Acen pushes ahead with 9.6 GWh pumped hydro project in Australia
Development of an 800 MW/ 9,600 MWh pumped hydro project in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone in New South Wales, Australia, is now moving forward, as renewables company Acen Australia has started geological works on site.
US roadmap streamlines solar project interconnections
A new US Department of Energy (DoE) roadmap outlines 35 ways to allow solar developers to expedite the interconnection of utility-scale renewables and storage projects. The roadmap, developed through a DoE stakeholder process known as i2X, proposes actions to implement these solutions.
ReNew, Jera collaborating on green ammonia project in India
ReNew Energy Global and Japan’s Jera have teamed up to develop a green ammonia project in the Indian state of Odisha. It will have an annual production capacity of around 100,000 tons by 2030, with Jera serving as the offtaker.
EcoFlow unveils air-to-water heat pump, PV-powered water heater
EcoFlow has launched a new air-to-water heat pump for residential applications. The new product, equipped with R290 refrigerant, is available in 9 kW and 20 kW versions. The US-headquartered manufacturer has also developed a new smart immersion heater, which uses surplus solar energy to heat up water. It is compatible with all available rooftop PV systems.
Mercom, WoodMac note challenging PV investment climate in Q1
Mercom Capital Group says that total corporate solar funding, global venture capital funding, public market financing, and PV mergers and acquisitions all fell year on year in the first quarter of 2024. The sector is still grappling with high interest rates, which Wood Mackenzie says is disproportionately affecting renewables projects.
New model to optimize PV module encapsulation
An Austrian team develped a model to optimize lamination parameters and to flag critical, insufficiently crosslinked and inconsistent encapsulant laminations. It could be particularly suitable for the production of double-glass solar panels.
Netherlands allocates €100 million for battery storage subsidies
The Dutch government has earmarked €100 million ($106.7 million) of subsidies for the deployment of battery storage alongside PV projects. The funds are part of a €416 million subsidy program announced last year to alleviate grid congestion.
Stellantis acquires 49.5% stake in Argentine solar company
Car manufacturer Stellantis has agreed to invest $100 million in a 49.5% stake in Argentina’s 360 Energy Solar. The two parties plan to develop new solar plants, install large-scale storage systems, and produce hydrogen energy.
European Investment Bank lends €150 million for renewables in Bhutan
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to lend €150 million ($160.2 million) for renewables in Bhutan, in order to fund solar and hydropower installations in remote regions. Solar facilities are expected to reduce Bhutan’s reliance on energy imports during the dry months of the year and diversify the nation’s electricity mix.
Europe’s negative price trend could continue until summer
AleaSoft and SolarPower Europe inform pv magazine that negative energy prices in Europe are related to the pandemic, low demand, insufficient storage solutions, and inadequate energy planning. They say this situation will likely continue into the summer.
