Goa approves new solar policy
Under the new policy, the government of India’s smallest state is aiming to install around 150 MW of PV capacity by 2022.
Netherlands sets €12 billion budget for 2018 SDE+ program
The first window to submit solar projects will be opened in the so-called “Spring Round” on March 19. The program is open, among other renewable energy projects, to solar plants over 1 MW and projects ranging in size from 15 kW to 1 MW.
UK could reach 12 GW storage capacity within five years, report finds
Lessons learned from solar failures could propel battery storage market to 12 GW by 2021, argues report by All-Party Parliamentary Group on Energy Storage, which implores government to be “on the front foot” when it comes to seizing ways to ensure energy security for the nation.
Brazil launches $154 million fund for residential PV in the Amazon basin
The funds will be used to provide financing for residential PV projects across all of the nine states that form the so-called Amazônia Legal.
Nicaragua extends fiscal incentives for renewables by another five years
The tax benefits for renewable energy generation projects, which were set to expire at the end of this year, have been extended until the end of 2022.
Switzerland to replace FITs with solar rebates in 2018
According to Swissolar, this change will allow more PV capacity to be deployed, as waiting times for the implementation of FIT contracts are considerably increasing. Self-consumption is also becoming more attractive for multi-family houses and commercial enterprises.
Slovakia’s Green Houses Program has €13 million 2018 budget
The scheme grants incentives for the installation of solar water heaters, PV systems up to 10 kW, heat pumps and small windmills.
Singulus develops new diamond wire multi wafer texturing process
The German tooling firm announces the development of a new texturing process for multicrystalline wafers using diamond wire sawing on its LINEX inline system. Company believes process can boost multi wafer market in 2018.
First Solar produces first S6 module, seals 800 MW of deals
The first modules have rolled off the line in Ohio as part of First Solar’s $1.4 billion dollar bet on its large-format Series 6. The company will also expand production in Vietnam.
Germany: Digital solar and storage event pits hardware against services
At the event “Digital Solar & Storage” organized by Solar Power Europe and Ibesa and held today in Munich, Germany, the opportunities offered by the digitization of the solar industry were discussed. A dispute arose over the role hardware development will play.
