Storing large scale renewables with basalt stones
A Danish consortium is seeking to store electricity from large scale renewable energy plants in the form of thermal energy in big tanks containing crushed, pea-sized stones made of basalt. The first 10 MWh demonstrator is planned to be developed in Denmark and to be powered by a wind facility. Another project is also under development in the United States and is planned to be linked to a solar plant.
Post-subsidy PV boom in Western Australia
New figures from local electricity retailer Synergy have shown that a second residential solar boom is taking place in the state of Western Australia (WA). With 2,500 customers each month installing photovoltaic arrays, the installation rate is many times higher than it was when now-defunct generous subsidies were in place.
EPIA: Three-target approach needed in 2030 EU climate targets
The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has wasted no time in adding its voice to the debate over 2030 EU climate goals, kicked off by the release of a European Commission (EC) Green Paper yesterday in Brussels. EPIA has called for a “three-target approach.”
World passes 100 GW installed PV capacity mark
Behind the headline news from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) that the world has passed the 100 GW mark in cumulative installed photovoltaic capacity, is the ongoing story of a shift away from Europe.
BNEF: PV will be cheaper than fossil fuels in Australia by 2020
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) forecasts that large-scale photovoltaic systems will supply energy cheaper than coal and gas by 2020 in Australia. Already, it states, wind farms are supplying energy cheaper than its fossil fuel counterparts.
IEA calls for "urgent action" on climate change
The executive director of the International Energy Agency has made a call for “more urgent than ever” action to reduce carbon emissions and promote “low-carbon” energy investment. The strong statement comes as the second week of the UNs Climate Change Conference in Doha continues.
Emerging markets to grow to 12 GW p.a. by 2017
IHS has plotted the shift away from established markets towards emerging markets in its latest photovoltaic market report. It has forecast cumulative demand of around 30 GW to be delivered by the emerging markets over the next four years.
Mexico is in pole position in the race for PV grid parity
The first edition of a newly launched global monitor detailing the race for photovoltaic grid parity has ranked Germany at the foot of the seven countries studied. Meanwhile, Mexico has taken pole position.
New report evaluates global PV
Weighing in at a hefty 56 pages and 2MB, the World Research Institutes (WRI) study of the global onshore wind and photovoltaic industries provides a useful introduction to the renewables story so far, but provides little new insight to seasoned observers.
IEA: Renewables to rival coal by 2035
Unhampered by a massive surge in the output of oil and natural gas, especially in the U.S., renewables will take their place in the sun by 2035, according to the findings of the World Energy Outlook 2012. Overall, solar power is expected to grow more rapidly than any other renewable technology. Subsidies will continue to play a key role in development, however.
