[2023 solar company financing reached the highest level in 10 years] According to Mercom Capital Group's latest report on financing and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the solar industry, solar companies raised $34.3 billion in corporate financing last year, the largest amount in a decade. The total amount raised came from 160 deals, an increase of 42% compared to 2022 (175 deals raised a total of $24.1 billion). Last year, funding from private markets reached $7.4 billion, up 45 percent from the previous year and the second-highest figure since 2013. At the same time, solar companies raised $20 billion in debt financing, up 67 percent from last year and the highest level in the past decade. Mercom Capital Group said securitization activity was the main contributor to the financing, raising a total of $3.4 billion from 11 deals. Funding from solar venture capital activity fell 1% from last year, with 69 deals raising $6.9 billion in 2023. Of this, $4.7 billion (68%) went to 42 downstream solar companies. In addition, solar companies raised $1.9 billion, systems companies raised $311 million, and service providers raised $32 million. Editor/Xu Shengpeng

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• 2024.05.07 17:10
• [Qatar has announced the launch of a national renewable energy strategy]
• Qatar Hydro Corporation (Kahramaa) today announced the launch of the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy (QNRES) to advance the sustainable development goals of Qatar's National Vision 2030. The strategy, developed by Kahramaa in coordination with 22 major energy entities in the country, aims to increase and diversify the use of renewable energy, with a focus on the use of solar power. With more than 2,000 KWH of solar power per square meter per year, Qatar ranks first in the world and is one of the countries with the greatest potential to produce photovoltaic power. According to the newly published strategy, Qatar aims to expand its large-scale renewable energy facilities to about 4 GW by 2030, while installing about 200 MW of distributed solar power generation equipment. The strategy will not only reap economic benefits, but also focus on environmental protection, improving air quality and contributing to Qatar's energy security through the diversification of the country's sources of power generation. Editor/Xu Shengpeng

• 2024.05.07 17:10
• [Malaysia is actively building a logistics hub in Southeast Asia]
• The Malaysian government has developed short - and long-term strategies aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the country's major ports, namely Port Klang and Tanjong Palapas. Malaysian Transport Minister Lok Siu-fook said the strategy covers increasing port capacity, improving efficiency and productivity, and transforming to a low-carbon green port. In recent years, Malaysia has vigorously developed its port economy through a number of initiatives such as port expansion, port digitization and the establishment of free trade zones, and is committed to becoming a logistics hub in Southeast Asia. With the deepening of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Malaysia have deepened port cooperation and further upgraded the level of port infrastructure construction and operation in Malaysia. At present, the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Malaysia has formed a pattern of the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park in the East, the Kuantan Port "One Park and one port", and the Port Klang in the west through the East Coast Rail line. Editor/Xu Shengpeng