Utility Scale PV

Record solar generation from large-scale and rooftop PV is driving down the wholesale cost of energy, reducing emissions to record lows, and helping to set new records for minimum demand for electricity from the grid, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

State Grid Ningxia Zhongwei Power Supply Co. has completed the first section of a 3 GW solar plant in the Tengger Desert, in China’s Ningxia Hui region. The plant required an investment of around CNY 5.11 billion ($738 million).

Built Robotics says its RPD 35 autonomous robotic pile driving system is three to five times faster than manual pile driving platforms.

South Africa’s government has initiated a public consultation to exempt some PV and battery storage facilities from obtaining environmental authorization during the permitting process, but only for sites categorized as having “low” or “medium” environmental sensitivity.

The Mauritian authorities have issued a tender for the development of a 10 MW solar plant. Prospective developers are required to submit bids by June 9.

Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company has identified an area of 65,500 m2 for a solar project in Muscat Governorate. Interested developers have until May 4 to submit their proposals.

OCP Group has unveiled a plan to power its operations in Morocco with 200 MW of solar plants, backed by $110.5 million of financing.

China reached 327.4 GW cumulative installed PV capacity at the end of March, according to new figures from the National Energy Administration (NEA).

A fire broke out on Monday at the 110 MW Beryl Solar Farm in New South Wales, Australia, causing damages that are still being assessed. Emergency services were able to quickly bring the blaze under control and the unaffected areas of the solar farm are now back online.

Biocrusts are microbe-rich deposits in soil that are crucial to ecosystem sustainability in arid environments. US researchers are restoring biocrusts with the help of shade from solar.