Emiliano Bellini
Quebec-based pension fund La Caisse makes another solar investment
Canada’s second-largest pension fund and U.K. developer Lightsource BP have announced a joint debt investment of £150 million to finance a solar portfolio across several countries.
Arctech unveils new single-axis tracker
The device, conceived for large scale solar, is said to solve the instability issues associated with the two-modules-in-portrait structure and to have the largest south-north slope seen in the tracker industry.
Researchers improve stability of vanadium disulfide used in lithium-ion batteries
Scientists say they have observed how the instability of vanadium disulfide in lithium-ion batteries occurs and claim to have solved the problem by applying a nanolayered titanium disulfide coating.
Another big auction for solar in Brazil
After being excluded from the A-6 auction last year, solar will now be entitled to compete for 20-year PPAs alongside wind, hydro and thermal power projects in future procurements. The next auction will be held on September 26.
UK researchers seek to use perovskite solar cells for hydrogen production
A research team has applied a waterproof coating obtained from graphite to a perovskite cell intended to power the production of hydrogen underwater. The cell is said to have worked underwater longer than expected.
IHS Markit expects 4.3 GW of new storage this year
And the analyst expects that annual new additions figure to rise to 10.6 GW in 2025. This year the U.S. will surpass South Korea as the largest storage market due to new capacity for solar-plus-storage projects. In Japan and Australia, growth will be spurred by the termination of FIT programs.
Panasonic transfers solar manufacturing unit to GS-Solar and creates new research JV
The Japanese multinational will transfer its Panasonic Energy Malaysia unit to Chinese heterojunction module provider GS-Solar as part of a broader cooperation agreement. Panasonic’s solar R&D business will form part of a JV in Japan to be 90% owned by GS-Solar.
Ikea to begin the sale of solar modules in Sweden
By 2025, the furniture giant plans to offer solar panels worldwide at its stores. The company is in negotiation with potential partners and a supplier for the sale of PV panels in Sweden, which is planned to start in the autumn.
REC Silicon moves nearer shutdown of US polysilicon facility
The company has reported declining revenues and increasing losses in its first-quarter update. A plan to reduce polysilicon production will begin in a week’s time and if access to the Chinese market is not restored, a complete shutdown could be in place by the end of June.
Netherlands to issue green bonds worth up to €6 billion
On May 21, the triple-A rated nation will issue 20-year bonds for sustainable investments undertaken by its government. Eligible projects will include large scale renewable energy plants developed under the SDE+ incentive program.
