The pv magazine weekly news digest
Gigawatts a-go-go this week as Turkey, Algeria and Vietnam all toy with those magical GWs, while in more mature markets German storage figures provided reasons for optimism and Blattner Energy took the top spot for U.S. EPCs.
SMA announces “major hiring push” in California, U.S. Northeast
The inverter giant’s expansion plans are a response to what it says are favorable market conditions. In addition, the company is introducing new products to the U.S. market, including solutions for battery storage.
“Skinny Budget” nukes U.S. renewable energy research
President Trump’s Department of Energy hit list includes advanced energy research, loan guarantees and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Turkey to announce new tender for 1 GW of solar this summer
Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Berat Albayrak, announced that Turkey will hold a new tender for 1 GW of solar PV and 1 GW of wind power systems this summer.
Elon Musk has turned Australia’s energy debate on its head
It took a couple of tweets, and at least one one-hour long phone call, but it seems pretty clear that Tesla founder, CEO and billionaire Elon Musk has helped turn the debate around energy policy in Australia on its head.
Europe’s largest bifacial installation under construction in the Netherlands
PV equipment supplier Tempress has announced the beginning of construction on a 400 kW installation close to its headquarters in the Netherlands, which will be the largest in Europe to feature glass-glass bifacial modules.
South Africa’s PV capacity reaches 1.47 GW, new PV installations for 2016 total 509 MW
The South African solar market registered 509 MW of new PV installations in 2016. The country’s cumulative PV capacity reached 1.47 GW as of the end of December. Meanwhile, the price of solar power has dropped significantly over the past five years.
Four more Chinese solar manufacturers withdraw from minimum price agreement
Jetion Solar, Hareon Solar and GCL Technology requested to withdraw from the minimum price agreement in October. The three companies, as well as Talesun Solar, are now excluded by Brussels from the undertaking.
Solar demand is boosting silver prices, says Silver Institute
Two different reports highlight how PV demand is currently improving silver’s industrial offtake. The Silver Institute says that prices have increased 9% since the beginning of this year, while ETF Securities says that mining capital expenditure and investments are declining, and that this could further weigh on silver supply.
United PV forms investment tie-up
Wholly owned group subsidiary Zhaolian Lvyi has agreed to set up a partnership with China Zheyin Synergy Capital Management to invest in companies that are building solar, wind, hydropower and biomass projects.
