O&M business must get to scale
At the first day of the conference PV Asset Management and O&M Europe 2017, which winds up today in Hamburg, almost all the participants agreed on the fact that the business is becoming more and more complex, and that getting to scale may provide a path through a period of further consolidation.
Power Africa: focus on creating opportunities for USA exports
A working roundtable discussion on the USA’s commercial partnership with Africa depicts the changes in the American agency in the Trump administration era.
EBRD approves $500 million package for 750 MW of solar in Egypt
The funds will be used to finance 13 large-scale PV projects being developed under the country’s FIT scheme. All the projects will be located near Benban in Upper Egypt.
Morocco: government-run agency Masen authorized to buy minority stake in 170 MW NOOR PV I project
A unit of the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen) was allowed to acquire an interest of up to 25% in six special purpose companies owning the project’s three photovoltaic plants.
Algeria launches solar energy cluster, names new energy minister
The new solar energy cluster will host small and medium-sized solar enterprises, as well as research institutes and local mining companies. Meanwhile, the Algerian government has named the former CEO of state-owned utility Sonelgaz as energy minister.
Africa: solar power and Indian bilateral trade key routes to prosperity, says AfDB president
African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina tells the media ahead of the bank’s Annual Meetings forum that Africa-India bilateral trade will reach $100bn by 2018, with solar power playing a prominent role in closer cooperation and boosting economic opportunities.
Tunisia launches tender for 70 MW of solar
The Tunisian government hopes to allocate 210 MW of wind and solar capacity through the tender. Bids for PV projects must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2017.
Egypt: German consortium plans 1 GW vertically integrated solar factory
A first agreement to start a feasibility study for the project, which also includes the construction of a giant solar plant, was signed in the presence of the country’s minister of energy Mohamed Shaker.
Algerian government expects reference price of $0.04/kWh for 4 GW solar tender
The Algerian Minister of Energy said that the reference price for the first round of the upcoming auction is not expected to surpass 4 DZD/kWh (approximately $0.04/kWh).
Norway’s oil producer Statoil eyes first investments in solar
The Norwegian oil company confirmed it is evaluating new business opportunities within solar. The company launched a $197 million fund dedicated to renewable energies in February 2016.
