Large-scale PV: Three markets, three questions
The large-scale solar markets of China, the USA, and Europe have experienced vastly different fortunes over the past couple of years. As China has boomed and the U.S. held steady, Europe has seen growth rates plunge. But nothing is constant in PV, and each of these three vital markets faces a series of unique challenges and opportunities, as pv magazine discovered.
Luxembourg to allow use of mini solar systems
The Ministry of Economic Affairs is currently working on a new Electricity Market Act. In the future, the use of plug-in solar devices in Luxembourg should be allowed. Furthermore, self-consumption from solar sources may be exempt from paying the electricity tax.
IEA leads governments off the Paris Agreement track, report states
In a new report out today, Oil Change International and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) have taken the International Energy Agency (IEA) to task for misleading governments on climate policy through its energy forecasts.
Jordan: New policy allows public institutions to build, own 10 MW PV plants
Jordan’s Government has approved a new policy allowing all public institutions in the country to build and own a solar PV plant up to 10 MW. The first to benefit, Mutah University has launched a 10 MW tender.
JA Solar issues strong response to IP theft allegations
Chinese module manufacturer, JA Solar has issued a statement refuting assertions made by SolarWorld in hearings conducted last year, which were reported last week in the findings of United States Trade Representative (USTR) report into Chinese practices related to intellectual property.
Fossil fuel global grip being loosened by holy trinity of affordable PV, wind and storage, finds BNEF
‘Unprecedented challenge’ for fossil fuels as low LCOE for solar and wind power, allied to tumbling storage costs, sees renewables claim larger share of bulk and dispatchable generation while adding vital flexibility to global energy mix.
DuPont and Envision join forces to develop new degradation analytics for solar modules
Solar materials producer DuPont Photovoltaics Solutions to cooperate with Internet of Things pioneer in big energy data Envision to develop effective degradation analysis for solar modules.
Northwest Europe could install 60 GW of subsidy-free renewables by 2030, report finds
Aurora Energy Research report calculates as much as €180 billion renewable investment opportunities in the region through to 2030, of which €64 billion could be for subsidy-free projects.
No deal: US rejects EU’s WTO request for softer tariffs on solar
Joint communication between the European Union and the U.S. reveals that Washington has not agreed with suggestions from Brussels that EU solar imports were not causing any serious injury and thus should be subjected to a less penalizing tariff.
The 9th ITRPV: Module price pressure to continue as production capacity tops 130 GWp, price learning curve rises to 22.8%
Annual International Roadmap for Photovoltaics, compiled by the German production equipment industrial association (VDMA), reveals slowdown in module price reduction for 2017 in contrast to significant market increase that saw module production capacity rise above 130 GW.
