Russian region of Kalmykia to host 75 MW of solar
Russian module maker and project developer Hevel intends to deploy 75 MW of capacity by 2022 in the region, which has poor connections with the country’s national grid
Super fast EV charging solution secures BP Venture investment
British oil giant BP has announced a $20 million investment into battery developer Storedot, whose batteries use chemically synthesized organic molecules to build an organic polymer, in addition to lithium. Storedot says the astonishing properties of the new material enable electric vehicle charging times of just five minutes
Longi Solar sets record for shingled cell module efficiency
Longi Solar has achieved an efficiency record of 20.66% for the front side of its 60-cell bifacial shingled module. The milestone was confirmed by the China General Certification Center
Dutch solar sector fights belief PV is eroding agricultural land
With ground-mounted solar plants popular in the Netherlands, critics says large-scale plants are devouring agricultural land. PV association Holland Solar says even if the country reaches an installed capacity of 16 GW by 2050, only 0.5% of its agricultural surfaces would be covered
Engie plugs in 40 MW solar plant in Peru
The project was awarded in a power auction held by the Peruvian government in 2016
Few answers for UK solar as Brexit negotiations drag on
As the second anniversary of Britain’s vote to leave the EU approaches, the nature of the UK’s future energy relationship with the bloc is still very much unclear
TerniEnergia to sell EPC and O&M PV business
The Italian developer said that the sale will enable continuity of its PV business. Funds from the transaction will be used to create a new company which will merge PV operations in Italy with those abroad
Enel switches on 238 MW solar park in Mexico
The Don José solar plant is located in the state of Guacanajuato. Italian utility Enel was awarded the contract for the facility in Mexico’s first power auction
The Weekend Read: Value generation with rural mini-grids
Commercial mini-grids: To provide electricity access for all by 2030, the International Energy Agency estimates mini-grids will provide power to one-third of the 1.1 billion people without electricity. Powering equipment that can generate income for rural villagers is hailed as one of the most important ways of enhancing rural mini-grid bankability. Rural mini-grid companies today are working with communities to understand what income-generating equipment, called productive uses of electricity, can make viable businesses.
The path to US$0.015/kWh solar power, and lower
GTM Research projects US$24 cent/w solar panels and utility scale fixed-tilt systems at US$70 cent/W by 2022, which opens up new possibilities for ultra-cheap power from solar.
