SMA rounds out 2017 with 1.2 GW of Australian power plant contracts
SMA is set to supply its central inverters and power plant controllers to more than 20 PV power plant projects in Australia. Today the inverter giant revealed that it has signed contracts to supply its Medium Voltage Power Station (MVPS) and the SMA Power Plant Controller to around 1.2 GW in projects.
Japan’s METI awards 140 MW in first PV auction — report
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has awarded 140 MW of solar capacity to eight companies across nine locations, with the lowest bid coming in at JPY 17.2 ($0.15)/kWh, according to a local media report.
TFE Consulting: Bangladesh C&I solar primed for growth
With only a few MW of installed capacity and no supportive policies on the books, a global solar developer could be forgiven for overlooking Bangladesh as a growth opportunity. However, research indicates there is strong market potential, particularly for the C&I solar sector.
New coating steps up solar cell efficiency by 20%, Russian researchers find
By putting silica particles inside the top electrode, scientists from Russia’s ITMO University have developed a new solar cell coating, which helps avoid overheating and diminishes light reflection, thus increasing overall efficiency by 20%.
BNEF: China to install 54 GW in 2017
According to a newly released forecast by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, China is likely to install up to 54 GW of solar PV before the year is out, surpassing previous expectations.
Egypt’s PV net metering set to bear fruit
Egypt’s feed-in tariff scheme expired in October, however recent regulatory updates on the net metering scheme are set to bear fruit for solar PV in Egypt. pv magazine explores the new policy and business landscape.
Corporate solar funding slips YoY finds Mercom Capital
Total corporate funding in the solar sector has slipped slightly in the first nine months of this year, compared to the same period in 2016 reports Mercom Capital, despite increases in global VC funding and M&A transactions. Some strong quarterly gains were, however, recorded. Downstream remains a key funding focus.
Lazard shows ongoing cost declines in solar (w/ charts)
The consultancy’s 2017 study finds that the global cost of utility-scale solar has reached an unsubsidized LCOE of under $50 per megawatt-hour, making new solar cost-competitive with running existing coal or nuclear plants.
Rotating molecule discovery could bring higher efficiencies to perovskite PV
A team of researchers led by the University of Virginia in the USA has discovered that rotating molecules within a solar are one of the key mechanisms behind the high levels of conversion efficiency seen in perovskite solar cells. The discovery could allow scientists to select and design new materials capable of even more efficient PV generation.
Singulus gets new CIGS order
The German PV equipment provider will supply several CIGS production systems of the type TENUIS II for wet-chemical coating processes to an unnamed Chinese manufacturer.
