Markets & Policy

The governments of the U.K. and India have announced a new green fund, managed by Lightsource BP and the Everstone Group, which will see up to £500 million invested in green energy in India. The U.K. has also joined the Indian-led International Solar Alliance (ISA).

U.S. technology company Microlink Devices has achieved a record efficiency of 37.75% on its triple junction thin film cells. The lightweight cell achieves a power density of more than 3000 W/kg, and is designed for use in satellites and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). The new efficiency record is confirmed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

A proposal to make domestic content requirement mandatory for solar PV energy projects is currently being discussed by the Jordanian Parliament.

Through the tender, the Palestine Investment Fund is aiming to install solar PV systems with an average installed capacity of 70 kW on the roofs of 500 public schools in the state.

Belgian institute Imec will be the coordinator of a project involving many of Europe’s leading research organizations, which will focus on developing stable, scalable, low cost PV modules based on perovskite technology. The project, named ‘ESPResSo’ has received more than €5 million in funding from the European Union.

Analysis from Rystad Energy has revealed that sub-AU$60/MWh utility-scale solar projects could be viable in sunny parts of Australia today. The highly competitive EPC landscape has been identified as the major driver of the improving PV power plant economics although, as always, cost of capital remains key.

In 2017, newly installed solar power in Poland reached around 81 MW, the majority of which comprised PV installations 40 kW or smaller in size.

The French oil group, which is the parent company of U.S. solar manufacturer, SunPower, is set to acquire a 74.33% stake in France’s third largest power utility, Direct Energie. With this move, Total is gearing up to expand its presence in the power sector, particularly in France and Belgium.

The project, expected to be finalized by April 2019, is being planned by Spanish blockchain platform, CryptosolarTech. A big cryptocurrency mining server, relying on 3,000 servers to mine cryptocurrencies, will be located near Malaga, in the southernmost part of Spain. Ten solar projects totaling 45 MW will provide the necessary power, the estimated aggregate investment of which is €42.8 million.

U.S. solar trade organization, Solar Energy Idustries Association (SEIA) has listed cancelled investments and hiring as well as job losses in its comments supporting requests for exclusion from Section 201 tariffs.