Norway’s Statoil changes name to Equinor to reflect new clean energy strategy
The Norwegian oil company announced its intention to enter the solar energy business in October, when it launched a US$197 million fund dedicated to renewable energies.
KGAL further invests in large-scale PV in southern European countries
The solar plans of the German independent investment and asset manager in Spain, Italy and Portugal are part of a broader plan to further invest in renewables, including wind and hydropower.
BayWa enters Dutch solar market with 2 GW, €159 million deal
The Munich-based company will acquire a 70% stake in a solar PV project pipeline totaling 2 GW in the Netherlands through its renewable energy arm Baywa re. The transaction will have to be approved by antitrust authorities.
India’s NTPC tenders 2.75 GW of solar projects
NTPC Ltd has released two solar tenders totaling 2.75 GW. The first will see 750 MW tendered in the state of Andhra Pradesh, while the second is tendering 2 GW for interstate transmission system (ISTS) PV to be installed anywhere across in India. Out of the Indian government’s 20 GW tender plan for the 2017-18 fiscal year, around 15 GW has already been tendered
Italy’s Maresca Group plans 200 MW of solar in Iran
Following the completion of a 10 MW solar PV plant on the Iranian island of Qeshm, the Italian company is now planning to build another two projects with a capacity of 100 MW each in the country.
Wacker reports €1.07 billion EBIDTA for 2017
The turnover of the Munich-based chemical company increased by 6%. The polysilicon business of Wacker Chemie also continued to increase last year; however, the production halt in the U.S. prevented even stronger growth.
China Smarter Energy acquires 300 MW PV project in China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
The Chinese solar power plant operator has agreed to acquire the projects for around US$13 million in its largest-ever transaction. At the end of November, the company’s PV plant portfolio in China reached 180 MW.
Bahrain issues tender for solar IPP project at landfill site
Developers are invited to submit a concept for proposals for an IPP solar project planned to be located in the Askar landfill site, in the Southern Governate of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Construction begins on Colombia’s second solar park
The 8.8 MW Celsia Solar Bolívar plant will be located in the municipality of Santa Rosa de Lima, in the northern Department of Bolivar. It is part of the 250 MW solar project pipeline of Colombian renewable energy developer, Celsia.
Powerchina plans to invest in solar in Brazilian state of Mato Grosso
The Chinese energy infrastructure developer, which is already building a transmission line in the north of the state, has planned to build several large-scale solar facilities across the region, the first of which is expected to require an investment of over US$300 million.
