United Nations provides more funding for solar in Yemen
Solar energy is expanding at a fast pace in the Middle East, including in Yemen, a country which has been plagued by conflict since 2015. Now the United Nations International Development Association (IDA) is injecting another US$50 million to provide urban communities with solar power.
Dutch transmission system operators make room for more solar
Netherlands-based TenneT and Enexis are implementing a series of measures to prepare their networks for more solar power in the regions of Groningen and North Drenthe.
Hanwha Q Cells shuts down wafer production in China
The company’s wafer factory in China was closed in the fourth quarter of 2017. Hanwha Q Cells, however, intends to further produce wafers at its new factory in Turkey.
Cuba introduces net metering for solar, renewables
According to local association, Cubasolar, the Cuban government introduced Law No. 345 at the end of March. The new rules will come into force after their publication in the country’s official journal.
Ukraine’s operational solar capacity reaches 841 MW
According to new provisional numbers released by the Ukrainian government, around 100 MW of new solar PV power stations were connected to the country’s grid in the first quarter of 2018.
Sweden increases 2018 solar budget by another $20 million
Solar rebates were increased, from covering 20% of the cost of buying and installing a rooftop PV system, to 30%, starting from last January. Overall, the Swedish government will grant around US$80 million in incentives this year.
France preps tender for 300 MW PV plant aimed at to-be-decommissioned nuclear site
The giant solar plant is expected to improve power supply in the department of Haut-Rhin, where the country’s oldest nuclear power plant, located in Fessenheim, on the border with Germany, will be closed by 2020.
Indian government initiates anti-dumping investigation for the imports of EVA film for PV modules
RenewSys India has submitted a petition to the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties for the imposition of anti-dumping duties on imports of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate sheets for solar modules from China PR, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Thailand. Evidence of dumping has been found.
IEA PVPS: Slow growth without China
In recent years, the International Energy Agency has consistently been far too conservative in its renewables forecasts. For the last year, it reported solar growth of almost 100 GW. It said, however, that if China were excluded from this balance sheet, growth would be relatively low.
EkoRE plans 1 GW vertically integrated PV factory in Turkey
The Turkish solar company is planning to set up the manufacturing facility in the Bor Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ) of Niğde, in Central Anatolia. After the project was accepted under a special incentive program by the Turkish government this week, EkoRE is now seeking investors.
