Emiliano Bellini
PV in Slovakia is kept alive by residential segment
Slovakia has seen small amounts of PV installed over the past three years. In 2016, however, the market showed the first signs of a recovery led by the residential segment. The country reached 545 MW of installed PV power at the end of 2016.
Sweden’s plan to reduce tax for self-consumption by 98% moves forward
The Swedish government is proposing a 98% reduction to the tax on electricity generated by renewable energy power generators over 255 kW. The new rules were submitted to local Parliament and, if approved, would come into force by January 2018 at the latest.
DEWA completes 200 MW phase II of 1 GW Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
Construction on phase II of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is now finalized. The 200 MW unit of the 1 GW solar park came online a month ahead of schedule. DEWA revealed the plant was built at a cost of 1.2 billion AED ($326.7 million).
SunPower supplies 130 MW of modules in France
The US module manufacturer will supply 130 MW of modules for 25 projects selected in France’s recent tender for PV projects larger in size than 250 kW. Most of the modules will be manufactured at the company’s factory in Toulouse, south-western France.
Enel Green Power more than doubles global solar capacity in 2016
The renewable energy unit of Italian utility Enel installed 763 MW of additional solar capacity in 2016. Most of this capacity is located in Latin America and South Africa.
Ternienergia to install 10 MW solar plant in Tunisia
The Italian solar developer will build a 10 MW PV facility in Tozeur, southern Tunisia. The company will sign the $12.5 million contract for the project within a few days.
Eni, Sonatrach start construction on 10 MW PV plant in Algeria
Italian oil producer Eni and Sonatrach — an Algerian state-owned company that specializes in the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources — have broken ground on a 10 MW solar facility in southern Algeria.
Namibia publishes tariffs for net-metering
Namibia’s Electricity Control Board (ECB) has announced the new rates applicable to PV systems installed under the government’s net-metering scheme. The new mechanism was introduced by the government in November 2016. PV projects up to 500 kVa can be developed under the scheme.
South Africa’s PV capacity reaches 1.47 GW, new PV installations for 2016 total 509 MW
The South African solar market registered 509 MW of new PV installations in 2016. The country’s cumulative PV capacity reached 1.47 GW as of the end of December. Meanwhile, the price of solar power has dropped significantly over the past five years.
Solar demand is boosting silver prices, says Silver Institute
Two different reports highlight how PV demand is currently improving silver’s industrial offtake. The Silver Institute says that prices have increased 9% since the beginning of this year, while ETF Securities says that mining capital expenditure and investments are declining, and that this could further weigh on silver supply.
