India energy ministry plans 7.5 GW support program for domestic solar manufacturing
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has initiated the second phase of its CPSU program to provide installation capacity totaling 7.5 GW of solar projects made using domestically manufactured solar cells and modules.
ABB secures $30m renewable integration contract in Germany
The Swiss power electronics giant has been chosen by Dutch-German transmission system operator TenneT to shore-up and stabilize parts of the grid to make them more amenable to intermittent power supply from renewables such as wind and solar.
BREAKING: Equis Energy secures approval for 1 GW Australian solar farm
The massive utility-scale PV plant will be built by the Singapore-based developer in Queensland Western Downs, near Wandoan, for an estimated investment of up to AU$2bn. Storage component likely to be added at later date.
Huawei begins string inverter installation at 50 MW Malaysian solar farm
The project will become the largest single solar site in Malaysia once completed. Chinese inverter company Huawei is installing its SUN2000-42KTL string inverters at the plant.
UK: Solar Trade Association secures government climbdown on battery tax
UK taxation department HMRC agrees to place batteries sold with a new solar system in 5% VAT tax rate following lobbying by the Solar Trade Association. Government will also consider proposals to offer reduced rate to all storage.
Italy’s Enertronica signs 200 MW solar supply and service deal in Spain
Two memorandums of understanding have been signed between Enertronica Group and Spanish EPCs for the shipment of 200 MW of inverters and SCADA and power plant controllers.
Lithium-ion batteries below $200/kWh by 2019 will drive rapid storage uptake, finds IHS Markit
The analysts expect cumulative installed base of energy storage to reach 52 GW globally by 2025, up from 4 GW today. Annual revenues for grid-connected storage to reach more than $7bn by that date despite sharp price declines.
Emerging countries imported $1.8bn of Chinese solar modules in Q1, finds BNEF
More than half of all Chinese solar shipments in March this year went to India, while emerging countries alone now account for 60% of China’s PV exports, according to the latest Bloomberg New Energy Finance 3Q Frontier Power Market Outlook.
Solarcentury and IKEA launch residential home battery in UK
The new product, available to U.K. online customers, will retail from £3,000 for a standalone battery, or for as little as £6,925 for the solar panel-plus-battery package.
SMA expects strong 2017 as firm raises annual forecast
The German solar inverter specialist has increased its earnings forecast for the year to between €900m and €950m as orders swell.
