Covid-19 weekly round-up: Solar Solutions show off again but CEOs voice confidence and Spain is moving its green economic recovery up a gear
Plus, solar funding is down and Australian rooftop installers are preparing for tough times ahead as one U.S. utility has warned customers to be alert to scammers hoping to benefit from the pandemic.
Spain moves forward with new renewables auctions
The Council of Ministers has urgently approved royal decrees to regulate the clean energy procurement rounds and procedures for the grid connection of large scale projects.
Switzerland deployed 332 MW of solar last year
Cumulative solar generation capacity reached 2.5 GW last year, enough to meet 3.8% of electricity demand.
Cleantech bosses apparently unbowed by Covid-19
A clean energy and e-mobility executive recruitment firm says 67 chief executives and founders remain relentlessly positive in the face of the public health crisis and expect the global recovery from the pandemic to be led by a green revolution.
Biden-Sanders task force calls for 500m solar panels in five years
A wide-ranging joint report published by the Democratic presidential candidate and his former rival includes the section: ‘Undoing the harms of the Trump administration and righting the wrongs.’
Germany launches 650 MW tender for ‘innovative’ renewables
The long-awaited procurement exercise includes 250 MW of generation capacity originally intended to be tendered last year.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Huadian kicks off 2 GW tender
Also, a court in Beijing is now reviewing an application for bankruptcy filed by a unit of Hanergy. In other developments this week, a diverse range of solar industry players launched the 600W+ Photovoltaic Open Innovation Ecological Alliance.
EU hydrogen strategy could drive 120 GW of renewables capacity
The European Commission has outlined a long-anticipated plan it says could unlock up to €340 billion for new solar and wind projects over the next decade. The 30-year strategy envisages up to €470 billion being spent on electrolyzer capacity.
BP commits $70m to UK-India Green Growth Fund
The fossil fuel company will become a partner in the fund, which invests in clean energy projects.
US sodium-ion battery developer raises $35M as storage investment surges
Startup Natron Energy is building a battery using Prussian blue analogue electrodes and a sodium-ion electrolyte. Investors include ABB Technology Ventures, NanoDimension Capital, Volta Energy Technologies, Chevron, Khosla Ventures, and Prelude Ventures.
