FIT

The 15 year feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar power units with a capacity of up to 250 kW for this year will be maintaned at the same level of that of the past three years.

Following the surprise removal of a grace period for PV rooftop projects last month, China reportedly saw over 500 MW of DG solar grid connected on December 29, after developers worked to secure 2017 FIT rates. Overall, EnergyTrend estimates DG capacity to be over 19 GW in 2017.

Between January and November 2017, new PV installations with a combined capacity of 1,580 MW were connected to the German grid. Cumulative installed PV power in the country reached 42.8 GW.

China is likely to experience another solar PV installation rush in H1 2018, as the June 30 FIT deadline looms, although it will not reach more than 7.2 GW, says EnergyTrend. Q4 is, however, expected to see “hectic” activity topping 20 GW ahead of a December 30 deadline.

The Gunma Aramaki installation is 100km from Tokyo and has now achieved commercial operation via a 20-year PPA with Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings.

Ministry of Economic Affairs will offer a FIT some 9% higher than originally proposed in September in effort to expedite Taiwan’s clean energy goals.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has awarded 140 MW of solar capacity to eight companies across nine locations, with the lowest bid coming in at JPY 17.2 ($0.15)/kWh, according to a local media report.

A slight variation from last auctioning results which had lowest bidding at INR 2.44/kwh.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) today announced the completion of financing for two 50 MW PV projects, to be built as part of the 1.8 GW Benban Solar complex in Egypt’s Aswan province.

After the 20 MW PV project planned in the Central region of Ghana was threatened with a 29% feed in tariff reduction, UK based solar developer PSECC Solar Farms turned to Natcore, with the aim of bringing in higher efficiency technology that would make the project financially viable.