Energy Storage

China was the global leader in 2017 clean energy investment, says a new report. On the solar front, the country accounts for 60% of all cell production; and will continue to lead installation developments for at least the next five years. New 2020 targets are expected to be set. In the battery arena, Chinese companies are also set to dominate.

Trade cases, insolvencies, record-breaking low auction prices, China’s eye watering installation rates – all this and more characterized the 2017 solar PV industry. pv magazine reflects on the biggest stories, trends and developments of the past year; and summarizes what the industry can expect in 2018.

GTM Research reports that utilities in 15 states are incorporating energy storage into their long-term plans, as energy storage deployment reached a relatively even keel during Q3 2017.

The most recent contracts, which still need to be approved by California regulators, are part of a state-mandated goal of adding 580 MW of storage by 2020.

Non-profit organization, Kopernic is providing disaster relief in Bali with the distribution of solar-powered televisions and kits.

Partnership between Coventry City Council, University of Warwick’s WMG and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership to receive sizable investment from British government to build and maintain world-leading storage research and production facility.

The Australian government has agreed to provide AU$2.57 million (US$1.9 million) to support a two-year pilot project that will use blockchain technology to pair utility-scale and commercial rooftop PV with a battery, electric vehicle charging stations and water treatment systems in Western Australia.

The government of the African country has issued an expression of interest in seeking consultancy companies for the environmental and social impact assessment of a 20 MW PV power project.

A joint venture between leading solar developers Wirsol and Hive Energy has launched a proposal for a solar park ‘in excess of 350 MW’ to be located on Britain’s North Kent Coast. While the proposal is in its initial stages, the developers state that the project will be built without any subsidies.

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have made progress with cathodes made from ‘disordered’ materials, a technology which could greatly increase the storage capacity of lithium batteries.