Strategic Alliances

German automaker Audi and California-based Alta Devices — a wholly owned subsidiary of troubled Chinese PV group Hanergy Thin Film Power (HTF) — have agreed to collaborate on thin-film solar research, with plans to exhibit a PV-integrated Audi prototype vehicle by the end of this year.

After the 20 MW PV project planned in the Central region of Ghana was threatened with a 29% feed in tariff reduction, UK based solar developer PSECC Solar Farms turned to Natcore, with the aim of bringing in higher efficiency technology that would make the project financially viable.

Canadian solar has announced the sale of an 80% in a 92.5 MW project located in Brazil. The stake is to be acquired by EDF Energies Nouvelles, representing the third deal in a row between the two energy giants.

German based PV systems provider IBC Solar has announced a partnership deal with solar manufacturing giant GCL System Integration Technology. The first modules supplied by GCL are expected to be delivered in September.

At 65.6 million people worldwide, the world’s forcibly displaced population remains at a record high. As these people flee conflicts tearing apart their home, they often face stark options for settlement within their own country or internationally. An estimated 90% of people in refugee camps lack electricity. More must be done to provide energy access to refugees.

The Asian Development Bank has raised INR 3 billion ($46.19 million) through the issuance of rupee-linked green bonds to back the development of 709 MW of solar and wind capacity in six states in India.

The Swiss-headquartered power electronics company is to introduce new 100 kw and 120 kW three-phase string inverters for the C&I and large-scale markets, the new 60 kW TRIO TM and a new addition to its residential UNO-DM-PLUS range.

Net income hit $3.3 million in the 12 months to the end of December, from a net loss of $1.6 million a year earlier, although the Hong Kong-based PV independent power producer recorded a net loss of $8.7 million in the fourth quarter, from $7.4 million in the final three months of 2015.

Canadian Solar is racking up sales in China with another two solar power plants traded for $99.8 million.

Sichuan Yonxiang Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Chinese industrial giants Tongwei, has announced the creation of a joint venture with Longi Green Energy Technology. The joint venture plans to build a new polysilicon production plant in Sichuan Province, China, with an annual capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes.