French energy giants keep investing in renewables
Engie has become partner of the solar and hydrogen-propelled catamaran, Energy Observer, while Total has become the founding partner of the Cathay Smart Energy Fund in China.
Colbún acquires First Solar’s 150 MW solar project in northern Chile
The project, Sol de Tarapacá, will be located in the municipality of Pozo Almonte, in Chile’s northern region of Tarapacá.
Vattenfall: “PV will lead the race”
For a long time, the Swedish power utility has primarily focused on hydro and wind power when it comes to renewables. But in recent months, the number of solar PV and storage projects has significantly increased. This was reason enough for pv magazine to talk with Claus Wattendrup, head of Vattenfall’s Solar and Batteries Business Unit, about the utility’s concrete plans.
Italy installed 60 MW of solar in first two months of 2018
Around 60% of the newly installed capacity comes from residential installations, a sign that the market is still being driven by the rooftop business, despite new developments in the large-scale and private PPA segments.
Manz dismisses CFO
A few days after announcing a record turnover and positive EBIT, the German PV equipment provider has now dismissed its CFO, Gunnar Voss von Dahlen, effective immediately. The company said his departure was due to divergent opinions about its strategic direction.
BHEL wins 75 MW solar project in Indian state of Gujarat
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has won an EPC order for a 75 MW solar PV plant, to be installed at the solar park in Charanka, Gujarat. The company has also increased its annual manufacturing capacity to 105 MW for solar cells, and 226 MW for modules.
US flow battery maker ViZn Energy closes shop
ViZn has laid off all of its employees and ceased operations, as the latest in a series of closures and bankruptcies for makers of alternative battery technologies.
SERIS researchers develop new multi-cSi texturing technique
Scientists from the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) have announced the development of a new wet chemical process to allow multi-cSi wafers to be cut with diamond wire saw technology, and subsequently textured to reduce their reflectivity.
Ethiopia’s utility, EEP reveals pre-qualified bidders of 250 MW solar tender
Through the tender, the state-owned power utility of the African country wants to build two PV power plants with a capacity of 125 MW each. The projects are part of a 500 MW solar plan, expected to be implemented via the World Bank’s Scaling Solar program.
The weekend read: Floating on optimism
The past year has been an exciting period for proponents of floating solar. A range of new projects and pilots have been announced across the globe over the past 12 to 14 months, with IHS Markit’s Solar Deal Tracker now listing floating PV installations in 24 countries throughout the world, all in varying stages of development.
