EIB and Eiffel Investment Group launch €200 million clean energy fund for bridge financing
The European Investment Bank and Eiffel Investment Group have launched a fund devoted to investments in the green economy in France and Europe. The fund will provide bridge financing for, among others, projects in the solar and storage sectors.
Veolia opens solar module recycling facility in France
The French environmental services provider has secured a 4-year contract from PV cycle for the treatment of end-of-life photovoltaic modules.
France supports South Africa grid improvement with $477 million
The French Development Agency (AFD) has provided South Africa’s power utility Eskom with a ZAR 6 billion ($477.7 million) credit facility. Eskom, which has delayed the development of several large-scale PV projects over the past years due to grid issues, will use the funds to improve its network and integrate more renewable energy power.
SunPower supplies 130 MW of modules in France
The US module manufacturer will supply 130 MW of modules for 25 projects selected in France’s recent tender for PV projects larger in size than 250 kW. Most of the modules will be manufactured at the company’s factory in Toulouse, south-western France.
Engie issues €1.5 billion green bond, eyes Belgian residential PV segment
The French energy giant has issued its second green bond to sustain its expansion into the renewable energy sector. The €1.5 billion bond will also be used to finance solar projects. Meanwhile, the company has started to target the Belgian commercial PV market.
EDF to deploy 23.7 MW of solar in France, creates storage unit in North America
The French energy giant keeps expanding into the renewable energy business. Its France-based unit EDF Energies Nouvelles will build PV plants totaling 23.7 MW, while its US division EDF EN has created a new subsidiary for distributed solar and storage projects up to 30 MW.
Engie plans to acquire RWE’s renewable energy unit Innogy, reports
The French energy giant is offering to acquire Innogy, the renewable energy unit of German power provider RWE. Innogy acquired German developer Belectric and its huge solar power plant portfolio in January.
France allocates 534 MW in first tender for large-scale PV, average price came in at €62.5 ($65.9)/MWh
The French government announced that 79 ground-mounted PV projects with a combined capacity of 534.5 MW were selected through the latest bidding round for large-scale solar. Average price for the sale of power from these projects came in at €62.5 ($65.9) per MWh.
France to introduce new regulation for self-consumption
France’s Parliament has given final passage to a law that regulates the installation of renewable energy systems for self-consumption. The new legislation will provide a clear regulatory framework for the grid-connection of these installations.
France’s PV capacity tops 7.13 GW
French cumulative PV capacity has surpassed 7 GW. In 2016, however, the market registered a 62% decrease in new installations, with the figure coming in at 559 MW. PV plants over 250 kW covered almost two thirds of the new capacity installed last year.
