Markets & Policy

Chinese solar giant JA Solar has secured $90 million credit line from the Bank of Communications of China. The state-backed loan, aimed at encouraging solar, was offered two days ahead of the EU anti-subsidy decision.

Goldpoly subsidiary China Solar Power Group has acquired a further 300 MW of solar projects as part of its 2 GW acquisition deal with developer Zhongli Talesun Solar.

Scientists in Switzerland have taken a major step in improving the stability of dye-sensitized solar cells by replacing iodine-based electron transport systems with cobalt, which better protects cells from long-term degradation.

The beleaguered German company’s remaining noteholders today backed restructuring plans which now have to win approval at tomorrow’s extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.

The publication of the EU acceptance of Chinese undertakings on minimum prices for solar products was predictably light on detail. The list of participating manufacturers in the trade agreement is more or less comprehensive.

The chief operating officer of Gehrlicher Solar says the EU-China agreement “is of no use to anyone” but nevertheless welcomes an end to the dispute-related uncertainty.

Japan’s Marubeni is set to acquire a 25% share in Ireland’s Mainstream Renewable Power following the EUR 100 million investment. If approved by shareholders, the deal would accelerate Mainstream’s key global projects.

The falling price of solar modules may lead to an increase in rooftop photovoltaic installations in Brazil, which is initially targeting 1.4 GW of solar by 2022.

SolarWorld’s planned debt to equity swap was waved through by creditors on Monday. A second group of noteholders vote on Tuesday ahead of an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday.

The EC has published details on the negotiated minimum import price it approved on Friday that settled the trade dispute over Chinese modules and cells, but several questions remain unanswered.