Solar

German inverter maker SMA has joined forces with China’s BYD after losing US market share to Solaredge, which this year linked up with Kostal to optimize communication interfaces between inverters and storage applications.

As the currency continued to fall today, analysts are concerned developers will see any savings from lower module prices disappear, and lenders may get nervy, putting India’s national solar target in grave doubt.

Azure Power has raised the capital since June 30th, and says it is “the largest amount of financing raised by a solar power company in India during this period”. Azure says the fund leaves it well positioned to deliver a 2 GW project pipeline.

The PV business of the Japanese corporation is again the villain, as the conglomerate’s Life and Environment Group posts the only first-half business loss among otherwise impressive figures. The solar division has issued a profit warning.

Solar trade lobby group the STA has voiced its disapproval after Chancellor Philip Hammond yesterday announced plans to ease the tax burden on workers but had nothing to offer an industry which has seen a 95% fall in installations in three years.

The South Australian government has inaugurated its landmark $100 million Home Battery Scheme, which will subsidize the cost of buying a home energy storage system for up to 40,000 South Australian households. A nine-week priority period has been given to locally made battery systems, with Germany’s sonnen as the first provider to enjoy this benefit.

Chinese polysilicon producer GCL-Poly Energy Holdings yesterday announced plans to increase the production capacity of its new factory, currently under construction in Xinjiang, China, to 60,000 metric tonnes (MT) per year. Accordingly, the company expects total investment in the project to increase to around $862 million.

French energy giant EDF has acquired a 50% stake in off-grid developer BBOXX’s operation in Togo. The two will work together to boost access to electricity in the West African country, according to EDF, and the partnership is the first step, with plans to extend cooperation to more countries in Africa.

Despite political hurdles in key markets including China, India and Japan, Asia remains highly active. This year, 59 GW of solar is expected to be installed and due to further system price declines, a phase-out of subsidy schemes can be offset.

Poly manufacturer and developer raises another $44m to pay down its huge debt pile after selling an 80% stake in two solar projects in its homeland.