Markets & Policy

With evidence emerging that China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is considering solar and wind tariffs by 5.5 – 6%, Deutsche Bank has signaled that it is currently revising its PV demand forecasts for the market for 2015/16. Deutsche Bank has described the timing of the potential cuts as “somewhat surprising.”

Solar firm signs PPA with Bloomberg for the delivery of a 2.9 MW solar system to offset 5% of the emissions from the company’s Rockland County, New York-based data center; agreement will save more than $2 million.

Hanwha Q Cells and Austin Energy have signed a 25-year power contract for the project, as part of 450 MW of solar contracts recently approved by Austin’s City Council.

The 12 MW-AC solar project will meet 20% of the island’s demand during daytime hours, and incorporates a 6 MW battery storage system.

U.S. thin film producers and project developer First Solar has recorded quarterly sales of $1.3 billion for Q3 2015. With its book-to-bill ratio of one-to-one, the company has expressed cautious optimism for the U.S. utility scale market after 2016.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at the UN climate talks timed to coincide with proposal by the PM of an alliance between India and hundreds of other sun-rich nations around the globe.

The Japanese electrical firm eyes expansion outside of its domestic market, and sees solar+storage as a strong avenue into the growing U.S. residential solar market.

The property development firm aims to reach 50 MW of installed rooftop solar capacity by January across Thailand, and has created a solar subsidiary to oversee project expansion.

The renewable energy development company holds official groundbreaking for the 137 MW Springbok 1 solar farm, which is located in California’s Kern County, some 70 km north of Los Angeles.

China’s central government is considering scaling back support to the booming PV industry, mainly by reducing subsidies for companies that cover the entire industry chain.