Tesla

The SolarCity founder says he is leaving to take time off and start a new venture, as Tesla’s solar sales volume contracts and the company shifts focus to profit and new products instead of growth.

Report by GTM Research and Solichamba finds 11 investors that each own more than 1 GW of PV assets, with eight of those 11 hailing from the U.S.

The Japanese electronics group posted a net profit attributable to shareholders of JPY 149.4 billion ($1.3 billion) in the fiscal year to the end of March — from JPY 165.2 billion a year earlier — as declining sales of solar panels in Japan eroded its earnings. The group’s net sales fell more than 3% on the year to JPY 7343.7 billion, although its operating profit rose to JPY 276.8 billion, from just JPY 230.3 billion a year earlier.

Yesterday, the energy and automobile giant rolled the dice on its biggest gamble yet, giving U.S. homeowners the opportunity to reserve its new roofing product for a down payment of $1,000.

The first full quarter since Tesla’s acquisition of SolarCity shows a 30% fall in watts of solar deployed, as the company focuses on preparations for the roll-out of its Solar Roof and Model 3 electric vehicle, including expanded battery production.

The Dutch fund will invest in a portfolio of solar projects of Tesla’s solar unit. The projects are spread across 21 U.S states and have a combined capacity of 275 MW.

BNEF cites financing for a massive solar plant in Mexico and Tesla’s billion-plus capital raise as running counter to the trend of falling clean energy financing during Q1. Investments in distributed solar also rose.

Trump declares war on clean energy, Tesla hurtles the other way down the fast lane towards a solar future, SolarWorld lays out its cost-cutting plans, and Algeria’s bold PV goals raise concerns.

Production of the luxury BIPV product will not begin until “mid-2017”, and a waiting list has appeared on the Tesla site.

It took a couple of tweets, and at least one one-hour long phone call, but it seems pretty clear that Tesla founder, CEO and billionaire Elon Musk has helped turn the debate around energy policy in Australia on its head.