Markets & Policy

Japanese finance and leasing company, Orix has said it aims to invest around US$872 million in installing 550 MW of solar in Japan in the next two years. This would take its cumulative capacity to 900 MW, thus achieving targets outlined in 2014.

The California-based distributed energy storage developer has secured Series C funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and four other public and private investors.

The Italian clean energy developer posts total revenue for 2015 of EUR 3bn, which mirrors 2014 performance; net installed capacity of clean energy reaches 10.5 GW, a 9% increase.

With its lofty plans to build Australia’s biggest coal project facing delays, the Indian mining group is turning to solar and is looking to partner with international companies in developing clean energy in the states of Queensland and South Australia.

The German firm’s Sunmodule Bisun glass-glass module, which uses bifacial cells based on PERC technology, to be presented at forthcoming exhibition in Frankfurt; modular SunPac LiOn battery also to be unveiled.

Speaking at the India-Australia Energy Dialogue in Brisbane, Indian Power Minister Piyush Goyal said feed-in tariffs could be cut by a further 10%. At the same time, Goyal is exploring ways of encouraging India’s farmers to start their own solar projects.

The release of state-level U.S. solar employment information shows rapid growth in a number of states but also the danger of layoffs due to policy changes.

Rules for the second solicitation for renewable energy power plants in El Salvador have been published. 100 MW will be set aside for solar PV projects. The projects awarded should enter into service in 2019.

Japanese cabinet approves changes to clean energy incentive program that will include the introduction of a solar auction scheme from April next year, based on recommendations outlined by METI.

Interest in solar auctions continue to wane in India in the face of reduced tariffs. In Maharashtra, a major tender failed to attract enough bids and it will now be held anew.