Operations begin at 87 MW solar-powered bitcoin-mining center
Aspen Creek Digital, a US bitcoin miner, has started operations at a 30 MW bitcoin data center powered by an 87 MW solar park in Texas. The project is the company’s second solar-powered bitcoin-mining center.
The mobility rEVolution: PG&E obtains first V2G export rate for commercial EVs in US
PG&E has secured approval to set up a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) export compensation mechanism for commercial EV charging customers in California. Sono Motors is debuting its Sion solar electric vehicles in the US market, while Toyota and Jera are installing innovative second-life battery systems in Japan.
Weekend read: Southeast Asian interconnection
While near neighbors, the electricity generation of the countries of Southeast Asia couldn’t be further apart. Indonesia burns locally mined coal; Malaysia has reserves of oil and gas; and populous Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines depend on fossil fuel imports. They could all benefit from increased solar electricity but higher grid capacities and interconnection are key for an opportunity to unlock the power of the sun.
World’s largest salt cavern compressed air storage project breaks ground
Construction has started on a 350 MW/1.4 GWh compressed air energy storage project in Shangdong, China.
It’s time to combat utility opposition to solar
As part of Aurora Solar’s Empower 2022 online solar summit, Bernadette Del Chiaro, from the California Solar & Storage Association, will moderate a talk about electric utilities and how they have abused their monopoly position to discriminate against solar in the US. Here, she gives pv magazine a taste of the presentation.
Alfanar to build 110 MW of solar for desalination plant in Saudi Arabia
Alfanar has revealed plans to set up a solar project including ground-mounted and floating PV to provide power to the Al Jubail 2 water desalination plant on the east coast of Saudi Arabia. It will require an investment of SAR 1.2 billion ($319 million).
Banks Group to install 2.8 GWh battery at former UK coal power station
Banks Group’s latest announcement underscores the fact that the UK battery storage market has one of the world’s fastest-growing project pipelines.
The mobility rEVolution: NASA’s cooling tech could shorten EV charging times
US researchers have unveiled a new way to speed up EV charging, while researchers in China have created a three-dimensional composite lithium anode to improve battery safety and efficiency.
African utility secures cash for floating solar studies
Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) will obtain $2.5 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to fund studies into floating solar and battery systems.
African PAYG solar companies have hogged 72% of sector’s investment
The first post-pandemic update on the state of the world’s off-grid solar industry has painted a picture of domination by European companies, but highlighted the potential for new startups in West Africa and an increasing use of PV as a backup to unreliable grid supplies.
