Spain’s Aragón region prepares to host Europe’s largest solar plant
The 549 MW PV facility will be built by Spanish industrial group ACS on 2,369 hectares of land, spread across the municipalities of Escatrón and Chiprana. The project was selected by the Spanish government in this year’s second renewable energy auction, in which around 3.9 GW of solar power was allocated.
Argentina allocates 556.8 MW of PV in third round of RenovAr program
The lowest bid among the selected solar projects was confirmed at US$40.44/MWh. The average price of all the 66 qualified offers for PV was $43.5/MWh.
Mexico: Third power auction likely to be more successful, despite too-low prices
In an interview with pv magazine, Santiago Barcón, columnist for Energía Hoy and advisor to Mexico’s Energy Regulatory Commission, talks positively about the results of Mexico’s third power auction, despite final prices coming in lower than expected.
GCL-Poly sells stake to back new polysilicon plant
GCL-Poly Energy has revealed plans to sell off a stake in a subsidiary that is building a massive polysilicon plant in northwestern China, while injecting CNY 2.99 billion ($452.1 million) of fresh capital into another group unit to strengthen the competitiveness of its monocrystalline silicon business.
“Devastating” provision in US Senate tax bill could hobble the ITC
Renewable energy trade organizations in the U.S. are scrambling to stop the BEAT provision as the Senate’s tax bill hurtles towards a vote.
Australia’s North Territory backs 50% renewables plan, to boost home solar and batteries
The Northern Territory government has given broad support to a plan to transition the territory to 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, and announced new funding for rooftop solar and grid upgrades, after the release of a Roadmap to Renewables report on Monday.
Wales urges UK Government to renew solar, wind support
The Welsh Government, together with a number of local organizations, is calling for the U.K. Government to renew its support for solar and onshore wind development. In addition to reducing costs, it says these industries will help it survive a post-Brexit world.
European PV market expected to grow by 35% in 2018 – GTM Research
European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain are all forecast to be gigawatt-scale markets in 2018. Globally, around 606 GW of new PV capacity is forecast to be installed between 2017 and 2022.
EU Energy Committee’s proposal to upgrade 2030 RE target to 35% welcomed
The European Parliament has proposed both an upgraded, binding RE target of 35%, and plans to reduce energy consumption by 40% by 2030. The two resolutions, along with other provisions to remove fees or taxes on self-consumption, now have to be approved in January. SolarPower Europe has welcomed the news, saying the move will boost jobs and investment.
Solar deployment in developing countries soars by 54% YoY, finds BNEF
A total of 34 GW of new solar power generating capacity came online in 2016 in 71 emerging market countries, finds the latest Climatescope report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
