VC funding solar decreases, but number of deals rising
According to new research, venture capital (VC) funding in the solar market has decreased in the first quarter (Q1) of 2012, despite the fact the number of deals has grown. The drop has been attributed to a fading appetite for risk. Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, meanwhile, has been strong and the CIGS market is expected to remain attractive.
Tenaska closes financing on 130 MW thin film project
U.S. energy company, Tenaska, has closed commercial financing on its 130 megawatt (MW) Imperial Solar Energy Center South utility photovoltaic project.
L&T commissions 40 MW Indian PV plant
L&T Construction has commissioned a 40 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic power plant in Dhursar Village, Rajasthan, India. It is owned by Reliance Power Limited.
Hyundai Heavy moves into storage business
Hyundai Heavy Industries will partner with Magna E-Car Systems under a joint venture, MAHY E-CELL, to co-develop a successful battery cell and battery pack business. Hyundai Heavy aims to couple its new battery direction with its renewable energies division.
Germany: A rescue plan proposed
Green energy politician, Hans-Josef Fell has requested the government to mitigate the drastic cuts that are being made to the photovoltaics subsidies. German photovoltaic manufacturers are also in the need of support from industry politics.
Dampened support for Greek Project Helios
State Secretary for the Federal Environment Ministry Jürgen Becker at an energy conference in Athens clearly articulated that the support for the development of solar energy in Greece will not come from the EEG.
Brazil's smart grid market to grow
Northeast Group has released a study, Brazil Smart Grid: Market Forecast 2012-2022, stating that smart grid investments in Brazil are set to reach US$36.6 billion by 2022.
Japan: 200 MW plant planned
In what will dwarf all previous photovoltaic installations in the country, the Japan Times has reported that telecommunications pioneer Softbank is planning to build a 200 megawatt (MW) power plant on the northern island of Hokkaido. It is reported that Softbank is negotiating with the Hokkaido Electric Power Company over prices for the electricity.
Lux predicts flat demand and revenue declines
Using at times impassioned language, Lux Research has published a report into the 2012 photovoltaic market, which could serve as a great awakening for the industry. Predicting installed capacity growth of only 400 megawatt (MW) and global revenue declines from US$110 billion in 2011, to US$92 million in 2012, the report investigates solars future, post-subsidies.
Spain: Gehrlicher aims at PV without FITs
Project developer Gehrlicher Solar wants to realise a 250 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic plant in Spain without any feed-in-tariffs or other kind of economic incentives. The generated electricity will be sold at market price.
