Finance

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s contingency plans, all but those activities related to protecting life and property have stalled. Contract commitments will be honored – until the money runs out.

pv magazine’s Michael Fuhs spoke to Jenny Chase, of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, to get the story behind the latest solar figures and find out why she thinks solar is a commodity, not a high-tech industry.

Taiwanese cell manufacturer Gintech has surrendered $21.9 million of its security deposit to escape the final three years of the ten-year contract. SunEdison will return Gintech’s outstanding $35.1 million in quarterly instalments.

Chairman Zhu Gongshan and his son, and company director, Zhu Yufeng, are being investigated by the poly manufacturer for a potential breach of non-competition agreements. The enquiry relates to interests in two Chinese cogeneration plants.

The Solar Energy Industries Association hopes its new proposals will end recent trade disputes and establish a “win-win” situation for both the U.S. and China, and the wider industry as a whole.

Hanergy Holdings wants to give its solar subsidiary an extra 12 months to pay off $109 million in convertible bonds due at the end of November. The bonds are held by two other companies in the Hanergy stable.

Thailand’s adder scheme will drive 2.9 GW of installations as emerging markets account for 19% of new solar by 2017, says IHS. Europe will figure too with Turkey, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Denmark all contributing.

The 12.5 MW PV plant at Indianapolis International Airport in the U.S. boasts 41,000 solar panels and is the largest solar power system on any airport in North America.

The Canadian company has entered into an agreement to sell two of its utility-scale solar power plants, totaling 20 MW, to a fund managed by BlackRock.

The hope for a slight increase in cell and module production brought a ray of hope to the gloomy atmosphere of this year’s EU PVSEC.