Brazil’s BNDES reduces interest rate for loans for large-scale solar from 1.7% to 0.9%
After improving financing conditions for solar and renewable energy projects in upcoming auctions in November, the Brazilian Development Bank has now agreed to considerably reduce the interest rate for loans devoted to projects in the areas of public safety, innovation, environment, solar energy, sanitation, solid waste treatment and professional qualification.
Recent trade conflicts to reduce India’s total solar installed capacity to 6 GW in 2018
According to Bridge to India’s ‘India Solar Compass’ report, new capacity additions in 2017 totaled 9,255 MW, up 94% on 2016. However, Q4 2017 was slow in terms of project commissioning with just 1,503 MW of utility-scale projects commissioned. Moreover, execution costs have increased by around 18% in just six months.
US researchers develop new organic solar cell architecture
A team of scientists based at New York University (NYU)’s Tandon School of Engineering has developed a method of improving the performance of non-fullerene organic solar cells, by introducing a crystallizing agent.
1366 abandons plans for US factory
The innovative wafer maker will be building its first commercial-scale factory overseas.
US energy storage begins to take off
Despite a lackluster Q4, GTM Research predicts that the U.S. energy storage market is going to boom in 2018, driven by both policy support and falling prices.
France: Engie, Suez plan 1 GW of solar at waste recycling, treatment facilities
The French energy giant and the water and waste management solutions provider will initially focus on a 12 MW solar PV project at a storage facility in eastern France.
Japan’s JGC to construct 49 MW PV project in Vietnam
Japanese engineering company, JGC has been awarded a contract for the construction of a 49 MW (AC) power plant in Southern Vietnam. The contract has been signed with Gia Lai Electricity Joint Stock Company, a subsidiary of the TTC Group.
2017 Polish residential PV grew by 81.3 MW
The residential segment saw an increase of 26% in new installations last year, with net metering continuing to drive the market.
Financing closes for Mozambique’s first large-scale PV project
Scatec Solar, alongside Norfund Investments and Electricidade de Mozambique have closed financing and begun construction on the first utility-scale solar plant in Mozambique, a 40 MW project to be located close to the city of Mocuba.
Colombia issues regulation for distributed solar generation
Colombia’s Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission approved the 2018 Resolution CREG 030 last Friday, which regulates how solar PV system owners can sell surplus power to the National Interconnected System under net metering.
