China the global leader in 2017 clean energy investment, at over $44 bn
China was the global leader in 2017 clean energy investment, says a new report. On the solar front, the country accounts for 60% of all cell production; and will continue to lead installation developments for at least the next five years. New 2020 targets are expected to be set. In the battery arena, Chinese companies are also set to dominate.
Turkey adds 1.7 GW of solar PV in 2017
Turkey’s solar industry has just come out of its best year so far, adding about 1.7 GW of new PV capacity in 2017. Some peculiar characteristics of the Turkish PV market remain, however.
Belgium to host its first “giant” solar park
The 100 MW Kristal Solar Park will be the first ground mounted solar park built in the country since 2013. Belgium has so for implemented policies that have supported residential rooftop PV, and that only recently have helped increase the share of the commercial and industrial segments.
Italy added 382 MW of PV in first 11 months of 2017
The Italian solar market grew by 25% in the first 11 months of 2017. This growth was mainly determined by the grid connection of several “grid-parity” PV plants totaling 66 MW, which were installed in Montalto di Castro, Italy’s central region of Lazio.
Tesla begins production of Solar Roof tiles at New York gigafactory
The company also says that it has begun installation of the Solar Roof on the homes of non-employee homeowners.
Australia: Rapid large scale solar segment growth potential risk to quality
The rapid build out of a large pipeline of utility scale PV projects around Australia could stretch the experienced installation labour force, threatening quality. Solar industry veteran and the Managing Director of PI Berlin Lars Podlowski made the warning as the company expands into Australia through its acquisition of quality assurance provider SolarBuyer.
France announces winners of 150 MW tender for rooftop PV
Overall, the French government has selected 283 projects in the tender. The final average price was €85/MWh, slightly below the previous tender of the same type. Around 40% of the winning developers were granted the €3/MWh bonus which is guaranteed to the projects partly relying on crowdfunding.
India rejects U.S. solar claim at WTO
India hit back on Monday at Washington’s latest legal assault on its solar power policies at the World Trade Organization, rejecting a US legal claim and exploring possible new protection of India’s own solar industry.
German Development Bank granted incentives to 6,900 residential solar-plus-storage systems in 2017
Approved incentive applications reached a volume of approximately €123 million. At the turn of the year, however, the rebate granted by the German Government dropped from 13% to 10%.
Germany reports high realization rate for PV projects selected in auctions
Around 90% of the projects selected in the third round of the country’s tender program for PV plants ranging in size from 750 kW to 10 MW have reached completion on time.
