India: TANGEDCO proposes severe net metering cut
The Tamil Nadu utility is planning to slash its net metering tariff from INR 6.63 – 7.23/kWh to potentially as little as INR 2.20/kWh in response to recent record-low tariffs in the state and as a means to increase uptake of rooftop solar.
Austria´s new PV installations reaches 156 MW in 2016
A small increase of 2.6 % was recorded in the Central European country last year. The Austrian Photovoltaic Association is still calling for an adjustment of the state´s Green Electricity Act to unleash the limited PV extension.
NASA tests new roll-out solar array in space
The space agency has successfully deployed its new roll out solar array in space for testing. The new panels are lighter and more flexible than the standard folded arrays on older satellites.
Renewables could create 300,000 jobs in India over next five years: report
India’s Council on Energy, Environment and Water states, in a joint report with the Natural Resources Defense Council, that the growth in renewables in India could create 300,000 new jobs over the next five years.
Sharp to build 16 MW of rooftop PV in Thailand
Sharp Solar Solution Asia (SSSA), a unit of the Japanese group, will install solar panels on top of stores owned by Bangkok-based hypermarket retailer Big C. The two companies are now discussing the possibility of expanding the agreement to include an additional 11 MW of PV capacity.
ABB microgrid to control solar, wind power on island of Aruba
The microgrid will be supplied to WEB Aruba N.V., a utility that controls a large portion of the island’s power. Technology and software is designed to better integrate high levels of renewable power while also delivering storage backup and load shedding capabilities.
Saint Lucia to get first utility-scale solar plant
The island country in the eastern Caribbean is preparing to host a 3 MW solar PV plant, its first utility-scale renewable energy project.
Alberta launches $36 million solar rebate scheme
Rebates can cover up to 30% of the costs for buying and installing a residential or commercial PV system. The program is expected to enable the deployment or around 50 MW of solar capacity.
Abu Dhabi releases safety standards for PV under net metering
The conformity assessment scheme is expected to spur development of solar distributed generation. PV installations up to 5 MW have currently access to net metering.
UGE secures $15 contract to install 9 MW in Ontario
The Canadian developer will build 15 ground-mounted solar plants in Peterborough. The projects are owned by the local utility and the town’s government.
