First Solar Q4 earnings more than double, ahead of red ink in Q1
Thanks to the completion of several large-scale projects at the end of last year, leading thin-film module maker First Solar saw fourth-quarter earnings more than double to $1.89 per share compared with the third quarter on 13% higher net sales totaling just over $1 billion.
Jordan’s round two tender applicants announced
Jordan has impressed with its commitment to include a sizeable amount of solar PV power in its energy mix. The country aims to generate 10% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, including 600 MW of installed solar PV.
Analysts give First Solar-SunPower yieldco deal thumbs-up
Deutsche Bank Market Research has praised First Solar and SunPower’s newly announced yieldco joint venture, calling it “probably the best strategy for both companies.”
State government in Nigeria begins ambitious off-grid plan
Collaboration with U.K. to bring off-grid solar to hundreds and schools and hospitals in Lagos region.
juwi to develop and run 10.6 MW plant in Australia
Solar company to install hybrid plant for major mine in west of country.
BASF, Toda Kogyo Corp. launch battery materials joint venture
The new joint subsidiary of the German and Japanese chemical giants will specialize in cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
PV Expo: Residential system solutions on display
Complete residential power solutions were on display on the first day of the 8th PV Expo trade show and exhibition currently underway in Tokyo. Providing backup power has been a major driver of the trend, which, while small in terms of market volume, offers suppliers healthy returns.
Germany launches new solar farm incentive scheme
The Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency) has published details of its first ever competitive tender process for large-scale ground-mounted solar PV systems.
Energy Union: Italy couples with France, Austria, Slovenia
This is “another significant step towards an integrated European power market,” says Italian transmission grid operator Terna. In the coming months, the country will connect with Switzerland and Greece.
REC post $180m in Q4 revenue, extends US supply deal with Sunrun
The Norwegian solar group saw stronger sales in Europe and the U.S., which boosted module sales by 18.5% over the previous quarter. The company also extended its existing supply deal Stateside with residential solar group Sunrun.
