Yingli Solar forms JV for 300 MW solar panel fab in Thailand, its first outside China
Chinese firm’s subsidiary Hainan Yingli New Energy Resource teams with Thailand’s Demeter Power to build and develop 300 MW factory for multicrystalline PV panels, to be sold under Yingli brand name.
U.S. solar industry surpasses 200,000 jobs
The U.S. solar industry added 35,000 jobs from November 2014 to November 2015, its third year of 20% annual growth. Installation makes up more than half of U.S. solar jobs.
Spain's Supreme Court will consider a challenge to the sun tax
The highest court in Spain has declared an administrative appeal by APPA against RD 900/2015 to be legally admissible. This regulation on self-consumption PV systems contains increased charges for these types of systems.
Property deal signed for phase one of planned 1 GW Saudi PV fab
The Al-Afandi Group signs property contract with Saudi Royal Commission to build 55,000 square meter premises in Yanbu; phase one of the solar panel plant will have 120 MW capacity, with 1 GW the final target.
1500-volt systems to account for 9% of utility-scale PV installations in 2016
GTM Researchs latest report expects 1500-volt architecture to take over the utility-scale solar market over the next few years, citing clear balance-of-systems cost advantages.
Corporate funding in solar reached $25.3bn in 2015, finds Mercom Capital
Report finds total corporate funding for the sector slightly below 2014, as were venture capital investments, which amounted to $1.1 billion for 2015.
Customer turns owner: QSTec revealed as centrotherm investor
Centrotherm customer Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) is the foreign investor behind Solarpark Blautal, which has secured an 80% stake in German PV production equipment supplier centrotherm. Solarpark Blautal, in which centrotherm founder Robert M. Hartung is also an investor, inked a contract to purchase an 80% stake in centrotherm in December 2015.
Tax exemptions for solar components introduced in Brazil's legislature
A legislative committee has approved the introduction of exemptions to the IPI, PIS, Pasep and Cofins taxes for certain components of solar PV installations in the 8322/14 bill.
US renewable energy mandates bring down fossil fuel use, power costs
A new report by the U.S. government’s NREL and Berkeley Lab finds a 3.6% reduction in fossil fuel generation and up to US$3.9 billion in net savings for electricity customers in 2013, as well as reduced water use and the creation of 200,000 jobs.
Nevada: SolarCity announces 550 job losses, closes training center
Just over a week after Nevadas Public Utilities Commission took the decision to scrap retail-rate net metering, SolarCity has announced 550 jobs will go in the U.S. state. The rooftop solar PV installer has also closed its training center in West Las Vegas.
