The latest in a series of high profile renewable energy acquisitions for the French energy giant, ENGIE has announced the acquisition of a 100% stake in Fenix International, a U.S. company active in the residential lease-to-own sector in several African countries.

A team from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia has published research into heterojunction solar cells using alternative materials to silicon. The researchers hope that the process they developed could simplify the fabrication of solar cells.

According to the latest briefing from Asia Europe Clean Energy Consultants (AECEA), China is likely to install more than 50 GW of PV in 2017, a second consecutive record breaking year for the world’s leading market.

Pacifico Energy has announced the start of construction on its Toyota Mega Solar Power Plant, located on mountainous land in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The plant is expected to be grid connected in December 2019.

Tier-1 module manufacturer Canadian Solar has announced joint venture between its wholly owned subsidiary in Israel and Menora Mivtachim, one of the country’s largest finance and insurance groups. The aim of the venture is to finance, develop, construct and own solar power projects in the Middle Eastern nation.

Globally integrated IPP Building Energy today announced the start of production at its 10 MW Tororo solar plant. Tororo is the company’s first PV project in Uganda, and among the largest built to date in eastern Africa.

Dutch headquartered construction firm Heijmans has announced plans to install noise barriers featuring integrated bifacial solar modules on a 400 meter stretch of the A50 road, close to the southeastern town of Uden.

French banking group BNP Paribas has announced a series of measures to support the energy transition, including a pledge to cease all business with companies primarily involved in shale gas, tar sands oil and Arctic exploration for oil. The group also plans to increase its total financing for renewable energy projects to €15 billion by 2020.

A team at the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a type of battery which it says could store energy for long durations at a fraction of the cost of current storage technologies.

German PV equipment manufacturer Singulus has announced a reduction to its financial forecasting for the full year 2017. The company cites delays in a large-scale project for a China-based client as the primary reason for the reduction.