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.
Manz, Singulus report sales increases for 2018
The two German PV equipment suppliers registered revenue increases last year and both expect positive business development in 2019.
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.
Astronergy closes German module factory
The Chinese manufacturer first announced plans to close its manufacturing facility in Frankfurt (Oder) at the beginning of this year. About 40 people who worked at the factory will now shift over to a transfer company.
Germany deployed 1 GW of solar in first two months of 2019
Approximately 420 MW of solar power was newly installed in February. The strong growth for the first two months of the year was mainly due to the FIT cuts for commercial PV projects.
North Macedonia issues tender for first large-scale PV plant
North Macedonia’s state-owned electric utility, ELEM, is tendering a 10 MW project which is being partly financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The facility will be adjacent to Macedonia’s second thermal power plant, which produces around 10% of the country’s electricity.
