One of the America’s biggest solar lease providers Vivint Solar will begin introducing solar loans in partnership with solar crowdfunder Mosaic. The loans will initially be introduced in Vivint’s home state of Utah with the goal to roll it out in other markets.

China’s JinkoSolar continues to grow shipments in Q3, to 1.345 GW of modules, however its gross income on an annual basis has suffered, due to a number of factors including currency devaluation, stock based compensation expenses and income tax liabilities.

The Western Australian island of Rottnest will achieve 45% renewable penetration with a new 600 kW PV array, which will be coupled with an existing wind turbine. Together the renewable generation sources will supply the island with almost half of its power, necessitating a sophisticated diesel-hybrid control system to be delivered by Hydro Tasmania.

Italian utility Enel is moving towards the repurchase of renewable developer Enel Green Power (EGP). The move is the key part of Enel’s stepping up of its renewable activity, as CEO Francesco Starace looks to EGP becoming “one of the growth engines of the Enel Group.”

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s AU$250 million (US$178 million) funding program for large scale solar projects has attracted applications for over 2 GW of solar PV. If realized, these projects would deliver a ten-fold increase in PV power plant capacity in the country.

African independent power producer Cronimet in on track to pick up 15 MW of PV projects to supply mining and industrial operations in South Africa. The projects are being awarded under the South African government’s small REIPPP program and are scheduled to be completed in early 2017.

Deutsche Bank has expressed cautious optimism for First Solar’s ability to develop projects in the United States after the scheduled Investment Tax Credit (ITC) step down. In an investor note published yesterday, Deutsche said that Power Purchase Agreements being signed by First Solar at present in the mid US$40/MWh to upper $50/MWh would still be feasible for the company even with an ITC at 10%.

UCLA researchers have developed a metal oxide sandwich perovskite cell that enhances the stability of the promising semiconductor by more than 10 times. The approach uses two metal oxide layers on either side of the perovskite material, protecting it rapid degradation when exposed to air.

Chinese PV manufacturer Canadian Solar has announced strong shipment, revenue and income growth in Q3 2015. It has flagged manufacturing capacity expansions that will see its module output grow to 5.63 GW by the end of 2016 and has upped its 2015 full year outlook to revenues between $3.28 billion to $3.33 billion.

Dutch PV cell production equipment supplier Tempress has booked a repeat order from a Taiwanese cell manufacturer for its boron diffusion system. It has also completed the installation of 800 MW of its atmospheric diffusion systems to a Chinese manufacturer.