Finance

Hanwha Q Cells, Enphase Energy, Solarwatt and EDF are among the big names grabbing the headlines in a week where new product launches and new GW-scale tender details were revealed.

The European Investment Bank and Eiffel Investment Group have launched a fund devoted to investments in the green economy in France and Europe. The fund will provide bridge financing for, among others, projects in the solar and storage sectors.

The Government of Uzbekistan announced that five 100 MW solar plants will be installed in the country in the period 2017-2021. Total investments for the plan are expected to reach $1.1 billion.

The Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corporation’s energy-focused arm AC Energy Holdings Inc. has taken control of Bronzeoak Clean Energy (BCE) and San Carlos Clean Energy (SCCE).

The South Korean solar company posted record revenues and module shipments last year, increasing 34.8% and 55% respectively year-on-year.

The Italian solar developer saw its turnover and profits decline slightly last year. The company acquired Italian solar inverter manufacturer Elettronica Santerno in late 2016.

The island nation’s Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy is set to leapfrog to the next stage of energy supply by expanding its loan scheme for rooftop solar.

The Swiss equipment provider saw its turnover increase significantly in 2016. This growth is due to increasing investments in upgrading technologies and capacity expansion in the PV industry.

The French Development Agency (AFD) has provided South Africa’s power utility Eskom with a ZAR 6 billion ($477.7 million) credit facility. Eskom, which has delayed the development of several large-scale PV projects over the past years due to grid issues, will use the funds to improve its network and integrate more renewable energy power.

The Paris-based private renewable power producer focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa has announced it is to invest $280 million in new PV power plants in Nigeria.