Off-grid solar in Africa gets $224 million World Bank lift
The funds will be used for electrification projects in West Africa and the Sahel to bring electricity to 1.7 million people.
Australia and India helped make up for Chinese solar retreat last year
The world had more than half a terawatt of PV generation capacity at the end of last year as emerging solar markets picked up the slack caused by Beijing’s subsidy about-turn to the tune of a 20% rise in installations outside China.
Tunisia reveals winners of second 70 MW PV tender
The Tunisian government awarded contracts for six 10 MW solar projects in the country’s second solar tender. The tender process was launched last August.
Rise of bifacial lifts profits for the world’s tracker companies
Things are hotting up in the tracker world as the desire to squeeze down the price per Watt of solar power intensifies. And the rise of the trackers is attracting some well-known businesses to buy their way into the field.
Eni uses solar to power oil and gas fields in Pakistan and Tunisia
The Italian energy company has started construction of a 10 MW solar plant at its Bhit gas field in Pakistan and a 5 MW facility at the ADAM oil concession in Tunisia. It has also begun work on a 30 MW solar plant at its industrial site in Sassari, Italy.
Developers in the dark over reported 25% hike in Benban investment costs
The association that represents developers operating at the 1,465 MW solar project in Egypt – due for completion in June – say they have been told nothing about a rumored rise in investment costs caused by more expensive construction materials.
BNEF: Cheap finance is key to PV deployment in the developing world
While solar is lauded as a cheap energy resource in OECD countries, the cost of financing PV projects in developing nations has impeded progress. Development banks and the Clean Technology Fund they finance have played a key role in providing access to cheap financing for clean energy projects in many markets.
Spain’s third interconnection with Morocco could be Europe’s chance for African PV – or a boost for coal
The two nations have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a third power link connecting their electricity systems. The news will again initiate hope for the transfer of solar energy from Africa to Europe, but is that hope justified?
Shell moves to acquire German storage business Sonnen
In May, oil giant Shell invested in German manufacturer Sonnen. Now the 112-year-old company wants to fully acquire the business, subject to Germany’s monopoly authorities. Sonnen said it hopes the deal will accelerate its growth by expanding its market reach and capacity.
The weekend read: The untapped potential of the MENA region
The region’s climate, developing economies and demographic growth are driving increased electricity demand in the Middle East and North Africa. However, as a hub of conventional energy supply, the region has been slow to embrace PV. To capture more of the value chain and deliver the full potential of solar, there are increasing calls for distributed generation deployment to play a bigger role.
