Solar Markets & Finance News

Forestalia secures EUR 65 million from IKAV Group to construct 19 wind and solar projects in Aragon, Spain. Banco de Sabadell structures pre-construction debt for major equipment and construction expenses. Forestalia targets 1.2GW of direct operations in the next few years.

Financing for Al-Shuaibah 1 & 2 solar projects secured by ACWA Power at SR8.3 billion. Investment to power 350,000 homes in Saudi Arabia to support Vision 2030 energy goals. Consortium of local, regional, international banks to provide SR6.1 billion in senior debt & SR4.4 billion US-dollar commercial facility. Project to begin commercial operations by Q4 2025.

Canada's federal government has announced a C$160-million grant to fund nine solar projects in Alberta, creating employment, reducing emissions, and providing energy for 12,000 homes. Indigenous, farming and energy industry partners come together to promote harmony and collaboration with SREPs program.

First Solar has agreed to supply 5GW (dc) of its thin-film solar modules to Energix Renewables for projects in Israel, Poland, and the US, with First Solar Recycling Services managing end-of-life handling. First Solar is investing $1.5bn to expand their US manufacturing and R&D innovation centre by 2026.

Orix Bank is providing $2.89 billion in funding for renewable energy and logistics projects this fiscal year, with a goal of 1% return on assets through debt securitization. Leveraging the ESG investment trend, the bank seeks to capitalize on the rising renewables sector.

FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY) has been awarded a €100 million grant from the European Commission’s Innovation Fund to build a Giga Arctic factory in Norway. Tom Einar Jensen, CEO, expressed his excitement for the project, which will help unlock GWh scale capacity for next generation battery production. Construction begins in June 2022.

Heelstone Renewable Energy LLC closes tax equity investment with Advantage Capital to fund four utility-scale solar projects with a combined capacity of 320 MW DC in Georgia, expected to power over 55,000 homes annually in late 2023 or early 2024.

L&G NTR Clean Power (Europe) Fund partners with NordLB to finance 3 Spanish solar projects, supplying power for 51,424 homes. Additionally, the Fund acquires a 6-turbine onshore wind project in Narbonne, France, with power for 5500 households. Working with LGIM to accelerate energy transition in Europe.

Enel Green Power (EGP) has signed a deal with INPEX Corporation to sell a 50% stake in its Australian subsidiaries for €400 million. The transaction will positively impact EBITDA in 2023 and net debt in the long run. EGPA's portfolio includes solar and wind projects, plus innovative retail and trading solutions. Closing is subject to clearance from authorities.

Trina Solar, a leading solar module manufacturer, has signed an 800MW supply deal with Aquila for PV panels to be used in Southern Europe. Projects are due for delivery in 2023 and 2024. More collaborations are possible in other markets.

Britvic and Atrato have signed a 10-year PPA for energy from a 28MW solar farm. 75% of Britvic's GB operations will be powered by the solar energy, and a CPPA in Ireland provides 100% renewable electricity for Ballygowan. The project is expected to be commissioned in 2024.

Solar module prices appeared to be at a bottom, with solar cell prices increasingweekly and wafer prices being cut by suppliers. Prices in 2023-24 are expected to rise beyond 22c/watt, signaling a market recovery.

Elgin Energy has sold a 100 MW PV portfolio of solar projects in UK to Pennon Group, estimated to require GBP 85 million investment. These projects are projected to generate low-cost electricity and contribute to UK's net-zero emissions by 2050. Also, Elgin sold 521 MW of solar & 70 MW of battery projects in 2020, to be operational by 2025.

Energiekontor has reached financial close on a 60MW solar park in Brandenburg, Germany, with construction starting in Q3 2024 and 68GWh of green electricity generated in its 1st year of operation. It also has the option to develop solar parks with a total capacity of 225MW in Germany and France.

Iberdrola and Vodafone have signed three Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to supply Vodafone with 410GWh of solar generated electricity. These PPAs will help both companies reach their net-zero targets and provide energy security. Three solar plants will be built in Spain and Germany with a capacity of 56MW by 2024. Both companies are committed to finding more sustainable energy solutions.