Zimbabwe approves 116 MW of PV projects
The government of Zimbabwe has approved a $45 million fund for renewable energy projects. The announcement coincides with the licensing of 10 independent power producers to generate 271 MW of renewable energy, including 116 MW of solar.
Sosteneo to buy 49% of Enel’s battery business
Generali Investments’ Sosteneo unit will acquire 49% of the share capital in Enel Libra Flexsys, a company fully owned by Italian utility Enel, which operates a 1.7 GW portfolio of battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Utility-scale PV cheapest power source in Asia Pacific, says WoodMac
Wood Mackenzie says the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) in the Asia-Pacific region hit an all-time low in 2023, as utility-scale PV beat coal to become the cheapest power source. It predicts a further drop in costs for new-build solar projects, driven by falling module prices and oversupply from China.
Serbia to auction at least 400 MW of wind, solar
The Serbian government plans to launch its second renewables auction this year in a bid to procure at least 400 MW of wind and solar power.
Masdar reaches financial close on 1.8 GW of solar
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) have reached financial close on a 1.8 GW solar project – the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the United Arab Emirates. Masdar was chosen to build and operate the project after submitting a bid of $0.016/kWh – the park’s lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) to date.
Weekend Read: Energy sovereignty
Native American lands boast serious PV potential in the United States but getting projects off the ground hasn‘t always been easy. Different tribes are willing to take power generation into their own hands and the landscape could be shifting, thanks to funding from the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other programs.
Meyer Burger prepares to shut down plant in Germany
Swiss solar panel maker Meyer Burger will seek shareholder approval for a rights issue of as much as CHF 250 million ($284 million) to finance the completion of its US manufacturing facilities in Colorado and Arizona.
Corporate PPAs hit record high in 2023, says BloombergNEF
BloombergNEF says in a new report that corporations publicly announced 46 GW of solar and wind power purchase agreements (PPAs) in 2023, up 12% year on year. It says the increase was driven by a surge of activity in Europe.
Alpex Solar launches highly oversubscribed IPO
Alpex Solar, an India-based solar manufacturer, says it plans to use the proceeds of its highly oversubscribed initial public offering (IPO) to expand its PV panel capacity from 450 MW to 1.2 GW, in addition to setting up an aluminum frame manufacturing unit.
U.S. publicly traded solar installer Sunworks files for bankruptcy
The residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural solar installer files for bankruptcy amid troubled macroeconomic conditions for distributed solar nationwide.
