Vattenfall: “PV will lead the race”
For a long time, the Swedish power utility has primarily focused on hydro and wind power when it comes to renewables. But in recent months, the number of solar PV and storage projects has significantly increased. This was reason enough for pv magazine to talk with Claus Wattendrup, head of Vattenfall’s Solar and Batteries Business Unit, about the utility’s concrete plans.
Oman taps UK firm for consultation on 1 GW residential solar plan
The Middle Eastern nation’s Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) has contracted PassivSystems to consult on the Oman government’s plan to install rooftop solar PV atop 30% of the nation’s homes.
Microsoft signs 315 MW of solar power contracts in Virginia, US
The company is billing the contract with a portion of a 500 MW project as the largest corporate solar power purchase agreement (PPA) to date.
Helsinki carbon neutral plan targets 1/6 of electricity needs from rooftop solar
Scheme’s goal is to reset the Finnish capital’s carbon neutrality target date to 2035 by ramping up renewable energy use, electric vehicle adoption and energy-efficiency upgrades.
Northwest Europe could install 60 GW of subsidy-free renewables by 2030, report finds
Aurora Energy Research report calculates as much as €180 billion renewable investment opportunities in the region through to 2030, of which €64 billion could be for subsidy-free projects.
Europe to add 11 GW of solar in 2018, IHS Markit says
The analysts forecast further solar growth for this year, with the Spanish market expected to become Europe’s fifth-largest in 2018.
The 9th ITRPV: Module price pressure to continue as production capacity tops 130 GWp, price learning curve rises to 22.8%
Annual International Roadmap for Photovoltaics, compiled by the German production equipment industrial association (VDMA), reveals slowdown in module price reduction for 2017 in contrast to significant market increase that saw module production capacity rise above 130 GW.
The weekend read: A watershed year for Belgium
Belgium market update: Once among Europe’s leaders in solar PV deployment, with more than 1 GW of capacity added in its peak year of 2011, Belgium’s market lost momentum following the abrupt closure of generous subsidy programs. In recent years, driven by its residential PV segment, the country has experienced a solar comeback, which became particularly prominent in the year just passed.
The US residential solar market fell 16% in 2017
GTM Research and SEIA’s final report on the U.S. solar market in 2017 shows both the struggle of the residential sector, as well as a larger than anticipated fall in utility-scale volumes, leading to a 30% contraction overall.
Ghana ups its solar ante with announcement of new programs
Ghana is planning to grow its solar industry, via utility-scale solar, off-grid projects and domestic manufacturing, the President said at the International Solar Alliance (ISA) founding ceremony.
