70 MW deal makes Trina one of the largest PV module suppliers in the Chilean market
The deal with an un-named developer or EPC for high-efficiency multicrystalline modules brings Trina’s contracts in Chile during 2014 to at least 106 MW.
Google provides $145 million for SunEdison solar project on former oilfield
Google’s latest investment in renewable energy is also the largest PV project that SunEdison has begun construction on to date in North America at 82 MW-AC, and its location provides powerful symbolism.
First Solar breaks ground on 250 MW solar PV plant in Nevada
Silver State South is the fifth solar project that First Solar is building in Southern Nevada, for a total of 750 MW. First Solar sold the project to NextEra in May, and is serving as EPC contractor. The company continues to build very large projects at a time when the industry is moving towards smaller utility-scale PV.
100 MW solar PV project underway in Pakistan
Powerway Renewable Energy reports that it will supply mounting systems and foundations for the project in Punjab. This is the nation’s first large-scale PV project to reach this level of development.
Fluor puts online the 170 MW-AC Centinela Solar project in Southern California
Fluor has completed the massive plant in only 20 months time, as the latest utility-scale PV project to go online in Southern California’s Imperial Valley. The plant may also be one of the last mega-projects in the area, as California increasingly moves to smaller utility-scale solar.
Austin, Texas increases solar goals by 700 MW, solar to be new default source of power
The city council in the capitol city of the U.S. state of Texas has passed a sweeping resolution to strengthen solar policies and goals for its municipal utility. This includes procuring an additional 600 MW of utility-scale solar, another 100 MW of local solar and deploying energy storage.
Arizona, Hawaii lead the U.S. in per-capita solar
A new report by Environment America looks at the top 10 U.S. states for solar electric installations, and finds that while California’s installed solar capacity is impressive, other states have greater densities.
SunEdison closes on US$160 million fund for 46 MW of behind-the-meter solar PV
The solar developer says that its lease-pass-through fund represents a new approach designed to allow participation from a wider range of tax equity investors. The fund will support roughly 1/3 of SunEdison’s behind-the-meter projects in 2014.
Bill to streamline solar permitting passes the California legislature
Legislation to standardize and improve the byzantine permitting and inspection procedures in various cities and counties in California has passed both houses of the state’s legislature. CALSEIA says that this will both reduce installation time and help bring down the cost of solar.
US lowers anti-dumping tariffs on Taiwanese solar cells, modules
Citing a ministerial error, the U.S. Department of Commerce has cut in half duty levels for solar products made in Taiwan by Motech, and has reduced tariff levels for most other Taiwanese solar PV makers as well.
