The Middle East and North Africa region is on the cusp of a new energy revolution. US$50 billion has been set aside for investment in solar power projects by 2020, as MENA governments seek to maximise the long term value of their hydrocarbon resources by utilising solar energy to meet growing domestic consumption. Whilst these ambitious targets present a significant opportunity for potential sponsors of solar power projects in the region, there are a number of key considerations which sponsors may wish to bear in mind in establishing a framework for their investments.
Financing
3 Top Legal Issues to Tackle on Solar Projects
By Derek McKinley, Chirag Sanghrajka | Latham & Watkins LLPSign up and get Breaking Energy news in your inbox.
We will never sell or share your information without your consent. See our privacy policy.A look at customer ratings of SolarCity, Verengo Solar, Vivint Solar, REC Solar and Sungevity The solar industry term “customer acquisition” is a euphemism for “convincing people to spend money.” The top solar installers have tens of thousands of potential customers who have expressed interest in solar. But turning those leads into purchases can be… Keep reading →
In what has to be seen as a discouraging sign for offshore wind power – a key component of the United Kingdom’s scheme to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions – RWE said it is abandoning the planned 1,200-megawatt Atlantic Array, in the Bristol Channel. The company said unspecified technological challenges of the project made it “uneconomic for RWE at this… Keep reading →
Smaller oil and gas producers have been major drivers of the US shale boom, and hedging has been critical to financing their operations. But rising production is driving more hedging activity as that market is becoming less liquid, which could mean higher hedging costs for some producers. “There’s a reason the shale and tight oil… Keep reading →
By transferring a portion of a commercial building’s electricity expenses to its property tax bill, Demeter Power is paving the way for an expansion of distributed solar generation in small- to medium-sized commercial buildings. Demeter Power, a provider of financing solutions for commercial distributed generation, has been awarded $500,000 through the Department of Energy’s SunShot… Keep reading →
Uncertainty and Investment in Electric Generation Don’t Mix: the Real Danger to the Coal Industry
By Elias HinckleySupporters of coal have called the planned new rules from the EPA on CO2 emissions from coal-fired power generation a war on coal and have pledged to fight the rule-making process. It is true that there will almost certainly not be a new coal-fired electric generating station built in the U.S. for at least the… Keep reading →
Ever tried to find out who is in charge when it comes to energy policy? With literally hundreds of agencies and regulators at everything from the local level through state and regions to DC-based policy-makers and even the President, the level of complexity when it comes to understanding energy policy isn’t just frustrating, it is… Keep reading →
Buildings account more than 40% of energy consumption in the United States, and 30%-50% of that usage is routinely wasted. Despite this significant economic and environmental opportunity, building energy efficiency is vastly underfunded today. Government, utilities, technology vendors, energy service providers, software providers, and a host of other organizations are working to change this dynamic.… Keep reading →
Municipal bonds are a major source of financing for public power projects, and their tax-exempt status is one of the factors that makes them appealing for investors who might otherwise demand higher returns on their money.
The American Public Power Association has launched an intense campaign to undermine current proposals before Congress that would change the current tax advantages municipal bonds enjoy. As the hunt continues in DC for new revenue that can help plug growing budget deficits that in turn have incurred repeated political crisis, long-held tenets of tax code advantages and exemptions have begun to come under review. Keep reading →
A long-time veteran of the renewable energy business–with experience in both the biofuel and CSP sectors–David Field currently works as President & CEO of OneRoof Energy.
He visited the Breaking Energy office recently to discuss OneRoof Energy’s recently announced residential rooftop solar leasing program and his views on the distributed generation (DG) electrical generation markets, the solar industry and financial trends in the industry relating to tax breaks and renewable energy credits. Keep reading →