Russia’s first floating PV plant comes online
The facility was built with 140 heterojunction solar panels mounted on pontoon-type floats. The project is located at the site of the 320 MW Nizhne-Bureyskaya hydropower plant, owned and operated by Rushydro in the Russian Far East’s Amur region.
Another record year for small-sized solar in Germany
Germany may see the deployment of around 800 MW of PV systems not exceeding 10 kW in size so far this year, according to EUPD Research. If this result is achieved, this year may even surpass record year 2011.
UK water utility launches solar tender
Southern Waters is considering buying electricity from generation facilities on its sites in southern England. After launching a request for information process last year, it is now seeking bids from independent power producers.
Photo-electrochemical cells vs. PV electrolysis
Dutch researchers have analyzed the two most promising solar-assisted technologies to produce green hydrogen, based on the levelized cost of hydrogen. They found that PV-powered hydrogen production offers the lowest costs, at $6.22/kg, with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency ratio of 10.9%.
Indian hydropower company seeks EPC bids for 25 MW of floating PV
Bidders have until Aug. 25 to show interest in an engineering, procurement, and construction contract for a 25 MW floating solar plant in Khandwa district, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
PPA-linked 120 MW solar park goes online in Australia
The 120 MW solar project near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, the first renewable energy asset in the portfolio of network owner Spark Infrastructure, has achieved a critical milestone in the face of market challenges and delays.
Colombia’s PV project pipeline reaches 8.8 GW
According to the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME), there are currently 385 projects totaling 15 GW at different stages of development, including 4 biomass, 17 wind, 93 hydro, 271 photovoltaic and 7 thermal.
Facebook announces nearly 1 GW of new energy deals
As Facebook races to meet its goal of becoming 100% powered by renewables by the end of this year, it has made another massive investment in clean energy by signing contracts for 806 MW of new solar and wind capacity, with projects in Ireland and the US states of Utah, Ohio, Illinois, and Tennessee.
Texas approves 12 GW of solar projects in seven months
The Texas grid operator has more than tripled its pace of completing utility-scale solar interconnection studies since 2019. Yet the battery backlog continues to grow.
Innovative community solar in the United States
A 497 kW project on five roofs at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., uses SREC sales to provide $1.50 in community benefits for every dollar of power generated. Call it community solar-plus.
