RES closes financing on 68 MW PV plant in Queensland
RES Australia has announced financial close on the Emerald Solar Park, a 68 MW PV project to be located in the Central Highlands region of Queensland. The project is the first in Australia to be supported by a PPA with a corporate off-taker.
Singapore to receive $18m solar and storage research boost
The country’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) has awarded two research grants to various consortia and higher education establishments specifically to support improvements in Singapore’s solar power forecasting abilities, in addition to the creation of a test-bed for developing energy storage capabilities.
Global solar market to grow 30% and reach close to 100 GW this year, says Bernreuter Research
The German-based analyst and polysilicon specialist believes that newly installed solar PV capacity will hit 95 GW in 2017 and could hit 100 GW. Polysilicon spot prices set to fall by end of year.
Off-grid solar has saved $5bn in energy spending since 2010, finds World Bank Group, GOGLA report
Despite 7% lower product sales, the latest global Off-grid solar market report from the World Bank Group reveals that market is thriving. However, industry needs to move quicker if it is to achieve global 2030 universal energy access goal.
European Parliament proposes nationally binding renewables targets
The European Union should aim for 35% of renewables in its energy consumption by 2030, with nationally binding targets introduced to support EU goal, European Parliament says.
SoftBank Vision Fund to build 3 GW of solar and storage in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Electricity Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Public Investment Fund and Softbank Vision Fund to create 3 GW of solar and storage capacity in the Kingdom in 2018.
Indian large-scale solar growth could slow to 5-6 GW next year, finds Bridge to India
The Indian solar market is presently undergoing many challenges, including the GST effects, high module process and decelerating power demand. India’s utility sector is expected to stabilize at a much lower 5-6 GW growth rate per annum for the next two-three years, says Bridge to India.
Interview: Floating PV is poised to make a splash, says SERIS
At the recent PV Taiwan event, pv magazine caught up with Lu Zhao, head of PV System Technology Group at the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) to discuss the current potential of floating PV applications, and examine how hydropower coupled with floating solar could become a world-leading energy sector.
Enel wins Ethiopia’s 100 MW solar tender
The tender process was launched by Ethiopian power utility EPP in May 2016. The solar plant will be built in Metehara, around 200 km east of Addis Ababa.
Solar costs will fall 60% over next decade to fuel PV adoption, says IRENA head
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) forecasts as much as 90 GW of new solar additions annually across the globe over the next few years, driving a 60% reduction in costs.
