Markets

The 2018 Ecosummit Berlin, a EU cleantech startup platform, focussed on smart green energy and mobility. Of the 99 speakers, 69 were startups presenting innovative solutions to a changing energy economy, catering to the needs of end-customers, developers and utilities alike.

In the most bullish scenario provided in a report published by Turkey’s Shura Energy Transition Center, solar is predicted to reach 30 GW of installed capacity by the halfway point of the next decade. The report’s most conservative scenario envisages around 6 GW.

Solar was once again the source with the largest share in the latest round of the SDE+ program for large-scale renewable energy projects. Around 1.3 GW of pre-qualified solar projects, however, has been rejected. Among the selected projects is a 109 MW solar park planned for the province of Groningen.

According to figures released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), there are more than 10 million people working in the renewable energy industry. In 2017 alone, the sector added more than 500,000 jobs globally, up 5.3 % from 2016, with solar PV the biggest employer.

The Netherlands government intends to create two more ad hoc categories for solar projects not exceeding 1 MW, and to grant them a higher level of incentive compared to those of big solar parks. The change is due the success of larger projects in previous SDE+ rounds.

Green Energy Markets’ small-scale solar figures for April reveal that above 100 MW is emerging as the new normal for monthly installations in the segment in 2018. While the month was below the record-setting 127 MW in March, April’s 109 MW indicates that installations north of 100 MW is new normal for the Australian residential and small commercial sector.

Through the tender, the Tunisian government has awarded contracts for six 10 MW and four 1 MW projects. All have received preliminary approval from the Minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies, Khaled Kaddour at the beginning of May.

Puerto Rico’s Financial Oversight and Management Board (JSF) is examining a series of infrastructure projects that, if approved, would be fast-tracked for development and construction. Some of the PV arrays included in the infrastructure round already have PPAs signed with local utility PREPA. Two include co-located storage.

The California Energy Commission is expected to approve the 2019 Building Energy Code that calls for solar PV on all new homes. The goal is net zero residential energy usage.

The Swiss-based power producer reported its Q1 2018 financial results. After the company ditched its Chilean project portfolio, some numbers look grim, but performance in the Japanese market appears more promising.