Guggenheim Solar Index: Two sides to PV import tariffs
Solar stocks underperformed the broader markets in November, writes Jesse Pichel of ROTH Capital Partners. This is in large part thanks to uncertainty coming from the United States, where the Court of International Trade reinstated an exemption from import tariffs for bifacial modules – a decision that will likely see an appeal.
World Bank $500m loan to modernize Bangladeshi grid
Investment is required so electricity distribution networks can be upgraded to keep pace with an explosion in generation capacity over the last decade, and to harness the potential of renewables and energy storage.
EU to rule on planned Canadian investment in Spanish rooftop business
The European Commission has called for submissions from parties with an interest in a proposed investment in Powen by Brookfield.
EU approves renewables incentives for Greek islands
The European Commission has given its seal of approval to a government program which will drive an estimated 264 MW of solar and wind capacity across 47 islands while they await connection to the mainland grid.
Latvian plan to exempt big energy consumers from renewables surcharge approved by EU
The Baltic state has offered energy-intensive, international-facing industries up to an 85% discount on a surcharge levied on electricity consumers since May 2017 and made the scheme wider ranging this year, in a move approved by the European Commission.
Financial close for Mozambique’s first solar-plus-storage project
Anglo-Norwegian public funding body Globeleq has said the 19 MWp/2MW-7 MWh Cuamba project will be supplying electricity during the second half of next year.
Europe faces ‘new era of energy dependency’
The EU has been pouring money into European battery manufacturing and recycling projects but has, as yet, been unable to address the critical question of raw materials, according to analyst WoodMac.
‘Africa’s leaders need to walk the walk on solar’
Attendees at an online event dedicated to rooftop solar in Central Africa called for customer incentives, tax exemptions for solar kit, feed-in tariffs, installation standards, affordable finance, grid connections and recycling policies across the region.
Norwegian investor raises stake in company developing ‘perovskite-boosted’ solar cells
Swedish business Evolar is working on a bolt-on piece of production equipment which would upgrade the cell lines of conventional manufacturers with a perovskite lift in performance.
EU member states charging toward unambitious PV targets – SolarPower Europe
The national goals set by European countries two years ago already look hopelessly out of date thanks to the global PV boom. The Euro trade association for the industry has called for ambitions to be radically scaled up in 2023 if the world is to have any chance of capping temperature rises at 1.5C.
