Becky Beetz
PV polysilicon utilization rates drop to under 70%
Average quarterly polysilicon plant utilization rates have fallen below 70% in the past six months, according to NPD Solarbuzz. While this has put many “aggressive” capacity expansions on hold, supply rationalization is helping to stabilize prices.
AEG secures Eastern European solar contract worth 240 MW
AEG Power Solutions has secured an equipment contract with an unnamed Western European EPC contractor for nine solar projects totaling 240 MW in Eastern Europe.
Ex-Im Bank approves loan guarantee for Mexico PV project
U.S.-based Ex-Im Bank has approved a US$780,000 loan guarantee for a 500 kW photovoltaic rooftop project in Mexico. When complete, the facility is expected to be one of the largest of its kind in the country.
Centrotherm looks forward to terminating insolvency proceedings
Centrotherm photovoltaics AGs insolvency plan has been approved, meaning the German company can now look forward to terminating its insolvency proceedings, pending final confirmation.
Approval for 2 PV plants in Ecuador
Atlantic Wind & Solar and Atlantic Energy Ecuador have received approval from the National Electricity Council of Ecuador (CONELEC) for the installation of two photovoltaic plants worth 58.43 MW.
SiC Processing in self-administration
SiC Processing GmbH’s request to file for self-administrative insolvency has been accepted by the district court in Germany’s Amberg. Management now has three months to design a restructuring plan.
Tenesol starts work on 2 PV plants in South Africa
Photovoltaic activity is heating up in South Africa. The latest news sees Tenesol undertaking work on two projects worth 33 MW in the Northern Cape Province.
JinkoSolar plans 200 MW PV plant in China
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with state-owned Jinchuan Group Co., Ltd, under which it will develop a 200 MW photovoltaic plant in Chinas Jinchang, Gansu Province.
2012 utility-scale PV installations top 8.5 GW
According to the latest figures from Wiki-Solar, utility-scale photovoltaic installations have reached 8.5 GW this year, thus more than doubling the 2.3 GW recorded in 2011.
Renewable energy investment to fall in 2012; emerging markets rule the roost
Indications are that renewable energy investments will fall in 2012 for the first time in 8 years. However, the news is not all bad, says Ernst & Young, with continuing capacity additions and “booming” emerging market activity. In particular, the South African and MENA regions are displaying strong growth.
