France supports South Africa grid improvement with $477 million
The French Development Agency (AFD) has provided South Africa’s power utility Eskom with a ZAR 6 billion ($477.7 million) credit facility. Eskom, which has delayed the development of several large-scale PV projects over the past years due to grid issues, will use the funds to improve its network and integrate more renewable energy power.
PV in Slovakia is kept alive by residential segment
Slovakia has seen small amounts of PV installed over the past three years. In 2016, however, the market showed the first signs of a recovery led by the residential segment. The country reached 545 MW of installed PV power at the end of 2016.
Enphase introduces new ‘game-changing’ microinverters to U.S. market
The Enphase IQ microinverter is around 30% lighter than previous iterations and will serve to usher in Enphase Energized AC Modules to the U.S. residential solar sector.
Analysis: 1 GW Konya deal in Turkey could mark beginning of new manufacturing landscape
Götz Fischbeck, CEO of Smart Solar Consulting, discusses some key questions that have arisen from the recent 1 GW Konya solar tender, which was won by a Hanwha Q Cells-Kalyon Enerji joint venture at a price of $0.0699/kWh.
GreenWish Partners taps into Nigeria’s solar potential with $280m investment
The Paris-based private renewable power producer focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa has announced it is to invest $280 million in new PV power plants in Nigeria.
Record shipments, lower revenue: Canadian Solar 2016 financials reveal impact of lower module ASPs
The Chinese solar company shipped 5,232 MW in 2016 but saw its revenue fall from $3.47bn in 2015 to $2.85bn last year as the global price squeeze on solar modules hit the firm’s bottom line.
Dominion to build two PV plants totaling 81 MW in South Carolina
The 71 MW project in Jasper County will be joined by a 10 MW project, both of which the power company plans to complete by the end of the year.
German government releases draft regulation for tenants’ solar power supply
The German federal government has unveiled its proposal to support solar power installation for tenants living in rented housing (Mietestrom). The support will be capped at 500 MW total installed capacity per year, and limited to PV systems up to 100 kW.
Solarwatt launches modular storage system
Germany’s Solarwatt has launched a fully-modular battery storage system that it claims will be suitable for installations ranging in scale from small residential up to commercial and industrial installations.
Sweden’s plan to reduce tax for self-consumption by 98% moves forward
The Swedish government is proposing a 98% reduction to the tax on electricity generated by renewable energy power generators over 255 kW. The new rules were submitted to local Parliament and, if approved, would come into force by January 2018 at the latest.
