The United States
The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) has recently approved NV Energy's Integrated Resource Plan, which includes three PV projects (1,190MW) and an energy storage project (590MW). The three new PV projects are scheduled to connect to the grid in 2024.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
The US Congress and the White House have vetoed the extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Therefore ITC will gradually decrease, starting from January 1, 2020.
In 2004, the United States passed the solar ITC policy (30% of an investment tax credit). Its validity period was determined to be 8 years. After December 31, 2016, the expiration date, the solar ITC will decrease from the current 30% to 26%. After 2021, it will be further reduced to 22%. By 2022, ITC for public utility and commercial projects will be 10%. The residential projects will no longer receive tax credits.
China
On December 13, the General Department of the National Energy Administration has issued an announcement titled "Regulations on the Protection of Power Stations (Consultation Paper)". Wind, solar, biomass, thermal, marine and other alternative energy generation facility and their auxiliary facilities will be included in the Protection Regulations.
The Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) has announced a centralized procurement list for the year 2020, where 1GW worth of PV modules and inverter frameworks are shortlisted. The modules included in this tender can be divided into four categories: polysilicon modules, poly double-glass modules, mono-Si modules, and mono-Si double-glass modules. The inverters included in this tender can be divided into three categories: centralized (≥480V), string (≥480V), string (380V) ).
Malaysia
Malaysia’s National Committee on Investment has approved four projects in the manufacturing sector, which is worth MYR5.4 billion. One of the manufacturing projects was a glass factory for producing photovoltaic and float glass, which is worth MYR2 billion (US$ 483 million)
Kenya
The 50 MW PV power plant in Garissa, Kenya, the largest one in East Africa, has officially begun its operation on December 13. Over a period of 25 years, its average annual power generation is expected to be 76,467 MWh.
Jordan
ACWA Power, an energy company from Saudi Arabia, has built a 50 MW PV power plant in Risha, Jordan, which has begun the commercial operations in early December. The power plant will sell electricity to NEPCO at a price of JOD0.043 /kWh per a 20-year power purchase agreement.
Brazil
Atlas Renewable Energy has announced that it has commenced commercial operations at its fourth project in Brazil, Sertão Solar Barreiras Complex. The plant has an installed capacity of 117MWp (megawatts peak) and is estimated to generate 275GWh per year.
India
Azure Power, a solar power producer from New Delhi, India, has received a letter of award (LOA) for a 2GW solar project from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The project is expected to be commissioned in annual phases of 500 MW each. The first commissioning is expected by 2022 and full commissioning by 2025.
