Tesla could drive energy storage price revolution
Plans for the Tesla Gigafactory to manufacture as many lith-ion battery packs as the rest of the world produces have caught the energy storage industry’s attention. The resulting economies of scale could affect customers far beyond EV drivers.
Greece awaits ‘new deal’ after adding 1 GW of solar in 2013
Greece’s Environment Ministry is set to introduce new measures in the hopes of reaching a long-term solution, including FIT cuts and loan extensions. Consumers, however, face still more RES fee hikes.
SunPower signs three-year new home deal
US manufacturer SunPower will supply household systems for Meritage Homes over the next three years. Meritage says that should amount to more than 2,000 rooftop systems.
Solar leads pack in new US generation capacity
Solar led the charge of renewables which accounted for over 99% of new electrical generation capacity installed in the US last month. But despite providing 287 MW of the 324 MW added in January, solar still represents only 0.7% of America’s total electricity generation mix.
ReneSola expands solar presence in Japan and UK
The Chinese company has provided 13 MW of modules to a U.K. solar park and announced it is to begin producing solar panels in Japan.
Netherlands reached 665 MW of cumulative PV capacity in 2013
Figures released by the country’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment reveal that Amsterdam leads the way, with more than 16 MW of solar power installed.
Japanese FIT set to fall
A solar analyst predicts the world’s most generous FIT will be cut by 14% from April. A committee of experts has revised down its estimate of operation and maintenance costs for solar.
Solar renaissance is under way, says IHS
Production capacity investments by Canadian Solar and SunPower will be the first of many, predicts IHS. The market research company is also predicting microinverters will start to gain traction this year.
Meyer Burger, CSEM partner on Swiss heterojunction technology project
Heterojunction silicon technology offers a higher level of efficiency than standard cells and a simpler production process. It also boasts remarkable temperature characteristics and low-cost mass production of PV modules.
US Interior Department greenlights 550 MW projects in California, Nevada
Developer First Solar has agreed to undertake significant project design changes and mitigation measures to minimize impacts to wildlife, including the endangered desert tortoise.
