Energy Management Systems

The European solar market decreased by 21% last year. This disappointing if not unexpected news opened SolarPower Europe’s annual summit in Brussels today. Grid integration of Europe’s solar capacity, EU market rules for protecting the ‘prosumer’ and reforms to the continent’s faltering Emissions Trading Scheme were major themes during the plenary session.

Investments in distributed solar made by North American and European utilities have reached an aggregate value of $297 million to date. North American power providers seem to be more confident on distributed solar, but European companies are investing more heavily in all distributed energy segments.

The company appears to be making progress with its restructuring, as it continues to launch increasingly sophisticated home energy solutions.

The Toyota Prius gets rooftop solar, Fraunhofer and Hevel push multicrystalline and HJT efficiencies, Saudi Arabia begins 300 MW tender process and Tesla publishes its Q4 2016 financials – welcome to the week that was.

The U.K. Energy Research Centre has called on the British government to invest in greater grid flexibility if it is to make renewable energy sources cost-effective. Solar Trade Association calls the report “timely”.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia announced recently new energy strategies towards renewable energy development, prompting the renewable energy sector to question whether this shift is genuine.

The Renewable Energy Association’s energy storage conference that took place in London this week affirmed the U.K.’s immense energy storage potential. To unlock this potential, however, the sector is waiting for policymakers to unveil new policies that will make country’s energy much more storage-friendly.

Policy changes have slowed the U.K.’s progress towards 2020 renewable energy goals as the country wrestles with the forthcoming Brexit turmoil. France and Netherlands also on watchlist, says Commission.

Spain extends an olive branch to solar PV, Germany tenders more low prices, Canadian Solar opens its 400 MW Brazil fab and the Donald Trump witch hunt continues.