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.
China’s cumulative PV capacity hits 130 GW, to reach 250 GW by 2020
According to China’s National Energy Administration (NEA), the country installed a total of 52.83 GW of solar PV in 2017, with cumulative capacity now sitting at 130.25 GW. Asia Europe Clean Energy (Solar) Advisory Co. Ltd (AECEA) forecasts this to reach 250 GW by 2020.
TÜV Rheinland: Centralized tracker architecture can reduce LCOE
A report published by TÜV Rheinland, which was commissioned by tracker manufacturer, Array Technologies, shows that centralized tracker systems such as those offered by Array Technologies offer an LCOE advantage over other, decentralized system architectures.
PIF, Palestinian Government invest $35 million in PV rooftop projects
The Palestinian Investment Fund (PIF) and the Ministry of Education have signed an agreement to install 35 MW of solar PV on the roofs of 500 public schools.
Skanska, Saule Technologies to install BIPV perovskite modules on office buildings
The two companies have signed a license agreement. The first pilot projects with the semitransparent perovskite solar cells are planned for this year in Poland
BNEF releases 2018 clean energy predictions
BNEF has released its top 10 clean energy predictions for 2018, including at least 107 GW of solar PV installs. China will lead, but Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East will notably up the ante. India will install less RE than in 2017, but will see fossils outpace RE for the last time; and China will see distributed grid connected solar leading the market. Li-ion prices are also declining, while EV sales grow.
China drags global clean energy investment to $333.5bn in 2017, finds BNEF
Despite approximate 25% fall in solar costs per MWh against 2015, last year saw more than $333 billion invested in clean energy, with global solar deployment figures topping 53 GW, finds new Bloomberg New Energy Finance report.
