Industry reaction: proposed EU solar pricing allows for better enforcement, says EU Prosun
Milan Nitzschke, president of solar manufacturing trade body EU Prosun, believes that the new proposals for MIP by the European Commission’s DG Trade offer a more accurate means of imposing necessary trade tariffs on imported solar cells and modules.
Sparx completes 13 MW near Tokyo
Sparx Green Energy and Technology — a unit of Tokyo-based asset manager Sparx — has switched on a 12.8 MW solar project in eastern Japan. It claims that the installation — which stretches roughly 10 kilometres between Shiroi and Inzai, Chiba prefecture — is the “longest” PV project in Japan.
Organic electrode material could boost lithium ion capacity
Researchers at Germany’s Helmholtz Institute have developed a new electrode material which could improve the capacity and charge/discharge speed of lithium-ion technology, as well as reducing for costly cobalt in the batteries.
Solar Philippines to build 1 GW by 2018
Solar Philippines plans to finish building 1 GW of solar by next year, with roughly half of that capacity to be constructed outside of the Philippines.
Tata Power DDL deploys its first 15 KWp microgrids in the Indian state of Bihar
Tapping into the high potential for the implementation of microgrid projects for reliable electricity supply to rural areas, the Indian utility is piloting two such installations in the state of Bihar.
Belgium: Wallonia’s PV system owners to pay grid-fee starting from 2020
The energy regulator of the Belgian French-speaking region has announced the grid-fee will come into force in 2020, and not in 2019 as previously planned. PV systems operators are expected to pay an annual fee ranging from €330 to €560.
India’s SECI cancels 950 MW of solar tenders, seeks re-tender at lower rate
The Solar Energy Corporation of India has scrapped large amounts of solar+storage tenders at both the Pavagada and Kadapa solar parks as it seeks to renegotiate with states for lower tariffs.
Zorlu Energy to build MW-sized PV plants in Palestine
The Turkish company has signed a MoU with the Palestinian utility JDECO for the construction of an unspecified number of solar plants in the Middle Eastern region.
Behind the world’s first Meyer Burger SmartWire line
While it has been slow to gain major traction in manufacturing, Meyer Burger’s SmartWire cell interconnection technology now has a significant reference application, in the form Polish manufacturer Hanplast.
Chilean environmental authorities receive proposal for 1 GW CSP-PV project
The huge plant would consist of a 707 MW PV section and a 300 MW unit and would be located in the northern region of Tarapacá.
