SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) today announced that it has begun construction on the 86-megawatt peak (MWp) Prieska solar power plant in South Africa's Northern Cape province. Expected to be fully operational in 2016, the project represents the third solar power plant constructed by SunPower under the South Africa government's renewable energy program (REIPPP). In 2014, SunPower completed two projects totaling 33 megawatts, located near Douglas in the Northern Cape province.

Leading Residential Solar Company Expects to Add More Than 60 New Jobs in the Region

Reflecting its long-standing commitment to develop the full portfolio of energy resources, Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power today announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in the 32-megawatt (MW) Lost Hills-Blackwell Solar Facility in California from First Solar, Inc. Remaining interest in the project will be owned by an affiliate of First Solar.

Innovative, Dual-Use Renewable Energy Projects Protect the Land While Providing Up to 80 Million Kilowatt-hours of Energy per Year
Continuing its growth in the world's largest solar photovoltaic market, SunPower Corporation today announced that it plans to partner with Apple to build two solar power projects totaling 40 megawatts (MW) in ABA Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefectures, Sichuan Province of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). When complete, the two projects will be co-owned by Sichuan Shengtian New Energy Development Co., Ltd., SunPower's project development joint venture, and Apple.

Within the framework of the Make in India initiative, solar company Vikram Solar has begun three new collaborations with leading international research institutes and technology companies from Germany and Switzerland. The partnerships are intended to further optimize the module production technology at Vikram, make preparations for cell manufacturing at the company, and establish a solar academy in India. Memorandums of understanding were signed to this effect with Fraunhofer ISE and the companies Meyer Burger and Centrotherm photovoltaics at the world's largest industrial trade show, Hannover Messe.

Power Co., Ltd. (Suntech) announced today that in partnership with Taiwan Carbon Nanotube Technology Corporation (TCNT), it has successfully developed the world's first low-cost and highly reliable carbon nanotube photovoltaic module frame. Suntech and TCNT have partnered together, merging Suntech's high-quality and high-efficient photovoltaic modules with TCNT's high-strength carbon nanotubes to deliver a new high-end, cost-saving technology to the solar industry.

SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), the world's largest renewable energy development company, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota to offset 100% of the college's electricity use with solar energy. Macalester College will save millions of dollars on electricity costs over the 25 year agreement by purchasing a share of output from SunEdison's community solar gardens.

Leading developer behind four new solar parks featuring high-quality HSL 60 Poly Modules