Customer turns owner: QSTec revealed as centrotherm investor
Centrotherm customer Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) is the foreign investor behind Solarpark Blautal, which has secured an 80% stake in German PV production equipment supplier centrotherm. Solarpark Blautal, in which centrotherm founder Robert M. Hartung is also an investor, inked a contract to purchase an 80% stake in centrotherm in December 2015.
The pv magazine weekly news digest
2016 begins with an egalitarian slant as solar markets of all shapes, sizes and regions garner attention, much of it extremely positive.
Skytron partners with Strata Solar in the United States
The North Carolina-based PV developer plans to equip more than 1.4 GW of solar PV with Skytron’s monitoring systems by the middle of this year, including both retrofits and newly built plants.
Tax exemptions for solar components introduced in Brazil's legislature
A legislative committee has approved the introduction of exemptions to the IPI, PIS, Pasep and Cofins taxes for certain components of solar PV installations in the 8322/14 bill.
US renewable energy mandates bring down fossil fuel use, power costs
A new report by the U.S. government’s NREL and Berkeley Lab finds a 3.6% reduction in fossil fuel generation and up to US$3.9 billion in net savings for electricity customers in 2013, as well as reduced water use and the creation of 200,000 jobs.
Nevada: SolarCity announces 550 job losses, closes training center
Just over a week after Nevadas Public Utilities Commission took the decision to scrap retail-rate net metering, SolarCity has announced 550 jobs will go in the U.S. state. The rooftop solar PV installer has also closed its training center in West Las Vegas.
GCL looking to raise $748 million
The GCL Group has said it is looking to raise around HK$5.8 billion (approx. US$748.2 million) by way of two rights issues. The funds will go towards reducing company indebtedness and stimulating business development, particularly in the solar farm segment.
RES announces £1 million UK energy storage project
Renewable Energy Systems (RES) has announced it will be working on a 640 kWh energy storage system in Somerset, the U.K. The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has applauded the news, stating the country is set to see considerable storage growth in 2016. Government policies are currently a barrier, however.
SunEdison to raise $725 million, pay off more debt
SunEdison Inc. has announced a further action to raise capital and remove debt. Under a Second Lien Facility, the renewable energy giant will raise US$725 million, while a series of exchange agreements with certain note holders will see a reduction of $738 million in debt.
Little comfort in preliminary review of US duties on Chinese solar cells
Preliminary rulings in the second administrative reviews of 2012 anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on PV cells from China suggest lower rates, but experience from the first review gives no cause to celebrate yet.
