Finance

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in the U.S. publishes its latest Solar Means Business report, finding that the country’s two largest retailers are committed to solar power.

South African utility company Eskom will use the French funds to develop its solar power projects after a deal was struck between Presidents Francois Hollande and Jacob Zuma.

Thailand: Large-scale solar farms that do not come online within the required time frame could have their contracts to sell power to the government scrapped. The government may instead purchase PV from residential suppliers.

The search engine giant has teamed up with Silver Ridge Power LLC to invest $103 million in the 265 MW Mount Signal Solar project in Imperial County, California.

The former Chinese giant has revealed the seizure of more solar parks developed with the backing of the tarnished Global Solar Fund investment vehicle. Administrators have been appointed to 27 seized assets.

Japanese glass company AGC is betting on auto glass because it says it cannot compete with Chinese prices. The well-worn complaint echoes those of EU and U.S. solar companies.

The opening statement of the World Energy Congress said renewables cannot meet future energy demand, GHG reduction targets are impossible without CCS and the idea of peak oil is ‘a myth.’

The parent company of cell and module manufacturer Jiangsu Shunfeng is pricing its share issue at the top of the range as it prepares to acquire Wuxi Suntech. Share issue will equate to 20% of the expanded company.

Only two smart grid projects – one of them aimed at wind power – made the list of 250 projects to be eligible for a slice of EU funding. France and Italy’s Green-Me project may be in line for some of the $7.9 billion available.

By doubling the size of projects for which FITs are available, the Turkish government has finally fired the starting gun on solar. ‘We have been waiting five years for this.’ says Enerparc’s Ertug Babatas.