IDB loan to beef up Honduras renewables sectors
Inter-American Development Bank to loan $40 million to boost the Honduran electricity sector, specifically to support a reform process anchored in renewable energy.
Japan edges closer to solar auction introduction
Committee of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) concludes meeting discussing the introduction of an auction process for large-scale solar projects. System likely to begin in FY 2017.
Solar for oil: the ITC set to roll on
In what has been described as a sweeping bill to keep the cogs of the U.S. government turning, legislation has been introduced to Congress in which an extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit has been included. Tacked onto the miscellaneous section of the legislation, the bill would see the ITC maintained at 30% through to 2020, and then stepped down in a measured fashion in the following years.
Trina Solar sets efficiency record with c-Si cell
Trina Solar has announced a new efficiency record of 22.13% for its p-type mono-crystalline silicon solar cell.
SunPower raises $400 million in debenture offer
The California-based company plans to use net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including pursuing its HoldCo and YieldCo strategies, capital expenditures, lowering debt and potential acquisitions.
BNEF: ITC extension may lead to more pressure on net metering
With an appropriation bill including an extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) currently before the U.S. Congress, Bloomberg New Energy Finance notes that it may result in utilities putting more pressure on net metering regimes around the country.
Meyer Burger's heterojunction projects on the rise
The Swiss engineering group has announced its second heterojunction-based module installation this year. A number of the company’s customers have also commissioned heterojunction cell production lines.
Meyer Burger considers solar module factory in Brazilian state of Piaui
The equipment manufacturer discussed details of an agreement with the government of Piaui for a solar factory.
460 MW of solar PV pre-approved in Russian solicitation
Projects are expected to be awarded in the next few weeks under the third annual auction for renewables. However, little PV has been built in Russia to date.
Brazil launches incentive program for distributed generation
Including tax incentives for installations, the program contemplates the sale of surplus electricity on the wholesale market and provides BNDES funding for initiatives. The government expects up to 23.5 GW of installations, mostly solar PV, by 2030.
