North America

Sharp has announced a zero-down, $25 million initial-phase financing program for commercial solar plus its SmartStorage projects, including an industry-first 10 year service and performance guarantee.

GTM Research expects 13.9 GW to be installed over the full year, the result of an ongoing utility-scale boom.

This week saw collaborations between nations and companies, some numbers on the U.S. energy storage market and progress in the carving up of SunEdison, as the solar industry prepares for the Solar Power International trade show.

The solar firm known for playing hardball on net metering policies has hired a former regulator to head its policy efforts.

This acquisition will double the yieldco’s solar holdings, as part of a previously announced expansion of solar and wind assets.

Edisun Microgrids, based in Pasadena, has launched the first dual-axis solar tracker designed and built for the commercial and industrial flat rooftop solar market segment.

The projects are in various stages of development and most are expected to be completed in 2017 and 2018.

The trend toward more solar module manufacturers acquiring third-party warranty coverage for their products is helping to mitigate the long-term risk in a project and to make it more bankable, since the likelihood is that insurers will stay in business long after some module manufacturers.

REC will provide its commercial PPA, financing and various other forms of support to SolarWorld installers developing C&I projects, as part of its channel strategy.

Quality control campaign: PV panel manufacturers selling plug connectors as MC4 compatible is nothing unusual. Two operators who have installed such modules are now struggling with lost insurance coverage and fires.