The rise and rise of Bboxx: Off-grid solar supplier lands another $50m
The solar home system company, which enables customers to pay their solar electricity bill through an app on their mobile on a PAYG basis, has conducted a monumental funding round as it eyes expansion to become a fully-fledged pay-as-you-go utility.
Alberta approves Canada’s largest PV project – free of subsidy and planned on a merchant basis
The $376 million Travers Solar project has had the nod from the Alberta Utilities Commission. Construction on the subsidy-free facility, which will operate on a merchant basis, will start next year with an operational date set for 2021.
Mini series: ‘Today, it’s not just the energy that you produce’
While based in Munich in Germany’s south, renewable asset management software provider 3megawatt’s first major clients were in the United States. However, as the European markets have transitioned beyond feed-in tariffs to the complexity of subsidy-free solar and wind arrays, the understanding of the need for asset management tools is rapidly increasing, says 3megawatt founder and CEO Edmee Kelsey.
Huaneng Renewables secured permits for just 50 MW of grid parity solar in first half
The wind power generator also has a 930 MW solar portfolio but did not take big steps in unsubsidized PV during the first six months of the year.
Trump ratchets up tariffs on Chinese products – including batteries
While the damage is largely done for cells, modules and inverters, increased tariffs on U.S. module components and 15% measures on lithium-ion batteries are not good news for either sector.
India’s manufacturing-linked mega tender set for more tweaks
Bidders interested in competing for a tender which will allocate 6 GW of solar capacity linked, pro rata, with 2 GW of manufacturing output now have until September 11 to register their bid as administrator the Solar Energy Corporation of India will amend the exercise to incorporate developer feedback.
China Power figures show how much cheaper solar is than coal
A mix of higher operating costs and ageing coal assets – plus historically generous solar tariffs – meant the utility banked more profit from the 1.53 TWh of solar electricity it sold in the first half than it did from 25.9 TWh of coal-fired power.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency backs ultra-fast EV highway network
ARENA will top up Evie Networks’ ultra-fast battery electric vehicle charging plans for Australia’s highways with AUS$15 million of federal funding.
China to fund 450 MW of solar capacity in Bangladesh
The two nations are due to sign an MoU today to set up the capacity in the north of Bangladesh along with 50 MW of wind power facilities in the south, near the port of Payra. China will supply an estimated $500m with the host nation freeing up land for the projects.
Tendency toward diversification
Looking back at the PV market in 2018, micro module technologies started maturing in development and moving on to mass production, writes TrendForce analyst Lions Shih. Modules are no longer limited to a single design as before, but rather continuing on the path toward diversification in 2019. The situation is spreading into other areas, as may be seen in the upstream silicon wafer and cell segments.
