Policy

Construction on Morocco’s 160 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant project in Ouarzazate began on Friday with a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony by King Mohammed VI.

The German government has made it official: The proposed “strompreisbremse” or electricity price protection as it is loosely translated, will not materialize since both the states and federal government have failed to come to an agreement. The brake on rising electricity prices is not expected until the next elections in September.

EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht gave a speech in Boston at the weekend about the planned EU-U.S. trade talks, which could have an impact on the Transatlantic, and wider, solar industry.

Global electronics manufacturing industry group SEMI has offered to step between the nations waging the current proliferation of solar trade disputes in an effort to find a way forward.

The Solar Trade Association has called upon the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to put a halt to the automatic degression in FIT rates due in two months’ time.

The European Union could be poised to give its ailing solar sector a welcome shot in the arm in the form of its proposed clean fuel strategy.

Given the number of world leaders gathering to argue over topics such as the global economic malaise and whether Britain really wants to be in the EU or not, you might imagine enough hot air would be spouted annually at the World Economic Forum in Davos to power the Swiss city without the need for renewables.

President Obama’s plans to extend a US$16 billion renewables stimulus package for another year are set to be another bone of contention in his ongoing battle with the U.S.’ Republican-dominated Congress.