Finance

It is unclear what the election signifies for the Japanese solar industry. A pro-nuclear stance could mean a regression of generous solar FITs but it could also be an endorsement of the regime that introduced them.

The liquidated remnant of Suntech is owed $264m by the Singapore subsidiary it relinquished to Shunfeng Photovoltaic. Suntech’s liquidators are now poring over details of the Shunfeng acquisition.

Module shipping expectations of 49 GW this year is driving demand, according to NPD Solarbuzz, which predicts the reduction in the amount of polysilicon needed per watt will continue but at a reduced rate.

U.S. solar developer Recurrent has finished work on five projects in Southern California and one in Arizona. The portfolio was acquired by Google and KKR in November.

REC Solar will continue to serve the commercial sector after it was announced that the U.S. solar company’s residential operations were recently acquired by Sunrun.

Cell and wafer manufacturers in Taiwan are reporting record figures. But the industry is reportedly concerned about moves by Chinese module makers to represent it in talks with the U.S. authorities.

Parent company Wacker Chemie AG had to rely on its core chemicals businesses to make up for ‘persistently low’ polysilicon prices. But Wacker’s polysilicon division saw a 7% sales rise, year-on-year, in the fourth quarter.

US Industry body the SEIA says Chinese manufacturers could pay into a fund for their American counterparts in return for all duties being lifted. The group also wants China to remove its polysilicon duties.

The solar installation will include some 38,763 CS6X high-performance modules and is expected to create more than 150 new jobs during the development and construction phase.

Interview: Matthias Jäger, head of Risk Advisory & Services at Allianz Climate Solutions in Berlin, discusses key aspects of risk assessment and how economic and political changes impact bankability checks.