Japan may cancel 27.7 GW of approved PV capacity
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has said that it may cancel feed-in tariff (FIT) approvals for 456,000 projects, or roughly 27.6 GW of capacity, as the prospective developers of those projects failed to lock in grid-connection agreements by the government’s March 31 deadline.
Poland to miss 2020 EU renewable energy target, Ecofys
Poland is set to miss its target of covering up to 15% of energy demand with renewables by 2020. Under the most favorable scenario provided by a report released by local consultancy Ecofys, new additions for solar may reach 695 GWh, while the country is expected to reach a target of only 13.8% by the end of the decade.
South Africa makes it easier to deploy large-scale solar in renewable energy zones
The country’s Ministry of Environmental Affairs has simplified the environmental impact assessment process for large-scale solar and wind power projects in South Africa’s eight Renewable Energy Development Zones.
Canadian Solar snags $97 million for 92 MW U.S. project
Already under construction in conjunction with a long-term PPA with Duke Energy Progress, the new round of funding will allow the project to continue on its path to commercial operation by the third quarter.
Japanese scientists seek to develop solar cell able to absorb spectral components of longer wavelengths
The new technology is designed to capture the spectral components of longer wavelengths that are usually lost during transmission through the solar cell. The Japanese scientists are using up-conversion of below-gap photons to reduce power losses and increase the cell efficiency.
The age of plenty on steroids (with charts)
Despite the climate-denying Trump Administration, Michael Liebreich gave plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future in his address to the BNEF Future of Energy Summit.
Cambodia’s solar development moves forward with 10 MW project
The Asian Development Bank will provide Singapore-based Sunseap Group with $9.2 million. The company will use the funds to construct Cambodia’s first large-scale PV plant, a 10 MW facility located in Svay Rieng Province.
REC launches TwinPeak 2S 72 Series rated up to 350 Wp
Norway’s PV manufacturer REC has begun commercial production of what it claims to be the highest power 72-cell multicrystalline solar panel in the world, with nominal output of 350 Wp.
Solargiga posts increase in shipment, revenue in Q1 2017
The Chinese PV manufacturer ended the first quarter of 2017 on an upbeat note.
Aurés Solaire commissions Algeria’s second module factory
Algeria’s prime minister has inaugurated the country’s second solar module manufacturing facility in Batna. The French-Algerian module maker intends to double the factory’s capacity to 60 MW at a later stage.
