Hitachi, Itochu, NEDO switch on PV microgrid pilot in India
Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has started operating a microgrid powered by a 1 MW solar array in western India.
Panasonic’s Q1 profit widens to $445 million
Panasonic reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of ¥48.8 billion ($445.1 million) in the first quarter of the current fiscal year — up sharply from ¥29.2 billion a year earlier — despite a decline in sales of its solar panels.
Toshiba narrows PV loss as group struggles to survive
Toshiba has reported a group net loss of JPY 965.7 billion ($8.8 billion) for fiscal 2016, as its energy systems and solutions business — which which builds solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower projects, in addition to battery-based energy storage systems and smart meters — posted an operating loss of JPY 41.7 billion in the 12 months to the end of March 2017, marking a significant improvement from the preceding fiscal year.
Households-as-power-stations could reduce energy consumption by 60% across UK
If homes across the U.K. were designed to generate, store and release their own solar energy, household fuel bills could be cut by £600 a year, finds a report.
Smart Solar begins building 34 MW in northern Japan
Smart Solar has started installing 34 MW of solar on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The project will include 14.4 MWh of lithium-ion storage capacity.
Philadelphia Solar to build 12 MWh storage system at Jordan PV park
The lithium-ion large-scale battery will be the biggest in the Middle East once commissioned this year by Al Badiya, a subsidiary of Philadelphia Solar.
Italian region of Lombardia launches €4 million incentive program for solar storage
The program will provide rebates that cover up to 50% of the cost for purchasing and installing a storage system coupled to a PV system.
UK: Solar Trade Association secures government climbdown on battery tax
UK taxation department HMRC agrees to place batteries sold with a new solar system in 5% VAT tax rate following lobbying by the Solar Trade Association. Government will also consider proposals to offer reduced rate to all storage.
Lithium-ion batteries below $200/kWh by 2019 will drive rapid storage uptake, finds IHS Markit
The analysts expect cumulative installed base of energy storage to reach 52 GW globally by 2025, up from 4 GW today. Annual revenues for grid-connected storage to reach more than $7bn by that date despite sharp price declines.
Solarcentury and IKEA launch residential home battery in UK
The new product, available to U.K. online customers, will retail from £3,000 for a standalone battery, or for as little as £6,925 for the solar panel-plus-battery package.
