Ireland proposes planning exemptions for rooftop solar
The Irish government has drafted a proposal that would exempt domestic and some non-domestic solar installations from planning permission, in order to make solar installation shorter and simpler, bringing the nation in line with the EU Solar Rooftops Initiative.
Portuguese solar generation hit highest point ever in May
Solar generation accounted for a 8.2% of Portugal’s total electricity production in May – a new record for the country.
Japanese solar building up resiliency against curtailment
Mitsubishi and Japanese utility Kyushu Electric Power are teaming up to use more grid-scale storage, in order to reduce financial losses caused by curtailment.
Dutch agency probing payments for surplus solar power
Rob Jetten, the Dutch energy minister, said the nation’s competition regulator is now looking at how energy suppliers are paying for surplus power from residential PV owners. He said that a reasonable tariff should cover at least 80% of energy prices.
New photovoltaic in-roof system from Switzerland
Swiss module manufacturer Megasol has unveiled a novel rooftop PV system in two variants — full-black and translucent. The installation consists of vertical supports, a ridge profile, and solar modules.
South African data center signs up for 87 MW of solar
A large campus in Johannesburg – Vantage Data Centers’ first in Africa – will receive a third of its energy from solar panels.
South Korea kicks off 2 GW PV tender
Selected projects will be awarded a fixed rate under a 20-year contract under the country’s renewable energy certificate (REC) scheme and will sell electricity to local power distributors.
Canadian consortium wants to deploy photovoltaic noise barriers across North America
A consortium led by building-integrated photovoltaics maker Mitrex wants to install highway noise barriers with integrated solar that have 1.2 MW of capacity per kilometer. The technology is currently in the pilot phase at government entity locations in North America.
UK council plans MW-sized solar canopy linked to storage, EV recharging
The project, planned at a council-owned commercial development, is expected to be connected to 2 MW of storage.
EU energy fund to commit $514 million for solar projects at Romanian mining waste sites
Panels will be installed at waste sites in five mining towns as part of the latest, €2.4 billion ($2.57 million) round of investment from a fund set up to help coal-dependent European member states with the energy transition.
