UNDP issues tender for 10.5 MW of solar in Gambia
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is seeking proposals for two IPP solar projects with capacities of 7 MW and 3.5 MW, with the larger plant to host some storage capacity. The projects will be awarded PPAs with the Gambia National Water & Electricity Company (NAWEC).
Italian utility Acea announces 150 MW solar plan
The Rome-based power and water utility said it plans to build new projects and acquire existing facilities in the secondary market. The move is part of the company’s €4 billion investment plan for the 2019-22 period.
Another giant solar project under development in France
French renewables developer Arkolia Energies is planning to build a 313 MW solar power project near Larzac, in southern France. The facility should be connected to a power-to-gas plant, but the project has already raised concerns among locals and environmentalist activists, which have started a petition on Avaaz to prevent its construction.
Germany: renewables covered 54% of net power production in March
Germany set a new record in March as more than half of its power was generated from wind, PV and other renewables. In the first quarter, renewables accounted for 45.4% of net electricity generation, according to Energy Charts from Fraunhofer ISE.
Solar Frontier becomes a unit of Idemitsu
The Japanese CIS solar module maker has been acquired — along with its parent company, Showa Shell Sekiyu — through a share exchange by Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu. The transaction was announced in mid-October, while the preliminary agreement was signed in July.
Global cumulative PV capacity tops 480 GW, IRENA says
New global PV additions reached 94.2 GW in 2018, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Asia is the region with the largest share of cumulative PV capacity, with around 274.6 GW, followed by Europe and North America with 119.3 GW and 55.3 GW, respectively.
ML System to build BIPV module factory in Poland
The company has received financial support of PLN 50 million ($13 million) for the project from the Polish national development bank. The facility will produce BIPV cells and panels based on ML System’s quantum dots technology.
India slaps anti-dumping duties on solar EVA sheets
India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGTR) has concluded that duties ranging from $537 to $1,559/metric ton will be needed to offset the impact of imports of solar ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) sheets from China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. The harshest duty — $1,559/metric ton (MT) — has been imposed on sheets supplied by all Saudi manufacturers other than Saudi Specialized Products.
Hevel partners with Kyrgyz monocrystalline wafer manufacturer Astra
The agreement includes the possibility of establishing an industrial cluster for solar module manufacturing, as well as industrial and financial cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union.
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.
