Emiliano Bellini
Enhancing perovskite cell performance with coffee
A U.S.-Chinese research team has discovered that carbonyl groups in caffeine can increase the efficiency of perovskite solar cells from 17% to 20%. The peculiar molecular structure of caffeine is said to be a good match for the precursors of perovskite material compounds.
Netherlands to maintain current net-metering conditions until 2023
The Dutch government has confirmed it will maintain its net-metering scheme in its current form until 2023, with plans to then gradually phase it out by 2031. Net metering has been behind the steady growth of PV in the country in recent years, and was also the main market driver in the earliest stages of its solar development.
Brazil to hold energy auction for non-interconnected state of Roraima on May 31
Selected projects will be expected to start commercial operations on June 28, 2021. The auction is open to both conventional and renewable energy sources, as well as proposals for hybrid projects or power plants linked to storage.
Kyocera reports decline in solar sales for 2019
The drop in sales of solar energy products was mainly responsible for a 28% year-on-year turnover drop of the Life&Environment Group division, which includes the Japanese company’s activities within solar.
Axpo wants to buy French PV developer Urbasolar
The Swiss energy company said it was chosen by Urbasolar’s owners as the preferred buyer among a list of high-ranking bidders.
Chile may change payment scheme for small solar parks
The government is planning to replace the price offered to PV projects that have a capacity of 3-9 MW with hourly tariffs. Solar association Acesol agrees with some of the suggestions but rejects the proposed tariff change. The current system has been the main market driver for Chilean PV for the last two years.
Canadian Solar sells 80% of 482 MW portfolio in Brazil to Qatar’s Nebras
There are four PV projects and all the facilities will use bifacial panels provided by the Brazilian factory of the Chinese-Canadian manufacturer.
Dutch government plans 100 MW floating PV project at dredging spoil depot
Two government agencies and the Port of Rotterdam are planning to deploy the installation at De Slufter, a 250-hectare depot for contaminated sediment.
Canada’s Saskatchewan province tenders second large scale PV project
Utility SaskPower has closed the request for qualification phase for a 10 MW plant which prompted 22 applications from 13 companies. The province wants 60 MW of renewables by 2021. The tender for a first PV plant of the same size was finalized by SaskPower in June.
EU approves Lithuania’s auction plan for renewables
The procurement scheme has a budget of €385 million and is open to all renewable energies. Auctions will be held by the country’s National Commission for Energy Control and Prices.
