Enel begins construction on 127 MW of PV in Spain
Construction has begun on three solar plants in the Extremadura region, with a total capacity of 127 MW. The projects – expected to be in operation by the end of 2019 – were awarded to Enel in Spain’s third renewables auction, and involve a total investment of close to €100 million.
REC Silicon posts loss for second quarter running amid poly market slump
The Norwegian polysilicon producer posted an EBITDA loss of $6.1 million for the third quarter of 2018, as it continues to struggle with low demand and prices. Revenue for the company’s solar materials segment fell almost 70% on the previous quarter.
Yingli backs down in $9.5m unsettled notes case
The struggling Chinese manufacturer has withdrawn its appeal against a Chinese court decision it must repay medium term notes it failed to honor in 2015 and 2016. Yingli is struggling to stay afloat after a series of disastrous financial updates.
Australia unveils another big battery
The 30 MW/30 MWh Ballarat Battery Energy Storage System, the first big battery brought online in the state of Victoria, has been officially commissioned by the Victorian Labor government, as the first of the two grid-scale batteries that will provide support to the state’s grid by the start of this summer Down Under.
Northvolt to open battery assembly plant in Poland
Swedish battery supplier Northvolt has announced plans for a manufacturing plant in Gdansk, Poland. The company says that the plant will have an initial capacity of 10,000 battery modules per year and will begin production in 2019.
Oil company’s lubricant factory goes 100% solar in Dubai
Dubai’s ENOC announced it has completed the construction of a rooftop solar array on its lubricants manufacturing plant in Dubai. The array can cover the complete power demand of the factory. This is not the first time the oil company has turned its head towards solar PV to power its facilities. Already nine petrol stations are equipped with solar canopies for 100% green energy supply, with the company vowing to equip all future petrol stations with such canopies.
Subsidy windfall helps GCL Poly eat into debt mountain
The Chinese manufacturer – which is gambling on a big rebound in global appetite for the raw material for PV panels materializing soon – will devote all of its $143m solar subsidy income to paying off a daunting amount of borrowing.
Taiwan brings first phase of island’s largest PV plant online
14 MW of new solar capacity began feeding energy into Taiwan’s grid this week, as the first phase of a planned 100 MW facility being built by the island’s utility Taipower.
The reasons India’s 10 GW solar tender will not attract big developers
Big players such as Acme, ReNew, Adani, Azure, Hero Future and Aditya Birla Solar are likely to stay away from procurement which requires 3 GW annual manufacturing commitment, says industry insider Gopal Lal Somani.
Fears UK autumn budget could see a coal renaissance
Analysts have released a report which examines multiple carbon pricing scenarios, and their effect on UK power bills, renewables and the carbon budget. The UK’s Carbon Price Support could be lowered in the autumn budget next week, putting the nation further off course on its carbon budget. A high CPS would foster renewables, without driving electricity bills up.
