Hungary deployed more than 400 MW of solar in 2018
The nation had a record year for solar energy development. Most of last year’s new additions – 320 MW – came through a FIT scheme but a further 90 MW was represented by net metered installations. Hungary’s cumulative installed PV capacity reached around 700 MW in 2018.
Inverter maker offered customer €50 for replacement product which would have carried ‘thousands of euros’ of associated costs
Often, it is not inverter faults that frustrate customers – such things happen – it is poor customer service. Here we look at the first of a series of cases that will be discussed at the pv magazine quality roundtable planned for Intersolar Europe, in Munich, which indicates what the industry must avoid in future.
Tesla, GAF, RGS and now Hanergy: will solar roofs finally heat up this year?
Hanergy displayed the newest rendition of its 18.7% Thin Film Flat SOLARtile in Australia last week as it gears up for the U.S. and global product launch later in 2019.
Croatian utility announces 350 MW solar expansion plan
After issuing its first call for renewable energy projects in February, power company HEP has now announced it will invest $23 million annually in solar until 2023, to add new capacity additions of 20 MW per year. The 350 MW plan is expected to be complete in 2030.
PV projects totaling 26 GW to compete in Brazil’s A-4 auction
Energy agency the EPE has admitted 1,581 projects with a total capacity of more than 54 GW to the procurement exercise’s initial phase.
Tokyo Gas buys 50% stake in Engie’s Mexican renewable energy unit
The Japanese gas provider has acquired a 50% interest in four Mexican PV projects with a combined capacity of 746 MW. The new joint venture will further develop solar and renewables across the country.
Storage set to come of age in the next five years
The transition for utility scale storage from offering short duration, high value grid services to the world of long duration energy peaking could spell the end of fossil fuel backup generation within five years.
PV projects above 100 MW capacity proliferate in central Italy
Tuscia, in the Lazio region, is the focus of plans for several big solar parks including a 150 MW project approved by the regional government, two schemes exceeding 100 MW and six more projects ranging in size from 17 to 70 MW. Some 700 MW of solar is under development in the municipalities of Montalto di Castro and Tuscania alone.
Spain’s new rules for self-consumption come into force
The provisions allow self-consumption for communities and industrial areas; reduce administrative procedures – especially for small self-consumers; and establish a simplified mechanism for the compensation of self-produced excess energy.
India takes to solar-powered desalination
A 10,000-liters-per-day plant in Tamil Nadu offers hope for powering clean water without fossil fuels. However, researchers warn the technology is difficult to scale up because PV panels take up so much space.
