How to make rooftop PV resilient in hurricane regions
A report published by the Rocky Mountain Institute makes recommendations for rooftop PV in regions affected by high winds. The study draws on the knowledge of structural engineers asked to analyze 25 solar systems across five Caribbean islands after they were hit by major hurricanes in 2017 and last year.
Turkey introduces new provisions for energy storage
Rules published in the official journal provide certainty on how storage systems will have to be connected to the grid and who will take care of the process on behalf of governmental institutions. The regulations are expected to benefit rooftop PV and up-to-1 MW ‘unlicensed’ projects
Bangladeshi government appeals for more partners to help roll-out off-grid solar
A scheme to install solar lighting and household power, as well as biogas and solar cookers and larger PV plants, has already driven deployment of more than 1.2 million systems. Now the government wants more partners to join the program.
Indian tender for supply of 12 million solar cells
State-owned engineer and manufacturer Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited has invited bids for the supply of cells with five busbars and a minimum efficiency of 18.8%. Bidding closes on Friday.
Bail-out leaves Chinese solar developer needing to raise $62.5m by summer
The twice-postponed $230 million investment which will see Chinese state-owned Beijing Energy acquire a 32% stake in Hong Kong-listed developer Panda Green has finally gone through. The developer now has five months to drum up enough to pay off two more of its other three state-owned backers.
Smart Energy Council rallies industry to halt decline of Australia’s renewables market
Renewable energy developers and investors have told Australian industry body the Smart Energy Council ‘they’re done. The sovereign risk in Australia is too great,’ according to the organization’s government relations manager, Wayne Smith. With prospects, employment and energy prices in jeopardy, the trade organization has vowed to petition policymakers for a bankable plan.
Syria launches tenders for 63 MW of solar
The Ministry of Electricity Transmission Establishment is seeking to build a 23 MW solar facility in Damascus and a 40 MW plant near Homs.
Court stops tree clearance for Tesla’s proposed Berlin gigafactory
The High Administrative Court of the Brandenburg region temporarily stopped preparatory work at the site in Grünheide, near Berlin at the weekend. A final decision from the local administration is expected “in a timely manner”.
Beijing to develop 500 MW of solar in Uganda
State-owned China Energy Engineering Corp Ltd said the PV capacity will be developed in two phases in a deal worth $500 million.
Mongolia kicks off solar-plus-storage tender
The 5 MW Uliastai solar-plus-storage project will be located in the city of the same name in the western part of the country, around 1,100km from Ulaanbaatar. The facility is part of a plan to deploy 40 MW of solar and wind generation linked to energy storage in the nation’s western and Altai-Uliastai regions.
