DSD Renewables has energized a 1.85 MW solar plant for NLCS in Virginia; First Solar confirms winning India’s PLI; OYA Renewables raises finance for 24.8 MW DC; SEIA hails NCUC’s rooftop solar rules.
1.85 MW solar plant for retirement community: DSD Renewables has energized a 1.85 MW ground mounted solar PV plant in Virginia for the National Lutheran Communities & Services (NLCS) managed retirement community The Village at Orchard Ridge. Located in the Shenandoah Valley, the project will meet 85% of The Village’s energy needs with an estimated 2,396 MWh of energy generation annually. For DSD, this project expands its footprint to 23 states.
First Solar’s India win: US CdTe solar module maker First Solar, Inc has issued an official statement announcing winning the Indian government’s financial incentives under the country’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, tranche-II. Along with Shirdi Sai Electricals’ (SSE) Indosol Solar and Reliance New Solar Energy Limited, First Solar has been selected for the full range of incentives under basket 1 for fully vertically integrated manufacturing (see India Allocates 39.6 GW PV Under PLI Tranche-II). These incentives are subject to the facility meeting efficiency and domestic value creation thresholds to be evaluated on a quarterly basis, starting from Q2/2026 through 2031, it stated. The company is building a module manufacturing fab with 3.4 GW nameplate capacity in the state of Tamil Nadu, to be commissioned in H2/2023 (see First Solar To Build 3.3 GW Thin Film Solar Fab In India).
Oya bags $27 million loan: Community solar developer Oya Renewables has secured $27.1 million long-term loan facility from City National Bank (CNB) which a wholly-owned US subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada. Additionally, the company has also raised funding from tax equity investor Greenprint for the same 4 New York projects. These funds were used by Oya to complete the term conversion of 24.8 MW DC capacity. Oya expects to bring online 5 additional New York community solar projects by mid-2023 which it says will add to its pipeline of over 600 MW in the state. The company counts its project pipeline as adding up to 9 GW.
SEIA hails NC’s net metering order: The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has welcomed final orders issued by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) for its net metering Smart $aver docket. Under this, the commission has approved a 3-year glide path for solar customers to transition from monthly credits to a more dynamic time-of-use rate structure. It incentivizes the use of solar when it is most valuable, says SEIA. Duke Energy has been instructed to open a solar+storage program within 90 days. The commission has also approved $0.36/W incentive to go solar. “This order is a step forward for North Carolina’s rooftop solar market that preserves the ability of residents to choose the power that works for them,” said SEIA’s Southeast Regional Director, Will Giese.
