Energy Storage

More than 80 energy experts, coders and product designers from across Southeast Asia gathered in Bangkok today for the Smart Energy Hackathon, a 30-hour competition that aims to foster the development of new digital energy solutions such as public blockchains for the provision of PV generation data.

Nearly two-thirds of all solar storage systems sold in Germany come from these four suppliers. According to EuPD Research, about 16,800 photovoltaic storage systems were sold in the country in the first half of the year. Falling prices and an attractive rooftop market are driving demand upwards.

The Swiss developer of power electronics and storage solutions for the clean energy sector will install a 2 MW battery to support the 90 MW Burbo Bank offshore wind farm in the U.K., and has also secured a supply contract to install its solar inverters at 750 Indian railway stations.

Japanese trading firm Itochu has revealed plans to install 507 kW solar on the roof of a new mall in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

In terms of micro-grids, key to reducing diesel consumption by renewables are efficient PPAs, finds consultancy THEnergy, noting that the complexity of these contracts is much greater than in the case of grid-connected photovoltaic systems.

Report by TFE Consulting shows how investment in micro-grid businesses and technology is bridging the informational, operational and psychological gap between the end customer and micro-grid developers and investors.

China’s BYD has recorded a profit attributable to owners of the company of CNY 1,723 million ($259.8 million) for the first half of 2017, down 23.8% year on year, as revenue from its PV and rechargeable battery business slid 15.8% from a year earlier.

BYD has agreed to supply 180 MW of PV modules to Spanish developer Cobra for use in the Guaimbe project in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo.

A smart-grid project combining PV generation and battery storage has been unveiled in Haiti. The project is the result of collaboration between the Biohaus Foundation and relief organization NPH Germany. The project will substantially reduce the nation’s reliance on diesel generators.

Standards Australia wrapped up public consultation last week on a draft standard for battery storage, setting the stage for the development of a comprehensive framework for future deployment.