capacity – as part of a much-hyped national 10 GW manufacturing-linked tender. The government has decided to reject the bid because it says the quoted price is unreasonable.
Panda Green – shareholder’s daughter appointed non-exec director
Economics graduate Xie Yi is the daughter of shareholder He Bing, whose BVI-registered Asia Pacific Energy and Infrastructure Investment Group Ltd are preparing to acquire a 6.49% stake in the enlarged business, on top of He’s existing holding.
Scatec Solar’s 65 MW Malaysian plant reaches commercial operation
It is the first of three solar parks of that size the Norwegian IPP has put in commercial operation in Malaysia’s growing market.
UK council to deploy solar-plus-storage on landfill to generate income
With budgets continuing to be slashed, one authority is eyeing solar-plus-storage to boost revenue. It is not the first time a U.K. council has decided to turn a landfill site into an income generating asset.
Bangladeshi DISCOMS told to sign up net metering customers
With the nation’s net metering regime up and running for industrial generators, the government is trying to drum up interest and wants another 600 customers signed up by June, with the help of a soft loans program.
Innogy builds unsubsidized 50 MW solar park in Spain
The German company acquired the rights to build the plant from Synergia Energy Solutions. The Alarcos solar park will be in the municipalities of Ciudad Real and Poblete. Work is expected to begin in April, with grid-connection this year.
Solar will rebound this year with more than 100 GW of new capacity
Wood Mackenzie’s number-crunchers are the latest analysts queueing up to predict a bumper year ahead for PV, with falling prices, rising efficiency rates and booming markets outside China all on the cards. And it could be a make-or-break year for mega-projects, says Wood Mac.
State-owned lenders will stump up cash to bail out developer Panda Green
With a $3bn debt pile, gearing of 73.1% and $127m due for repayment in around three months’ time, the directors of the former United PV Group want shareholders to dilute their investment by issuing shares worth more than 40% of an enlarged company, with a chunk of the proceeds coming from public funds.
