Markets

A paper by King’s College London scientists suggests that space-based solar panels (SBSP) could cut Europe’s land-based renewable energy needs by up to 80%, including reducing battery energy storage usage by more than 70%. The authors are now in contact with leading companies such as Space Solar.

LG Electronics and Octopus Energy plan to launch a joint solution in Europe integrating LG’s high-efficiency heat pumps with Octopus’s AI-driven Kraken platform to accelerate sustainable heating adoption.

In addition to awarding 30% more capacity than originally planned, Argentina’s first battery energy storage tender could allocate an additional 222 MW to bidders willing to match the highest awarded price.

Azerbaijan and Chinese solar manufacturer Sichuan Sunsync have revealed plans to build a solar panel factory in the Alat Free Economic Zone, south of Baku.

Australia’s rooftop solar market continues to ease with the latest data from market intelligence outfit SunWiz revealing that national installation volumes dropped off by 12% in August compared to the previous month.

Germany’s grid connection requests for battery storage exceed 500 GW, a figure driven by a “first come, first served” approval system rather than viable projects, according to Regelleistung-Online.

A study conducted by the German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in collaboration with India-based think tank the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), found that India has the potential for more than 300 GW of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems on its existing buildings alone. Moreover, according to a World Bank report, 70% of the buildings India will need to become a developed nation by 2047 are yet to be constructed, underscoring the vast future potential for BIPV systems in the country.

The country aims to promote modules manufactured in the EU with new tender criteria. To this end, the government has introduced non-price-related tender criteria, making it one of the first EU countries to implement the NZIA guidelines.

The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) is encouraging the European Commission to include solar modules, mounting systems and solar trackers in the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). It says the extension would support Europe’s solar market as Chinese manufacturers that export finished solar products to the EU are currently exempt from costs imposed under the policy.

South Africa’s national energy regulator registered 111 generation facilities between April and June this year, with solar the leading technology.