U.S. authorities unveil plan to develop solar on 31 million acres
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said the plan intentionally drives development closer to transmission lines or on previously disturbed lands to avoid protected lands, sensitive cultural resources and important wildlife habitat.
Finland to build world’s largest air-to-water heat pump plant
Helen, a Helsinki-based energy company, has unveiled plans for a large-scale district heating plant complex. Germany’s MAN Energy Solutions is supplying a 33 MW air-to-water heat pump, the largest ever used for a district-heating plant, with ambient air and renewable electricity for heat generation.
France deploys 1.05 GW of PV in Q2
The French government says the nation installed 1.05 GW of new solar in the second quarter, bringing the country’s cumulative installed PV capacity to 22.2 GW by the end of June.
UK allocates more than 3 GW of solar through CfD auction
Record contracts for difference (CfDs) auction for UK solar results in more than 90 projects securing fixed-price contracts. It follows intervention from the new UK government in summer 2024 to increase the auction budget. Strike prices achieved for all renewables technologies were well below the auction’s ceiling price.
Tunisia allocates $121 million for residential solar rebates
The Tunisian authorities have provided $121 million for solar thermal and PV systems. The subsidies can cover up to 30% of initial investments in residential PV installations.
Larsen & Toubro sets up renewable EPC unit
Larsen & Toubro has carved out a renewable business division amid growth in its infrastructure segment.
Assessing floating PV costs across Europe
Researchers have analyzed the viability of floating PV in terms of net present value, internal rate of return, and LCOE. They included 25 European countries in their work, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy.
California hits new milestone with EV chargers
California installed 24,202 electric-vehicle chargers in the first half of 2024, bringing the total to more than 150,000.
U.S. DOE allocates $325 million for community solar, battery storage in Puerto Rico
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) new Programa de Comunidades Resilientes will fund solar and battery storage facilities across Puerto Rico serving low- and moderate-income communities.
QatarEnergy to build 2 GW solar plant
QatarEnergy has unveiled plans for a 2 GW solar project in western Qatar, which will more than double the country’s cumulative installed solar capacity.
