The expiration of Germany’s energy storage program this December is expected to see market growth contract 13% in 2016, says EuPD Research. This year, up to 16,000 small scale solar+storage systems are forecast to be installed in the country, up from 5,000 two years ago. An end of year rush and a drop in PV system prices are anticipated from those looking to profit from the funding before it ends.

In a new report, Friends of the Earth (FOE) calculates that switching to 100% renewable energy in Africa, Latin America and most of Asia by 2030 would cost US$5.15 trillion – equivalent to the amount held by the world’s 782 wealthiest people. It concludes the financing for transforming the energy landscape exists, but that the political will is “shockingly” absent. Solar, meanwhile, is envisaged as playing a key role.

New renewables investment in 2014 in 55 developing world nations reached US$126 billion, finds a new report, over half of which went to emerging markets. The increase was recorded, despite a general slowing in economic growth. Declining clean energy costs, particularly for solar, are driving growth. Solar is also benefitting from high power prices and favorable irradiance.

The U.S., Japan and South Korea are the leading energy storage markets worldwide, says IHS, with each forecast to exceed 100 MW of annual installations this year. Between 2015 – 16, they are set to install 1.4 GW of new capacity. Large-scale system costs, meanwhile, are expected to fall significantly by 2019, which will spur global growth.

Tata Steel has unveiled ambitious plans to install a 22 MW solar PV rooftop system atop factory roofs in the Netherlands. When complete in 2018, it will be one of the biggest projects of its kind.

Capital costs for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are expected to come down by around 50% over the next five years, as a result of increased renewables generation, among other factors, finds Lazard in a new study looking at the levelised cost of storage (LCOS). Currently, energy storage is not cost-competitive with most applications, however. In a separate study, Lazard, analyzed LCOEs in the U.S. Utility-scale PV was found to be competitive against conventional energies, while rooftop solar still requires “significant” subsidization.

Hanwha’s takeover of Q Cells is bearing fruit, with Q3 recording significantly improved earnings results. In addition to a return to net profitability, Hanwha Q Cells Co. Ltd has raised its gross margin forecasts for Q4, and expects shipments to increase at least two-fold. Capacity expansions are on the cards for both this year and 2016.

Despite recording new order increases, Meyer Burger Technology Ltd has been forced to revise its revenues downwards following further delays in customer projects. An overall EBITDA loss is also expected.

A number of solar plans have been announced across the African continent, including Sterling and Wilson’s aim to install 500 MW of PV across the next three years; and a US$100 million investment for renewables deployment in Rwanda and Uganda.

SMA Solar Technology AG has again raised its full year earnings forecasts, despite recording an overall net loss. Restructuring efforts are also paying off, with the company recording cost savings of €100 million. In 2016, it expects inverter sales in the Americas to increase by more than 35%; Japan will see a decline.