Engie, Sonatrach officialize partnership for solar and renewables
The French group and the Algerian gas and power provider will team up in the areas of solar PV technology and energy efficiency. Sonatrach is also the state-owned entity responsible for the implementation of Algeria’s solar and renewable energy targets, and for the launch of the long-awaited 4 GW auction for PV.
EU, China request consultation with US over solar tariffs, WTO filing shows
Following the introduction of 30% graduated tariffs on imported solar modules into the U.S., the European Union and China have joined South Korea and Taiwan in filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization.
EU approves capacity mechanisms for Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Poland
The European Commission stated that capacity mechanisms in these five electricity markets are in line with EU state aid rules, and that all of the mechanisms are “well-designed”. SolarPower Europe says further supporting most polluting power generation forms through capacity mechanism simply does not make sense anymore.
Unsubsidized large-scale solar projects are proliferating across Italy
In a short conversation with pv magazine, the CEO of Italy-based consultancy, Prothea Srl has provided more details on the 500 MW Italian pipeline of market parity PV projects, which it has jointly announced with Limes RE.
Wind giant Vestas taps solar, storage markets for hybridization drive
The Danish wind turbine producer to explore further development of hybrid renewable energy plants that combine wind, solar and battery storage at single location as wind growth rates ease in face of market consolidation.
Tesla solar deployments slide further in Q4
With only 87 MW deployed, Tesla/SolarCity may no longer be the largest distributed solar company in the United States, but its energy storage business is growing.
US solar jobs fell 3.8% in 2017
The hangover from the ITC-driven boom in 2016 in the U.S. is the biggest factor in the relative decline, and a rebound is expected in 2019.
Aging tests for perovskite, dye-sensitized solar cells must improve, research says
Finnish scientists have found that only one third of tests reported the intensities of visible and UV light, humidity and temperature adequately.
The unexpected benefits of replacing tobacco plantations with solar farms
Although tobacco consumption is the key cause of avoidable deaths worldwide, its cultivation remains the main source of income for many farmers. Now, two researchers from the Michigan Technological University claim that converting tobacco fields to solar farms could be beneficial for two purposes: reducing deaths and helping solar energy fight climate change.
Germany’s ISFH announces 26.1% efficiency for p-type crystalline cells
The Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) and the Leibniz Universität Hannover claim that this result is a world record for p-type silicon material, as well as a European record for crystalline silicon.
