Japan’s NPC posts 35.3% revenue growth for fiscal 2018
The Japanese equipment provider said its machinery business for the PV industry accounted for almost all of its sales in the latest fiscal year. It expects an increase in both revenue and profits in current fiscal year.
Bpifrance, Tikehau invest €150 million in Greenyellow
Upon completion of the transaction, the French national development bank and the asset manager will hold a 24% joint stake in GreenYellow. Funds will be used to help the Groupe Casino subsidiary accelerate its development phase.
Swiss research group develops methylammonium-free perovskite cells
The organic methylammonium (MA) molecules in the cell were replaced with inorganic elements such as rubidium and cesium. The planar perovskite cells resulting from the research have an efficiency of more than 20%.
Niger streamlines 20 MW solar project at diesel-fueled thermal plant
The solar plant has been declared a project of strategic interest to fast-track construction. It will be located at the 100 MW Gorou Banda thermal power station commissioned 18 months ago.
Swedish PV market set for more growth
Although provisional statistics indicated the country had 230 MW of PV capacity at the end of last year, a new report reveals solar growth in 2017 was larger than expected – at 117.6 MW – and that cumulative installed capacity surpassed 300 MW.
Another solar PPA announced in Spain
Energy company Iberdrola will supply power to telecoms business Euskatel. The electricity will be generated by the 391 MW Núñez de Balboa solar plant the company is building in southern Spain, for which Iberdrola secured a first PPA last summer.
Micro and mini-grids to bring power to Indonesia’s off-grid communities
The government wants to help the provinces of eastern Indonesia – in particular Papua, which has the lowest electrification rate in the country. Policymakers are in talks with the Asian Development Bank and seeking advice for implementation.
Price of solar keeps falling in Lebanon
According to a report from the United Nations Development Programme, the turnkey price for solar in the nation declined by around 17.4% between 2016 and 2017 – and by 79% over the last seven years. By the end of last year, cumulative installed Lebanese PV capacity reached 35.4 MW.
Uzbekistan’s steeplechase towards renewable energy
French oil group Total has reached agreement with national utility Uzbekenergo to build a large-scale PV plant in Samarkand province. However, construction on a 100 MW project by China’s Syngyes has been suspended.
Spain may introduce additional measures to support self-consumption
A few days after the Spanish government introduced new rules for self-consumption and canceled the solar tax, the Spanish Parliament is now reviewing new provisions to reduce the time frame of the registration for a project under the self-consumption regime, while also simplifying bureaucratic procedures.
