SolarCity to provide dispatchable power from utility-scale solar in Hawaii
Utility KIUC has signed a contract to buy electricity from an integrated solar and storage system that SolarCity will build on Kaua’i. The system will provide power on demand to meet evening peak on the island’s grid.
Soltec to open a new tracker factory in Brazil
The new facility is part of a wave of investment in solar manufacturing in Brazil, and will be used to supply Latin America’s booming solar market.
Flextronics to buy NEXTracker
Four months after NEXTracker chose Flextronics to make its single-axis trackers, the contract manufacturer has entered into a deal to buy the company.
Australia: CEFC to tip another AUD$250 million into large scale solar projects
Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation is to tip another AUD$250 million of financing into large scale solar projects, as part of a co-ordinated drive among government agencies to build up to 10 major projects and drive down the cost of large scale solar.
Strong Q2 numbers show the increasing competitiveness of U.S. solar
A record 5.3 GW of PV under construction in the United States reflects solar PV’s increasing ability to compete with conventional power on price.
Dyesol claims perovskite stability breakthrough
Australian organic PV and perovskite solar cell (PSC) developer Dyesol claims to have made a significant breakthrough in perovskite stability for solar applications. The company claims to have produced 1cm squared perovskite cells, at around 10% conversion efficiency, which can with stand accelerated degradation testing for over 1000 hours.
Canadian Solar receives $165m loan from Santander for Mustang solar plant
Spanish bank agrees lending and tax equity bridge loan for Recurrent Energy, California subsidiary of Canadian Solar involved in the creation of the 100 MW Mustang solar project.
Martifer Solar grows Italian O&M portfolio by 11.5 MW
The Portuguese solar project developer augments O&M business in Italy with deal to service 14 solar PV plants owned by Green Utility; global O&M portfolio reaches 600 MW.
Enphase to debut AC battery Down Under
U.S. microinverter supplier Enphase has selected Australia to launch its new AC Battery product. The Australian PV market has presumably been selected because of its high levels of residential PV penetration, falling feed in rates for solar electricity, feed in limitations in some states, and an expected wave of consumers looking for more value from their PV array as highly subsidized historic FITs expire.
Mexico to award longer PPAs under energy auctions, specific scheme for renewables
The rules for the electricity market published on Tuesday establish longer PPAs for projects awarded in auctions. The first energy tender is expected this year. The electricity market starts to operate at the beginning of next year.
