US: Cumulative solar installs top 28 GW, 16 GW of renewables installed in 2015
According to a new study by BNEF and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, cumulative solar capacity in the U.S. has reached 28 GW, of which 7.3 GW was installed in 2015. Overall, last year saw 16 GW of renewables added, outstripping fossil fuels for a second year. Energy productivity is also growing, while prices remain stable. Investment, particularly in solar, is also on the rise.
Morocco inaugurates 160 MW solar CSP plant as first phase of Noor complex
While the World Bank says that the Noor 1 plant will bring down the cost of concentrating solar power, the future of the technology does not look promising.
SunEdison offloads Japanese assets, assesses Vivint deal options
The U.S. renewables developer agrees deal to sell its entire 198 MW solar PV portfolio in Japan for around $80 million while, closer to home, the company evaluates options that will see the Vivint acquisition finally closed.
Total secures stake in Off Grid Electric and Powerhive
The French energy giant leverages its $150 million Total Energy Ventures fund to secure stakes of no more than 15% in the two off-grid and microgrid startups.
UK solar firms challenge government subsidy cuts in appeal court
Solarcentury and Lark Energy take case against government’s early closure of the Renewable Obligation scheme to court of appeal; government defends stance on claims its decision was grossly unfair.
Expert analysis: Back in black: SolarWorld provides optimistic outlook for 2016
On February 1, Solarworld published its preliminary business figures for 2015 and provided an optimistic outlook for 2016. Industry expert and Smart Solar Consulting CEO Götz Fischbeck delivers his analysis on SolarWorlds immediate upturn in fortunes and outlook.
Moody's: green bonds could top $50bn this year on post-COP21 surge
Ratings agency expects momentum from the Paris Agreement to motivate additional and repeat issuance of green bonds on a global scale, building on dramatic spike recorded in Q4 2015.
US: Landmark Dividend snaps up real estate home to 238 MW of installed renewables
Real estate investor in California has finalized acquisition of 3,500 acres of land across the state and, in doing so, has added 238 MW of existing clean energy capacity to its portfolio.
Panasonics solar PV sales suffer from Japanese market weakness
Panasonic reports a slight decrease in sales and a sharper fall in profitability in its Eco Solutions business, which it blames on slowing domestic demand for its solar PV solutions and other products.
U.S. Senators move to preserve solar net metering through energy bill amendment
The bill would require state regulators to account for the benefits of distributed solar before changing net metering valuations, and would prevent the sort of retroactive changes that Nevada has imposed.
