Swedish fund launches takeover bid for Solarpack
Swedish venture capital fund EQT has launched an offer for the Spanish solar developer at €26.50 per share.
Organic solar cell with 18.4% efficiency via new electrode coating
Saudi scientists built the cell’s electrode with a hole-transporting molecule called Br-2PACz and not with the commonly used PEDOT:PSS. It helped improve the photovoltaic cell efficiency by around 0.9%.
France announces results of commercial and industrial PV tender
The French government has selected 329 projects in its latest procurement exercise. Average prices were €77.62/ MWh for large power plants (500 kWp to 8 MWp) and €87.23/MWh for projects below 500 kWp.
Module price increases to moderate PV project returns in India
PV module prices have risen by 15% to 20% over the last four to five months. PV modules account for about 50% to 55% of overall project costs, so such price increases could moderate debt service coverage metrics for developers.
US passes 100 GW of installed solar capacity
Figures from the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) show that utility-scale solar set an installation record in the first quarter, with 3.6 GW of new capacity additions. Texas made up the largest share of this capacity, with more than 1.4 GW.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: New incentives for rooftop PV, TBEA increases stake in Xinte
China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has allocated RMB500 million (US$78.1 million) for the incentive scheme for residential PV in 2021. Chinese electronic engineer TBEA is set to raise its controlling stake in polysilicon manufacturer Xinte Energy as it attempts to fund a planned 100,000-tons-per-year fab in Inner Mongolia.
The Hydrogen Stream: An electrolyzer factory in France, a 100 MW electrolyzer in Portugal
Belgian mechanical engineering group John Cockerill wants to set up its electrolyzer gigafactory for the production of green hydrogen in northeastern France. Galp Energia plans to install a 100-megawatt electrolyzer to power its refinery in Sines, Portugal, with green hydrogen, by 2025.
French government finances 150 MW solar project in Tanzania with €130m
The solar facility is intended at reducing the country’s dependency on hydropower, especially during drought periods.
Taiwan maintains feed-in tariffs for PV unchanged
The move is intended at helping the solar sector recover from the delays caused by the Covid-19 crisis. The Taiwanese government has also granted a three-month grace period for project completion.
Colombia launches second renewables auction
Projects not exceeding 5 MW in size will be entitled to participate in the procurement exercise. Selected developers will be granted a 15-year PPA and will have to start commercial operation on January 1, 2023.
