Big crowds as All Energy Australia kicks off with major announcements
The All-Energy Australia 2018 exhibition & conference kicked off in Melbourne today. Safety of products and quality assurance was prominent in discussions at the country’s largest PV conference and trade show in its early hours. Big funding announcements at the opening plenary made headlines.
Canada: Alberta Government issues RfP for 135,000 MWh of solar
The Government of Alberta has opened Requests for Proposals (RfPs) for 135,000 MWh of solar – equivalent to around 55% of its annual electricity generation.
Industry groups lash out at proposal to back minigrids in the Philippines
Heated opposition to a legislative bill in the Philippines has sparked debate over subsidies for renewables and the potential for battery-backed PV systems to expand rural electricity access.
India: 40% electricity generation from non-fossils by 2030, up to $80 billion for PV manufacturing
India’s Prime Minister kick started the first Assembly of the ISA, the second IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting, and the 2nd Global RE-Invest yesterday in Greater Noida. The agenda of the day? Universal access to solar energy at affordable rates; securing 40% of India’s electricity generation from non-fossil fuels by 2030, and allocating up to US$80 billion to boost domestic PV manufacturing.
Study: High-risk through water use in solar sector
Though lauded at times as a water-saving technology, PV’s concentration in arid and remote regions, in conjunction with inefficient cleaning methods, can exacerbate water scarcity and prompt rising water tariffs for plant operators, according to a new report on Indian PV installations, published by analysts Bridge to India.
Financing renewables in the EU and Latin America: Trends and market designs
A new report on the financing mechanisms in the European Union (EU) and the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) regions offers lessons that link financing to electricity market design. The report also acknowledges the increasing presence of PV manufacturers in the LAC region.
US: EnergySage finds $236.5 million tax on solar due to Section 201, USITC
Two major policy decisions in the United States have caused a temporary tax and stagnation in the residential solar industry, finds EnergySage’s Solar Marketplace Intel Report.
Taiwan takes India to WTO over safeguard tariffs
Taiwan has joined Malaysia in requesting consultations with India under the safeguard agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO), following India’s decision to impose 25% safeguard duties on imports of solar cells, whether or not assembled in modules.
An investigation at China’s National Energy Agency might delay PV programs
On September 21, the Communist Party of China’s anti-graft body said in a statement that it is investigating the head of the country’s energy agency for “serious” disciplinary violations. While some believe the investigation will not change the country’s PV industry, others fear it could hamper crucial programs.
Solar PV to grow 65-fold by 2050, 2°C target will be missed by a long shot – report
DNV GL has issued its annual Energy Transition Outlook. It reports that global electricity demand is set to grow by a factor of 2.5. Over half of this demand is expected to be met with renewable energy by 2050, while storage will play a key role. It adds that grid infrastructure expenditures are less related to variable renewable energy assets than to increasing energy demand. In the current scenario, meanwhile, global warming is likely to reach 2.6°C.
