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COVID-19 to cause ‘unparalleled decline’ in energy investment
Despite proving more resilient than fossil fuels, investment in renewables looks set to be heavily hit by COVID-19 as investment in the energy sector plunges to lowest level in history.
Solar Markets & Finance
NextEnergy secures ‘first-of-its-kind’ £100m debt financing for subsidy-free sites
NextEnergy Capital has secured what it is lauding as a “first-of-its-kind” debt financing to construct two subsidy-free solar sites as it unveils a new subsidy-free private fund.
TRIG raises £120 million to pay RCF
The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) has raised £120 million, which is set to go towards its revolving credit facility (RCF).
Greencoat snaps up 156MW BlackRock solar portfolio
BlackRock Real Assets is selling on a 156MW portfolio that it co-owns with Lightsource BP to Greencoat Capital.
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Distributed solar sector to rebound ‘significantly slower’ than other renewables post COVID-19
Residential solar installations will take longer to rebound from the COVID-19 slowdown than most renewables, making it unlikely solar PV will surpass 2019 levels over the next year.
Return of CfD for solar helps boost the UK’s attractiveness
The return of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions for solar and onshore wind has boosted the UK up EY’s Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI).
CfDs should be expanded and clarity given to help economic confidence, NIC says
The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme should be expanded, the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has recommended, with "clarity on dates and scales" required.
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SEEIT looks to invest £100m in new assets in new trading update
The SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust (SEEIT) is looking to invest more than £100 million in assets including rooftop solar.
NESF sells on 115MW of subsidy-free solar to NextPower
NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF) is selling two of its subsidy-free assets to NextPower Development, part of the NEC Group, in a £11.5 million transaction.
ESB bolsters position in Irish solar market with Harmony Solar partnership
Irish utility ESB has signed a multi-million euro partnership with Wexford-based solar company Harmony Solar.
Feature
Q&A: Richard Palmer explains why business rates shouldn’t scare people away from solar
Solar Power Portal chatted to Richard Palmer, a senior consultant at independent power and energy consultancy Roadnight Taylor about what needs to change to make business rates work for solar.
UK has ‘golden chance’ to place renewables at the heart of the COVID-19 recovery
Low-carbon infrastructure must be at the heart of the COVID-19 recovery to provide jobs and economic security, with fairness embedded throughout.
Feature
Record new capacity added to UK large-scale solar pipeline during April
The pipeline of large-scale solar farms in the UK saw a massive uptick in April 2020, with a record level of new capacity added. Finlay Colville, head of market research at Solar Media, has all the details.
Bluefield’s NAV drops as generation soars 4.8% over target
Bluefield Solar Income Fund has seen a slight drop in its NAV, but is lauding its generation portfolio as performing “extremely well”.
Solarcentury predicts renewables to accelerate post-COVID-19 as it posts sterling financial results
Despite short-term challenges caused by COVID-19, solar power's competitive nature could see it accelerate as we move forward, according to Solarcentury.
PODCAST: European power price shocks and cheaper solar (and storage)
The latest episode of the Solar Media Podcast is now available to listen to, featuring discussion around how the COVID-19 pandemic has sent power prices tumbling.