How will China’s electricity price reform affect solar?
The nation’s plan for grid-parity solar – brought forward to ease a mounting public PV subsidy debt burden – could be left in ruins by a newly-announced scheme to part liberalize the electricity price, itself motivated by a need to bail out financially stricken state-owned power companies.
Macquarie to invest in 20 GW pipeline of renewables
With hundreds of billions of dollars in assets and funds under management, Macquarie Group is seeking to amplify its considerable influence, bringing investment and reporting to bear on accelerating climate mitigation and adaptation.
Solar-plus-storage to provide all the daytime electric needs of nation state
A 6 MW solar plant and 5 MW/2.5 MWh storage system are set to increase the share of renewable electricity on the Pacific island of Nauru from 3% to 47%. The $27 million project is being supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
French PV tender at Fessenheim nuclear plant draws €0.065 average price
The first 60 MW slice of the 300 MW procurement exercise attracted 12 winning bids. The French government intends to allocate 200 MW of generation capacity for ground-mounted PV plants no larger than 30 MW each plus 100 MW of rooftop systems.
Voltalia acquires French solar installer Helexia
The French renewables group has taken over a specialist in C&I rooftop solar and launched a share purchase offer to enable its employees to benefit from the growth of the company.
Bangladesh government pledges rooftop PV on all its buildings
The authorities expect to add 300 MW of rooftop solar in the next four years thanks to net metering regulations and hope the nation’s extensive clothing and textile industry will be encouraged to adopt PV.
India prepares to embrace agrivoltaics
Take-up has been slow considering the nation’s mammoth agricultural industry but, as a packed session on the topic at the recent Renewable Energy India show illustrated, attitudes may be changing in a nation which is already installing solar greenhouses.
Turkey to introduce provisions for storage
The Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority has published draft guidelines for the integration of storage in the energy system. The new provisions are expected to come into force at the beginning of next year.
Taiwan wants 3.7 GW of new solar by 2021
Prime minister Su Tseng-chang announced the ambition and said the new solar plan for 2019-20 will bring investment and business opportunities of around US$7.5 billion.
Northern Ireland grid aims to be ready for 95% renewables
The U.K. province’s grid operator SONI has announced a £500 million plan to prepare the network for an almost fully renewable electricity system within just five years. Despite the U.K. being seemingly paralyzed by Brexit, the network operator says it can already cope with 65% clean energy in the mix.
