Canada

Shares of Canadian Solar soared earlier this week after U.S. investment firm Lion Point Capital revealed that it had initiated discussions with a number of undisclosed third parties about the possibility of funding the privatization of the solar PV module supplier.

PUC Distribution contracted Fluence to install energy management and storage systems that would allow business in a city in Ontario to reduce high peak-load charges. It is hoped this will reduce costs and help Canada hit its strict carbon emissions mandate.

The Ontario-based solar manufacturer will deploy a 150 MW production line at its manufacturing facility in Toronto, and another 150 MW line at an unspecified location in the United States.

The Quebec-based mining company has received financial support to the tune of $1.4 million from the local government to start a pilot production of 50 MT. The production equipment will be installed at the company’s facility in Montreal at a cost of $6.8 million.

Module manufacturing giant Canadian Solar shipped 1.7 GW of modules in the second quarter of 2018, a 23.7% increase on the previous quarter, according to the company’s latest update. Net revenue, however, fell more than 50% quarter-on-quarter with the company blaming fewer project sales and lower module prices.

Researchers coated bacteria with a semiconductor before application to an anode glass. This process is reportedly cheap and taps energy produced by the bacteria through photosynthesis. Additionally, the researchers state power output is not impeded by overcast skies, making it ideal for northern Europe, Canada, mines and other low-light environments.

Solar rebates granted through the scheme are expected to cover around 30% of the costs of a residential PV project.

The decision was taken by the incoming Ontario premier, Doug Ford. The US$70 million scheme had been conceived to support residential and commercial solar-plus-storage solutions installed under net metering.

Three manufacturers with Canadian module assembly have had no luck in trying to get a preliminary injunction against the Section 201 tariffs.

Canada’s pension fund is the world’s first to establish a Green Bond. The growing acceptance for renewable energy assets from sovereign wealth funds indicates a solid and healthy business climate for renewable energy, and could have positive effects for the industry in the future.