Soventix: “We are tired of depending on politics” – Interview
Interview: Soventix has been focusing on PV projects in developing countries for years. The German solar company is now building 11 hybrid plants for a Nigerian bank. Soventix CEO, Thorsten Preugschas explains in an interview with pv magazine what the particular challenges of such projects are and why investments are planned in Nigeria.
Annual solar installations to surpass 105 GW on Chinese deployment, European rebound — report
Global solar installations could reach about 106 GW this year, largely on the back of high deployment in China and an anticipated demand recovery in Europe, according to a recent report.
The weekend read: Five key questions facing rooftop solar in 2018
Distributed solar can arrive in many forms, from the typical small array installed on a family home, to vast, multi-megawatt installations atop large warehouses and factories. Each market sector faces its own challenges and opportunities, and pv magazine has identified five key questions that could well shape these various rooftop sectors throughout 2018 and beyond.
Belgium: Flemish solar market grew by 188 MW in 2017
Almost all of last year’s newly installed PV capacity comes in the form of residential PV systems not exceeding 10 kW, installed under net metering.
SMA, Danfoss create JV to deliver solar, storage and energy management to supermarkets
The German and Danish technology firms will utilize their various expertise and platforms to help supermarket operators increase their renewable energy footprint and optimize their energy usage.
Brazil surpasses 175 MW of solar under net metering
Overall, 23,627 solar PV power systems were installed in the country under the country’s distributed generation scheme.
Czech Republic launches new round of its Green Savings Programme
The scheme provides investment support for residential and commercial solar PV systems. The round’s deadline is April 30, 2018.
Portugal announces distributed solar generation FIT of €95/MWh for 2018
The 15 year feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar power units with a capacity of up to 250 kW for this year will be maintaned at the same level of that of the past three years.
Belgium’s Flanders region plans to launch virtual net metering
The new scheme, named Zonnendelen, will enable electricity consumers with no available surface to install a PV system to buy a share in a net metered installation owned by a third party, and to use its stake in the project to reduce their energy bills.
Japan: Disappointing first auction; plans for 200 GW solar by 2050
Japan’s first solar PV auction has reaped disappointing results, with just 41 MW set to be developed. Under the revised FIT, meanwhile, 27.7 GW were cancelled. Despite this, JPEA is aiming for 200 GW of solar PV installs by 2050. Overall, cumulative installed capacity has reached over 40 GW. There are still many plans afoot for large-scale projects, although it is the rooftop sector, which holds the most promise.
