Brazil reserve battery auction rules near finalization with 20 GW lined up
Brazil’s electricity regulator has approved March reserve capacity auctions for thermal and hydro plants with more than 125 GW registered, while guidelines for a separate battery storage auction remain pending even as over 20 GW of projects are under development.
Pace Digitek secures 250 MW of solar and 1.1 GWh of storage in India
Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. (KREDL)) has issued a letter of award to Pace Digitek for a 250 MW solar project with a 250 MW, 1.1 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka, India, with an interim tariff of INR 5.51 ($0.061)/kWh adopted by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission.
French startup launches app to boost collective self-consumption
French startup Jane Energie has introduced a software platform to automate and manage collective self-consumption projects, targeting 100 kWp to 500 kWp installations as the segment moves from feed-in tariffs toward shared local consumption models.
SolarEdge ships US-made inverters to Europe, ramping up BESS manufacturing
Single-phase inverter products manufactured in Texas are now being shipped to multiple European markets as SolarEdge adapts its international export strategy. The manufacturer tells pv magazine key components will increasingly be manufactured in the United States in the coming years.
Work begins on Georgia’s first utility-scale solar plant for on-site consumption
The First Light project is billed as the first industrial-scale solar power plant built entirely for self-consumption in the South Caucasus region.
Energy Vault secures 1.5 GWh sodium-ion supply for AI
Switzerland-based Energy Vault has secured an initial 1.5 GWh of sodium-ion battery supply from Peak Energy to develop integrated storage systems for artificial intelligence-focused data centers.
Scientists say land-preservation costs should be factored into agrivoltaics’ LCOE calculations
German researchers found that agrivoltaics costs far exceed agricultural benefits, raising doubts about subsidies and highlighting the need for more cost-competitive system designs.
Silver prices forecast to strengthen further this year
The Silver Institute has said the amount of silver used for manufacturing is set to fall this year, driven by developments in the solar sector. The institute also says the silver market will remain in deficit for the sixth consecutive year. Philip Newman, Managing Director of independent research consultancy Metals Focus, told pv magazine the fact prices have recovered quite well after the end-January correction demonstrates the underlying strength of investor interest in silver.
Australia grid constraints push data centers to regions
Grid capacity constraints in major Australian metropolitan hubs are prompting data center developers to consider regional locations with integrated on-site gas and solar generation, according to renewable energy land brokerage Rok Solid.
India’s GREW Solar secures 3 GW ALMM approval
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has approved 3 GW of GREW Solar’s G12R module manufacturing capacity under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), enabling deployment in government-backed projects and supporting the company’s planned expansion to 11 GW by 2026.
