Turkey added 2,416 MW of solar capacity in 2018… kind of
Turkey appears to have installed a staggering 2,416 MW of new PV capacity in 2018, although careful study of the data may curb any excitement and solar’s role in the Turkish electricity mix remains negligible, with coal still dominant.
Saudi Arabia launches tender for 1.5 GW of solar capacity
The Renewable Energy Project Development Office is tendering seven large-scale IPP solar projects. The exercise is part of Round 2 of the Saudi National Renewable program, which is expected to allocate almost 2.2 GW of PV capacity this year.
Solar gains ground in Mongolia
A 10 MW solar facility in the Sumber Soum area of Mongolia’s southern Govisümber province has been connected to the grid. The project was financed by the Green Climate Fund and XacBank and takes Mongolia’s installed PV capacity to 35 MW. The pipeline of approved solar schemes has surpassed 700 MW.
US leads as the volume of corporate clean energy bought smashes record
Companies in the United States accounted for more than 60% of the clean energy deals signed by corporations worldwide last year, according to BloombergNEF. A proposed renewable portfolio standard for Chinese business, though, could turn the picture upside down in a year’s time.
Germany considers closing coal-fired power plants by 2038
German states with coal mining regions would receive a total of €40 billion from the federal government over 20 years for structural change under the terms of the Coal Commission’s proposal, while operators of coal-fired plants would receive compensation.
Jordan suspends renewables auctions, new licenses for projects over 1 MW
Auctions and new licenses will be suspended until the Jordanian government has assessed the capabilities of its power network.
French researchers produce 348 W half-cell HJT module
Scientists at France’s Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, working with Swiss equipment supplier Meyer Burger, have hit 23.9% efficiency in large-scale production of heterojunction cells. The team also combined HJT cells with other technologies to produce a module with a 348 W power rating.
Portugal to hold first solar auctions in June
The announcement was given by the country’s Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, Matos Fernandes. Two kinds of auction will be held for PV: for large-scale projects granted a feed-in premium tariff, and for smaller installations including rooftop awarded a fixed tariff.
‘Renewable energy is the way of the future’
The Australian states of Victoria and South Australia suffered blackouts at the end of last week as a heatwave drove up air conditioning power demand and coal-fired power stations couldn’t cope. Extreme weather is debunking arguments for new fossil fuel generation and signalling energy security lies in renewables.
France to tender 17.2 GW of solar up to 2025
In France’s new energy strategy, the Macron administration has said how much will be allocated annually in tenders for ground-mount and rooftop PV projects over the next six years. In the best case scenario, France would have 44.5 GW of solar capacity by 2028, with renewables forecast to come in at up to 113 GW.
