Off-grid solar funding concentrated in just three companies
With a previous 50-50 split between equity and debt investment funding for the off-grid market lurching to 84% borrowing, and commentators stating most of this year’s backing was agreed before the onset of Covid-19, fears are mounting about the prospects for the sector.
kWh Analytics unveils tool to address optimistic pricing, underperformance in PV projects
Jigar Shah, the president of Generate Capital, says that accuracy will come with the use of “objective market data.”
Nuclear ‘not an effective low carbon option’
Researchers in the UK have analyzed 25 years of electricity-production and carbon emissions data from 123 countries. Their findings show renewables are considerably more effective than nuclear in reducing carbon emissions from energy generation and that the two technologies tend to get in each other’s way when considered in a joint approach.
Floating PV paired with hydroelectric dams to cover peak load
A research team from Pakistan has modeled the addition of a floating PV array to an existing dam project to increase the availability of power during peak load hours.
Port of Rotterdam micro-market trial boosts battery storage returns 20%
A small-area trial of artificial intelligence and blockchain-based energy trading software demonstrated big improvements across all renewable energy performance metrics. The port authority now wants the system across all its premises.
Total-EDF secure 1.35 GW of Indian solar in four months
The generation capacity – three 450 MWp projects in the state of Rajasthan – is expected to be commissioned towards early 2022.
US steel mill to get powered by 300 MW of solar
The iron and steel sector is the ‘world’s largest industrial source of climate pollution.’ This steel mill in Pueblo, Colorado, will be the first in North America to rely on solar power.
New trial could nix rooftop solar export tribulations in South Australia
As some parts of Australia’s distribution networks threaten to black out under the flow of rooftop solar exports, ARENA announces funding for a trial that will enable flexible exports in line with what the networks can bear. Smart software is the answer.
Swiss solar monitoring start-up raises $272,000
SmartHelio claims to have witnessed a near 200% jump in demand for its deep-data driven solar asset management solution, which plugs into solar panels or energy storage systems. Sales of the internet-of-things enabled, cloud product have leapt in the last six months.
Swiss developer wants to deploy 107 MW in Italian industrial zone
Comoil SA is seeking approval for two solar plants with capacities of 62.2 MW and 44.8 MW. It wants to install them in an industrial zone in Macchiareddu, Sardinia.
