Patrick Jowett
Indonesian government abolishes net metering
The Indonesian government has ended net metering for rooftop solar installations. The Jakarta-based Institute for Essential Services Reform says this could make it harder for the country to meet its solar deployment targets, as PV installations will become more expensive for households and small businesses.
EDP Renewables wins Singapore’s largest public solar tender
EDP Renewables has won Phase 8 of Singapore’s SolarNova program, the country’s largest public solar tender to date. The developer will install up to 200 MWp of rooftop PV capacity.
Air Liquide, Sasol sign PPAs to supply 110 MW of renewables in South Africa
Air Liquide and Sasol have signed new power purchase agreements (PPAs) with South Africa’s Enel Green Power RSA. The two companies have entered into four PPAs since the start of 2023 and are now set to supply around 690 MW of renewables to Sasol’s site in Secunda, South Africa.
Highfield Solar secures financing for 93 MW of solar in Ireland
Highfield Solar has achieved financial close for a 93 MWp solar plant in Ireland, securing €65 million ($70.6 million) of debt financing. Installation of the project’s grid-connection infrastructure has already begun, with construction of the actual solar array to be finished by September 2024.
VSun Solar signs polysilicon supply deal with OCI
OCI has agreed to supply polysilicon to Toyo Solar, the cell production subsidiary of VSun Solar, in order to support wafer production.
Masdar reaches financial close on 1.8 GW of solar
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) have reached financial close on a 1.8 GW solar project – the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the United Arab Emirates. Masdar was chosen to build and operate the project after submitting a bid of $0.016/kWh – the park’s lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) to date.
Malaysian utility to build 2.5 GW of hybrid hydro-floating solar
Tenaga Nasional Berhad, a Kuala Lumpur-based utility, says it plans to install floating solar farms at its hydropower facilities. It targeting 2.5 GW of capacity to support Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap.
Malta extends FITs, rebates for residential solar and batteries
Malta has extended its feed-in tariffs (FITs) and a rebate scheme to support the adoption of residential solar and battery energy storage systems for another year. The authorities will start accepting applicants for the two initiatives again from Feb. 23.
South African province approves 800 MW solar project
The provincial government of Gauteng, South Africa, plans to set up a solar park with a capacity of at least 800 MW. Premier Panyaza Lesufi says 100 MW could be connected to the grid from April.
Researchers develop hemispherical organic solar cells
A Turkish research team has tested a hemispherical shell-shaped organic active layer for photovoltaic applications. The group found the shape maximizes light absorption and angular coverage when compared to flat-structured cells, suggesting the structure would be beneficial for applications requiring flexible light capture such as wearable electronics.
