Germany’s Brandenburg launches home storage incentive program
Starting from now, subsidies for up to 1,000 residential solar-plus-storage systems can be requested from the Investment Bank of Brandenburg.
EU commits €578 million for Iberian-EU energy market integration
Spain, Portugal, France and the European Commission have signed a deal to increase the capacity of the energy interconnection between the Iberian Peninsula and Europe. Currently, the interconnection capacity is 6,000 MW and, thus, far from the 15% goal set in 2015.
Neoen reaches 1 GW of solar assets in Australia as 100 MW project gets green light
Having finalized the financing agreement for the project, French renewable energy producer Neoen announced that full construction on Victoria’ Numurkah Solar Farm is ready to commence this week. It now has 1 GW of solar assets under its belt in Australia.
The weekend read: California’s solar and wind integration challenge
As a leader in the global energy transition, California is putting some of the highest levels of solar and wind on its grid in the world to date. And while the state’s grid operator has made some progress, the integration of these resources is currently limited not by physics, but by market rules and operational practices.
2017 saw UK switch away from coal, gas to renewables
While they remain the dominant source of energy supply, there was a shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy in the U.K. last year. The country is “comfortably” on track to exceed its 30% renewables target, says the government.
Germany prevents China from joining 50Hertz
The Chinese state-owned State Grid Corporation of China has been attempting to acquire a 20% stake in German transmission system operator, 50Hertz for some time now. After the intervention of Germany’s Federal Government, however, this share will now go to domestic development bank, KfW.
Turkey’s Smart Energy talks quality and customer proximity – Video interview
Turkish EPC and module manufacturer, Smart Energy highlighted the importance of high-quality products and the perks of operating a giga-fab right at the gates of Europe to pv magazine at this year’s Intersolar Europe.
Sungrow opens $5.5 million 3 GW PV inverter factory in India
The Chinese solar PV inverter manufacturer officially opened its first non-domestic fab today: a 3 GW central and string inverter factory in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is targeting a 50% market share in India in 2019, and mulling setting up an R&D center in the country. pv magazine attended the inauguration.
Module price declines in Australia could result in $60/MWh utility-scale solar
Falling module prices could very well dramatically enhance the competitiveness of large-scale solar in Australia – pushing the price at which PV can be produced below the wholesale curve. Rystad Energy believes that with a 20-30% module price decline, as has been forecast, $60MWh utility scale solar could become the new reality.
First Solar sees manufacturing hiccups, but bookings remain strong
The thin film PV maker reports difficulties in ramping its new Series 6 product, as well as pressure from module price collapses.
