State Bank of India’s 600 MW plan for rooftop solar moves forward
The $625 million program, which is being financed by the World Bank, will provide private developers with financing for viable grid-connected rooftop PV projects.
Oil giant Shell invests in Singapore solar firm Sunseap
Although the amount of investment remains undisclosed, Shell’s involvement is likely to support substantial expansion of Sunseap’s solar production activities in Singapore and beyond.
Canada’s Nova Scotia gets residential solar PV investment fund
With the primary purpose of financing residential PV in Canada’s province of Nova Scotia, the Solar Community Economic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF), dubbed Solar Scotia Energy, has recently met its minimum funding needed to start and to date has raised nearly one million dollars.
Italy’s CESI helps Bahrain implement solar program
The Italian company will provide technical assistance for the implementation of a net metering scheme for decentralized renewable and solar energy projects under Bahrain’s National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP).
UK: Nearly 126,000 employed in thriving renewables industry, report shows
In the first year energy storage and electric vehicle sectors are included, REA’s annual publication reveals a 2.5% YoY increase in the number of jobs in the renewable energy industry, but also a significant decline in growth from two years previous when it was at nearly 9%. The Association points to negative policy changes as the reason behind the downward trend.
China H1 solar panel production surges 25% in a year
Data from the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) reveals a 25.9% rise in solar module production over the first six months of the year, reaching 34 GW. Q2 utilization rates stood at 85%, data shows.
Solar Philippines to build 1 GW by 2018
Solar Philippines plans to finish building 1 GW of solar by next year, with roughly half of that capacity to be constructed outside of the Philippines.
Belgium: Wallonia’s PV system owners to pay grid-fee starting from 2020
The energy regulator of the Belgian French-speaking region has announced the grid-fee will come into force in 2020, and not in 2019 as previously planned. PV systems operators are expected to pay an annual fee ranging from €330 to €560.
Coal provided just 2% of UK power in H1 2017
Just five years after meeting 40% of U.K.’s electricity supply, data from Imperial College London shows that coal only met 2% of the country’s power needs in the first half of the year.
Iran pushes for more residential and commercial PV
The Iranian government is seeking to create awareness of the advantages of the FIT program for PV projects not exceeding 100 kW in size.
