Internet giant Google has provided the tax equity finance and Prudential the debt financing for a combined US$157 million investment in Scatec Solar’s 104 MW Utah Red Hills utility scale solar array.

In its 2015 outlook for investors, Deutsche Bank predicts a year of growing margins and stable supply and demand dynamics for the year. Diverse demand drivers in the U.S. will be a key highlight, while project financing and permitting progress in China balances potential weakness in Japan.

German PV, battery and flat panel production equipment supplier Manz has announced EUR 40 million ($47.5 million) in lithium ion battery equipment supply deals. The details of the orders have not been revealed.

U.S. aqueous hybrid ion battery developer and supplier Aquion Energy has entered into a supply deal with the residential community Bakken Hale, to supply a 1 MWh battery system. The battery installation will be coupled with a PV array to supply the community with 24/7 solar electricity.

Australia’s peak solar industry body has launched a campaign to put pressure on the state of Queensland’s conservative government that it claims “has been determined to shove solar where the sun doesn’t shine.” Queensland voters will head to the polls to elect a state government on January 31.

The chairman of Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) has revealed that 67 companies have been selected to take part in developing 4.3 GW of renewable energy projects in the country. The successful companies were chosen from 177 applicants.

Trina Solar has announced that its labs have produced a 324.5Wp multi-crystalline PERC module. The Chinese producer reports that its 60-cell Honey Plus module is currently in pilot production and represents a world record for the technology.

U.S.-based Amtech Systems has acquired p-type PERC and n-type technology supplier SoLayTec from RENA. SoLayTec will be brought into the Amtech group through its Dutch subsidiary Tempress Group Holding.

German PV equipment supplier Schmid has announced a deal to supply 200 MW of solar manufacturing equipment to Russian manufacturer Solar Systems. The fab will be constructed by Turkey’s Pekintas Group and will be located in the special economic zone (SEZ) of Alabuga, Russia.

Taiwan’s Motech has announced its intention to merge with Topcell Solar International (TSi) through a share swap deal worth some TWD 2.05 billion (US$64.5 million). The resultant 3 GW cell manufacturer will operate under the Motech brand and expected to be realized by July 1, 2015.