Engie acquires Sungevity’s European unit
The French energy giant made another move to expand its presence in the solar sector. Sungevity filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States in mid-March.
Italy: study predicts deployment of additional 2.3 GW of PV capacity by 2020
A report published by the Energy and Strategy Group at the Polytechnic University of Milan forecasts that a further 4.4 GW of renewable energy generation capacity could be installed in Italy in the period 2017-2020. Solar and wind are expected to have the largest share.
Portugal: renewable energy sector wants first auction for large-scale solar and wind
Portugal’s renewable energy association Apren said that Spain has paved the way for further development of renewables on the Iberian Peninsula with its recent 3 GW auction, and that a similar tender is needed to revive the country’s solar and wind power sector.
Algeria launches solar energy cluster, names new energy minister
The new solar energy cluster will host small and medium-sized solar enterprises, as well as research institutes and local mining companies. Meanwhile, the Algerian government has named the former CEO of state-owned utility Sonelgaz as energy minister.
Nova Power to build 25 MW solar plant in Ivory Coast
The Moroccan developer will construct the plant as an Independent Power Producer (IPP). The facility will be located in the north of the country.
Spain to launch another 3 GW renewable energy auction before the summer
In the auction, which will be open to wind and PV power projects, all the projects not chosen in the 3 GW auction held two weeks ago will likely have another chance to compete.
Armenia’s first module factory expected to start production by the end of June
Modules manufactured at the facility will be sold under the brand Solaron. The facility will be owned and operated by local company Profpanel LLC.
Trump budget guts solar research at NREL and Berkeley (14 essential documents embedded)
The president’s federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018 includes the expected cuts to renewable energy within the DOE’s walls, but the cuts to prominent national labs – including the elimination of energy-storage research funding at both – could have unforeseen long-term effects on the industry.
TEP to buy solar power at under 3 cents per kWh
The Arizona utility has signed a 20-year contract to buy electricity from a 100 MW plant at this new record low price.
Hevel commissions 25 MW solar facility in Russia’s Orenbung region
The project was selected in the first round of Russia’s renewable energy tender for large-scale power plants.
