THE FRIDAY NOTE: 1.8 GW solar projects expected in MENA and more of the week's top picks

This week we saw a forecast for 1.8 GW of MENA PV project awards in 2015, Spain’s ACS unveiled the sale of 51% in a renewables yieldco and ACWA Power won nearly 550 MW of solar tenders in Morocco and Dubai, while it was announced that Mexico’s wind sector will attract USD 14 billion in private investment by 2018.

The Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA) said that some 11 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will have solar schemes this year. It guided for 1,800 MW of tendered or awarded photovoltaic (PV) projects in 2015 as compared to 300 MW in 2014.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/mena-countries-to-go-ahead-with-1-8-gw-of-pv-projects-in-2015-458217

US FIRMS SUNEDISON, CONVALT ENERGY DRAW BIG SOLAR PLANS IN INDIA

Things are happening a bit faster to the east. US renewable power company Convalt Energy signed an accord on Sunday that envisages the construction of a 1,000-MW solar park in the Indian state of Karnataka.

SunEdison Inc (NYSE:SUNE), meanwhile, keeps announcing more and more Indian projects. It said Tuesday it would develop 5,000 MW of renewable energy projects in Karnataka over the next five years. This news followed a statement on Sunday by India’s Adani Enterprises Ltd (BOM:512599) which says it has signed a pact with SunEdison to jointly build a USD-4-billion (EUR 3.4bn) vertically-integrated solar PV factory in Gujarat state.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/us-co-convalt-energy-plans-1-gw-solar-project-in-india-457733

at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/sunedison-to-develop-5-gw-of-green-projects-in-indias-karnataka-457997

and at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/adani-sunedison-to-build-usd-4bn-pv-factory-in-india-457644

JAPAN’S 2015 BUDGET TO INCLUDE USD 1.1BN FOR RENEWABLES

In Japan, the government will allocate some USD 1.1 billion in its budget for fiscal 2015/16 to promote renewable energy. The amount includes funds to support the development of offshore wind and solar power technologies and for geothermal power also.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/japans-2015-budget-to-include-usd-1-1bn-for-renewables-report-458170

GAMESA, OTHERS TO POUR USD 14BN IN MEXICO WIND PROJECTS

One of the most read news this week on the wind energy front involved Mexico. It was announced that the country’s wind power capacity is expected to reach 9,500 MW in 2018 thanks to USD 14 billion in private investments over four years. The local unit of Spanish wind turbine maker Gamesa (BME:GAM), for example, is planning to pour USD 950 million into Mexican wind farms and USD 500 million more in the supply chain.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/gamesa-others-to-pour-usd-14bn-in-mexico-wind-projects-457893

ACS TO SELL 51% OF RENEWABLES YIELDCO ON SPANISH BOURSES

Another Spanish company, ACS (BME:ACS), made the headlines on Thursday after it said it would sell a 51% stake in Saeta Yield SA on five Spanish stock exchange. The yieldco subsidiary has 539 MW of wind farms and 150 MW of concentrating solar power (CSP) parks in its portfolio. It is also planning to purchase additional renewable power assets at home and in Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Portugal.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/acs-to-sell-51-of-renewables-yieldco-on-spanish-bourses-458440

GERMANY PUTS ONLINE 529 MW OFFSHORE WIND IN 2014

In the offshore wind segment, Germany brought online 529 MW of new capacity last year, while 1,303 MW is awaiting grid-connection, statistics by Deutsche Windguard show. The country now has 1,049 MW of operational offshore wind parks. Most of that capacity is in the North Sea.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/germany-puts-online-529-mw-offshore-wind-in-2014-1-3-gw-await-connection-458625

HOT COMPANY OF THE WEEK: ACWA POWER

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power International this week won a tender to build a 200-MW solar park in Dubai after offering to sell the produced electricity at below USD 0.0599 per kWh. The consortium bidding for the project also included Spain’s TSK. The Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) will work with the two companies to achieve financial close next month.

ACWA also scored in Morocco after its consortium with Sener Grupo De Ingeneria SA of Spain was selected to build the 200-MW Noor II parabolic mirror plant and the 100-MW Noor III solar power tower facility.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/acwa-power-team-wins-200-mw-solar-project-in-dubai-458380

and at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/acwa-power-wins-350-mw-csp-tender-in-morocco-457647

(USD 1 = EUR 0.860)

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