Sweden increases 2018 solar budget by another $20 million
Solar rebates were increased, from covering 20% of the cost of buying and installing a rooftop PV system, to 30%, starting from last January. Overall, the Swedish government will grant around US$80 million in incentives this year.
United Nations backs solar powered irrigation
A new report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization outlines the benefits of solar powered irrigation systems to both large and small scale farming operations in developing countries. The report also stresses the need for comprehensive management and regulation of such systems, to avoid unsustainable water use.
Global investments in small-scale solar rise 16% in Q1, one of few sectors to buck downward trend, finds BNEF
New quarterly figures from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) show that investments in solar PV arrays of less than 1 MW hit US$14.3 billion worldwide in Q1 against 10% year-on-year contraction in global renewable investments.
Renewables set to lower UK’s summer demand for grid electricity, says National Grid
Rise in small scale solar contributing towards new trend of falling summertime peak transmission system demand on U.K. grid, says outlook report. Inflexibile gas and nuclear plants may be curtailed to make way for solar and wind.
BBOXX leads on £2.5m crowdfunding scheme to bring affordable PV to Rwanda, Togo and Nigeria
In partnership with online investment platform Lendahand Ethex, British off-grid power specialist BBOXX will seek to raise £2.5 million via a series of retail focused investment offers to garner funds for the roll out of its solar systems in a handful of African countries.
RE generation capacity topped 2,179 GW in 2017 – IRENA
According to the latest statistics from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), global renewable energy (RE) generation capacity hit 2,179 GW last year. Leading the charge were renewable hydro, onshore wind and solar PV.
2018: India second largest solar market on back of 113 GW global installations
With 11 GW, India is set to become the second largest solar PV market in 2018, usurping the U.S., as global demand reaches 113 GW, says IHS Markit. It adds that Q4 will be the biggest quarter in history for installations, with 34 GW expected.
Eco Energy to roll out off-grid solar to 10,000 rural Pakistani households
A US$600,000 investment has been secured by EcoEnergy to help it provide off-grid solar PV solutions to 10,000 rural households in Pakistan.
Israel issues 1.6 GW scheme for rooftop solar
The scheme, set to be implemented over the next three years, includes net metering, FITs for small-scale solar, and a series of tenders.
Fossil fuel global grip being loosened by holy trinity of affordable PV, wind and storage, finds BNEF
‘Unprecedented challenge’ for fossil fuels as low LCOE for solar and wind power, allied to tumbling storage costs, sees renewables claim larger share of bulk and dispatchable generation while adding vital flexibility to global energy mix.
