Emiliano Bellini
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.
Off-grid solar in Africa gets $224 million World Bank lift
The funds will be used for electrification projects in West Africa and the Sahel to bring electricity to 1.7 million people.
JCM kicks off EPC tender for 20 MW solar project in Malawi
Malawian independent power producer Golomoti JCM Solar Corporation Limited is planning a PV plant in Golomoti, 100km south east of Lilongwe. The project will sell power to utility ESCOM under a long-term PPA.
Consolidation of Taiwanese PV industry continues with another shutdown
Taiwanese manufacturer E-Ton Solar said it will halt solar cell production due to strong price pressure. It is now seeking to sell two of its three manufacturing facilities in southern Taiwan, while its shares have been suspended from trading on Taiwan’s stock exchange.
France suspends tenders for self-consumption solar projects
The suspension of tenders for projects ranging in size from 100 kW to 1 MW under net metering was due to an unexpectedly low number of applications and disproportionately high final tariffs for surplus power.
South Korea to raise renewables target to 129 GW by 2040
Under the South Korean government’s new strategy, renewables would cover up to 35% of total power demand by 2040. The government sees the potential to deploy up to 235 GW of solar and wind, but cites a lack of land and relatively low solar radiation as factors that could hinder growth.
Taiwan’s PVEVL expands performance tests to perovskite, quantum dot and organic solar cells
Despite the difficulties its solar manufacturing industry faces, the Taiwanese government is ramping up its R&D efforts to measure the efficiency of what it calls “new-generation light-driven photovoltaics”.
Solar ready to take more risks in Brazil’s upcoming auction
According to Brazilian solar energy association ABSOLAR, PV project developers will be awarded “quantity contracts” in the auction to be held on June 27. The association, however, warns that changes in contract structures require adequate adaptation and correct implementation to achieve success.
