ENGIE to acquire lease-to-own solar company Fenix International
The latest in a series of high profile renewable energy acquisitions for the French energy giant, ENGIE has announced the acquisition of a 100% stake in Fenix International, a U.S. company active in the residential lease-to-own sector in several African countries.
El Salvador to launch solar auction in December or January
In the auction, El Salvador’s energy regulator CNE will select large-scale solar and biogas power projects. Meanwhile, PV is bringing down power tariffs in the country.
KAUST researchers look into lateral heterojunction
A team from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia has published research into heterojunction solar cells using alternative materials to silicon. The researchers hope that the process they developed could simplify the fabrication of solar cells.
Italian researchers use graphene oxide to increase efficiency of perovskite cells
Scientists of the University of Florence claim that graphene-based electron transport layers (ETL) achieve higher carrier injection with respect to most commonly used ETLs.
Ellomay buys 9 MW in Israel
Through this transaction, the Israel-based solar company has raised the capacity of its PV plant portfolio to 39.5 MW.
AustrianSolar begins construction on 98 MW solar park in northern Chile
The PV plant Huatacondo will be located 100 kilometers south of Pozo Almonte, in the Chilean region of Tarapacá.
CEFC provides debt finance for Australia’s first wind+solar+storage array
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation will provide $94 million as the sole debt financier of Australia’s first co-developed wind, solar and storage array. The 60 MW Kennedy Energy Park is being developed by Windlab and Eurus Energy and will combine 43.2 MW in wind capacity, 15 MW of solar PV, and 2 MWh of battery storage.
UK community energy projects: a viable way forward?
Given that the U.K.’s policy support for the solar industry has waned significantly, pv magazine explores whether community energy projects can offer a viable solution for the sector.
EBRD and IFC backing 1.4 GW of Egyptian solar projects
The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development has identified 16 new solar projects in Egypt with a cumulative capacity of 750 MW to receive financing, while International Finance Corp will support development of a further 13 solar parks.
Acciona to deploy 150 MW at Egypt’s Benban solar complex
The Spanish company will build three PV plants in a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi developer Swicorp. The facilities will sell power to local utility EETC under a 25-year PPA.
