Guinea Bissau plans its first big solar-plus-storage project
A solar power plant with a capacity of between 20 and 30 MW is currently being planned with the support of the World Bank, which is now seeking consultants to carry out a feasibility study for the project.
Credit Suisse to launch €500 million green bond issue to back US solar projects
The Swiss bank will utilize the proceeds to refinance construction and operation of U.S. solar projects, and this could be the first of several issuances.
Estonian utility Eesti Energia sees solar business increase
The Estonian state-owned power utility announced its plans to enter the solar energy business in September. The company has now commissioned a 200 kW rooftop solar power generator, which will sell power to a local farmer under a 25-year PPA.
Austria plans to launch 100,000 solar roof program
The Austrian solar sector has welcomed the new draft plan for an integrated climate and energy strategy and, in particular, the planned “100,000 roofs program”. Greenpeace, however, believes a reorientation of climate policy is urgently needed and that the presented measures are inadequate to reach the Paris climate targets.
Fraunhofer ISE announces 33% efficiency for multi-junction solar cell
Together with Austrian equipment manufacturer EVG, Fraunhofer ISE has achieved an efficiency of 33.3% on a multi-junction solar cell. The highlight of the cell is the ultra-thin II-V semiconductor layer. However, it will be a few years before mass production is possible.
Batteries, inverters, solar cells safe from US Section 301 tariffs
The list of Chinese products that the Trump Administration is considering for duties under Section 301 spares inverters, solar cells and modules, and the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs and battery storage to accompany PV.
Irish wind specialist SSE Airtricity expands into solar
The Irish renewable energy supplier, which is already active in the residential and commercial solar business, has agreed to acquire a 40% stake in rooftop PV installer, Activ8 Solar Energies.
Shell envisions central role for solar in new report
Shell’s new report shows a world where solar meets the largest portion of primary energy demand as soon as 2050.
Spain: Government expects solar to dominate by 2030 with up to 77 GW
In a new report, the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Digital Agenda has predicted that solar will become the country’s largest electricity source by the end of the next decade. Cumulative installed PV power could even reach 77 GW by the end of 2030, according to the most bullish scenario drafted by the Spanish government.
German scientists use germanium to improve performance of kesterite solar cells
Although current efficiencies for solar cells based on kesterite do not exceed 12.6%, the use of germanium may enable the development of cells with a higher energy band gap.
