Renewables targets falling by the wayside, according to African solar survey
An overview of the state of solar across the continent by trade body the Africa Solar Industry Association has highlighted a patchy policy landscape where clean power ambitions are often not followed through.
Two innovative approaches to funding African solar
With Cape Town-based The Sun Exchange’s cell-level solar leasing model now reportedly serving 19,000 micro investors, linking finance directly to carbon emission tonnage is another route to bringing PV investment to fruition across the continent.
Financing large scale renewables in emerging economies
pv magazine has taken part in a webinar examining the thorny issue of financing clean energy generation in developing markets.
India launches tender for deployment of 317,975 solar pumps
The tender was launched by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), an energy service company owned by the government of India.
Bangladesh mandates 2% of loans issued must be for green projects
Some 15% of the finance disbursed must fit the wider definition of being ‘sustainable’ and banks and other lenders have been warned penalties will be applied for non compliance.
Italy’s first energy community for solar power sharing
The solar energy community will be part of a citizen energy community aimed at covering the energy needs of half of the citizens of an Italian, small northern municipality.
New method to build microgrids based on solar, hydrogen
The use of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells as backup power generation in solar microgrids could drive down costs and improve efficiency, according to an international group of researchers. They have proposed a new energy management system that could be ideal for hybrid solar-hydrogen microgrids in remote locations.
Mini grids grant could drive 80 MW of new capacity in Africa
A new fund established by the African Development Bank could attract $650 million of private money into the sector, according to the lender.
EDP acquires stake in Brazilian distributed-gen PV company
Portuguese utility EDP has agreed to buy a minority stake of up to 40% in Brazil’s Blue Sol Participações.
India’s solar sector in 2020
India’s PV industry has experienced an eventful year, with record lows in both new capacity additions and tariffs.
