USTDA awards grant for 100 MW solar+storage project in Mozambique
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a US$1.2 million grant for a feasibility study assessing the viability of an up to 100 MW solar PV plant, coupled with storage, in Mozambique.
130 MW solar project announced in Myanmar
Thailand-based Modern Energy Management (MEM) says it has teamed up with an undisclosed investor to develop a 130 MWp solar PV project in Myanmar. It is expected to come online in Q4 2019. Overall, the country is said to have a large-scale solar pipeline totaling 1.5 GW.
Goldbeck Solar plans 150 MW of solar in the Netherlands
The EPC has been operating in the Dutch market for a while. It expects to commission 150 MW of solar PV over the next two to three years. In related news, a total of 772 dairy farms are participating in the FrieslandCampina Solar program.
India to introduce cap on solar tariff
In a major development, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has directed the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to fix the upper permissible solar tariff at Rs. 2.50 (US$0.036)/kWh and Rs. 2.68 ($0.038)/kWh for developers using domestic solar cells and modules (without safeguard duties), and imported products (with safeguard duties), respectively.
Canadian Solar, ET Energy to build 132 MW of solar in South Africa
Canadian Solar Inc. and ET Energy will deliver EPC services to two large-scale solar PV projects totaling 132 MWp for South Africa’s BioTherm Energy.
Japanese government hails new quality guidelines for PV projects
The Japanese government said the recent publication of a quality-evaluation guide for solar projects will ensure the long-term sustainability of the country’s PV sector, partly by improving maintenance standards, while serving as a potential boon for investment in the relatively dormant secondary market for operational installations.
Germany reaches milestone of 100,000 installed storage systems
According to the German solar trade association, BSW-Solar the number of energy storage systems in Germany is set to double in two years. Already, politicians recognize the increasing relevance storage has, in light of the progressing energy transition.
Undaunted Xinyi presses on with production expansion
Chinese solar glass manufacturer will forge ahead with plans for three new Malaysian fabs – at some point – but EPC and development operations are fading into the shadows in the wake of Beijing’s new PV policy direction.
Solar supplies more than 10% of electricity in five US states
Massachusetts has joined California, Hawaii, Nevada and Vermont in the club of 10% solar states. PV made up 2.4% of total generation in the United States during the first half of the year, with solar and wind together making up slightly less than 10%.
Ramaphosa offers optimism for South African solar
Although lobbyists will be dismayed a 1 GW annual cap on PV will remain, the indications are it will disappear after 2030 – if not before – and renewables appear to have become a more attractive proposition than nuclear, as coal is phased out.
