THE FRIDAY NOTE: Indian tender gets 2.2 GW of solar bids and the rest of the week's top picks

Jan 24, 2014 - This week the Indian government receives 2,170 MW of bids in solar tender, BNEF data shows China may have installed 1.4 GW of PV in 2013 and a new study calculates that solar energy in MENA may lure USD 50 billion by 2020, while Yingli Green reaches 8.3% share of the global solar module market.

Solar news dominated the past week and came from all parts of the world. As a start, it was announced that India’s latest solar tender under the National Solar Mission had attracted 2,170 MW of bids, while it only targeted 750 MW. Less than a third of the bids were submitted in the "domestic content" category. The opening of the financial bids is to take place on February 20.

Meanwhile neighbouring China may have exceeded expectations for 12 GW of fresh solar capacity in 2013. According to a Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) release from Thursday, the country could have installed nearly 14 GW of solar in the past year.

More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/india-gets-2-170-mw-of-bids-in-750-mw-solar-mission-tender-report-400144

on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/indias-last-solar-tender-reveals-weak-interest-in-local-content-projects-report-400409

and on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/china-may-have-added-14-gw-of-pv-in-2013-bnef-401037

MENA MAY LURE USD 50BN IN SOLAR INVESTMENT BY 2020

Interest towards solar power is definitely growing in many countries around the globe and the Mena Solar Energy Report 2014 released Monday came to prove that. The study says that solar energy in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region may attract over USD 50 billion (EUR 36.6bn) in investments by 2020, fuelled by the local governments’ efforts to promote renewables. The MENA region is expected to add up to 37,000 MW of solar, wind and hydropower plants by 2020.

More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/mena-may-lure-usd-50bn-in-solar-investment-by-2020-400286

JA SOLAR TO BUILD 150-MW PV PLANT IN S AFRICA, YINGLI REACHES 8.3% GLOBAL SHARE

On Wednesday, Chinese photovoltaics (PV) maker JA Solar Holdings (NASDAQ:JASO) said it would build a 150-MW solar module production facility in South Africa in a joint venture with mounting system maker Powerway Renewable Energy. Depending on the demand in the region, the partners may boost the capacity to 600 MW.

Another PV maker from China, Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd (NYSE:YGE), has reached an 8.3% share of the global solar module market in 2013, market intelligence firm IHS (NYSE:IHS) said Tuesday. The company, which has shipped over 3 GW in the past year, ranked as the number-one supplier in major markets such as Germany and China.

More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/ja-solar-powerway-to-build-150-mw-module-plant-in-s-africa-400581

and on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/yingli-green-boosts-global-market-share-to-8-3-400373

SHARP TO CLOSE US SOLAR PLANT, MARTIFER SOLAR USA FILES FOR CHAPTER 11

Things are not going so well for Sharp Corp (TYO:6753) on the solar front. Bloomberg said Thursday, quoting a spokesman, that the Japanese electronics major would cease solar panel production at its plant in Tennessee by the end of March. A Nikkei article states that the decision would result in some 300 job losses. Last month, Sharp also said it would halt solar panel manufacturing at its plant in Wales.

Going downstream, Martifer Solar said Thursday it had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for its US unit after it failed to reach an agreement with one of its creditors. The solar projects company, part of Portuguese industrial group Martifer SGPS SA (ELI:MAR), still sees the US market as strategic.

More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/sharp-to-shut-down-us-solar-factory-in-mar-2014-report-400788

and on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/martifer-solar-usa-files-for-bankruptcy-401040

NEW SUIT ATTACKS NSTAR PPA FOR 468-MW CAPE WIND PROJECT

One of the few TOP wind energy news this week came from the town of Barnstable and the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound which said Tuesday they had filed another lawsuit against the 468-MW Cape Wind project off Massachusetts. In this latest court effort the opponents allege that the power purchase agreement (PPA) that Nstar signed for 27.5% of the offshore wind park’s output is illegal.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Cape Wind developers celebrated a new legal victory as a US Court of Appeals upheld the The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) approval for the scheme. “The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, the Town of Barnstable and their financial backer—coal billionaire Bill Koch-- have failed yet again in their continuing campaign to use the courts to delay the financing of Cape Wind,” said Mark Rodgers, communications director.

More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/new-suit-attacks-nstar-ppa-for-468-mw-cape-wind-project-400573

and on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/court-upholds-faa-nod-for-468-mw-cape-wind-offshore-scheme-400813

NO CHINESE DUTIES FOR EU POLYSILICON FOR NOW

Leaving the hottest for last, the Ministry of Commerce of China said today it would not impose for now anti-dumping duties on solar-grade polysilicon coming from Europe due to special market conditions. The preliminary ruling comes despite the fact that China has concluded that imports from the European Union (EU) are hurting Chinese polysilicon producers.

More details on: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/no-chinese-duties-for-eu-polysilicon-for-now-401084

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