French-German battery alliance secures €5 billion as Tesvolt works on gigafactory
Ministers have reaffirmed plans for a Franco-German battery industry. The project is being supported in principle by the European Commission, which could give its approval by October. Meanwhile, German storage specialist Tesvolt is building a commercial storage system factory in Germany.
Georgia preps 50 MW solar auction
Under the supervision of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Georgian authorities will identify a site for a 50 MW solar project. Tblisi is also seeking help to define an auction mechanism for renewables.
How to profitably upcycle 80 million tons of PV waste in Australia by 2050
Research by the University of New South Wales has examined the economic barriers, technologies and opportunities of recycling end-of-life silicon PV modules for profit.
SolarEdge just keeps growing
The Israeli power electronics maker’s revenues and shipments keep rising as it absorbs more companies, but the pending increase in Section 301 tariffs leaves some clouds in the future.
Trump tariff increase to have limited effect on U.S. solar market
Most large manufacturers supplying the inverter market have diversified production outside of China, but this will affect Huawei and other Chinese inverter makers, as well as U.S. module makers.
Construction begins on Tunisia’s tender utility-scale PV project
The 10 MW project in the Tatouine governorate was selected in the 70 MW solar tender which the Tunisian government issued in May 2017. The plant is being built by Italian oil company Eni and Tunisian oil provider ETAP.
Power-surplus Indian state says no to new solar capacity
Karnataka state has been forced to apply the brakes to new solar with its power distribution companies having fulfilled their renewable purchase obligations for the next two years. Projects driven by federal agencies will continue, however.
Ethiopia announces procurement for 500 MW of solar
Developers have until May 29 to register for the first stage of the process to procure four solar projects. With work under way on the second round of the IFC’s Scaling Solar program in the nation, 12 bidders have been identified to compete for the two projects previously offered under the initiative.
A floating solar island archipelago
Dutch water borne PV specialist Floating Solar has begun construction of a 25 MW project consisting of installations spread across a reservoir owned by Dutch water provider PWN. Construction has started on three floating arrays.
Battery storage market will be worth $13 billion by 2023
Analyst Globaldata says falling system prices, and the need for more resilient grids and favorable policies, continue to fire the energy storage industry around the globe and the Asia-Pacific region is likely to remain the biggest market.
