Renewables helped drive 62% drop in new coal power capacity in 2016, finds report
Coal production in freefall, says new report by Greenpeace, Sierra Club and CoalSwarm, which recorded a 62% reduction in new coal power construction starts and a 48% drop in pre-construction activity last year.
PV in Slovakia is kept alive by residential segment
Slovakia has seen small amounts of PV installed over the past three years. In 2016, however, the market showed the first signs of a recovery led by the residential segment. The country reached 545 MW of installed PV power at the end of 2016.
German government releases draft regulation for tenants’ solar power supply
The German federal government has unveiled its proposal to support solar power installation for tenants living in rented housing (Mietestrom). The support will be capped at 500 MW total installed capacity per year, and limited to PV systems up to 100 kW.
Sweden’s plan to reduce tax for self-consumption by 98% moves forward
The Swedish government is proposing a 98% reduction to the tax on electricity generated by renewable energy power generators over 255 kW. The new rules were submitted to local Parliament and, if approved, would come into force by January 2018 at the latest.
DEWA completes 200 MW phase II of 1 GW Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
Construction on phase II of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is now finalized. The 200 MW unit of the 1 GW solar park came online a month ahead of schedule. DEWA revealed the plant was built at a cost of 1.2 billion AED ($326.7 million).
RMI calls for ‘action’ on Africa’s PV minigrid market
Solar-powered minigrids could account for a greater slice of sub-Saharan Africa’s $740 million off-grid market, but progress is still needed throughout the region in terms of policy, financing and commercial services, the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) says in a new report.
Eni, Sonatrach start construction on 10 MW PV plant in Algeria
Italian oil producer Eni and Sonatrach — an Algerian state-owned company that specializes in the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources — have broken ground on a 10 MW solar facility in southern Algeria.
Namibia publishes tariffs for net-metering
Namibia’s Electricity Control Board (ECB) has announced the new rates applicable to PV systems installed under the government’s net-metering scheme. The new mechanism was introduced by the government in November 2016. PV projects up to 500 kVa can be developed under the scheme.
“Skinny Budget” nukes U.S. renewable energy research
President Trump’s Department of Energy hit list includes advanced energy research, loan guarantees and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
South Africa’s PV capacity reaches 1.47 GW, new PV installations for 2016 total 509 MW
The South African solar market registered 509 MW of new PV installations in 2016. The country’s cumulative PV capacity reached 1.47 GW as of the end of December. Meanwhile, the price of solar power has dropped significantly over the past five years.
