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SMA Solar Technology AG has set up a test center at its German headquarters to optimize PV diesel hybrid energy systems. Such applications are growing in importance, says the company, which estimates an annual global growth in the single digit GW range.

Yesterday, Bloomberg New Energy Finance released its 2015 New Energy Outlook. In it solar PV was seen as a leading energy source for the future, however the pace of renewable energy deployment and the continuation of large coal-fired fleets over the next 25 years is sure to disappoint some. Jenny Chase is the head of solar analysis at BNEF and she spoke with pv magazine.

Trina Solar has confirmed to pv magazine that it has signed a framework agreement with a partner in Indian to develop a 2 GW solar cell and module manufacturing facility in the country. Details for the plan are yet to be thrashed out.

Solar will attract funding of around US$3.7 trillion of over the next 25 years, becoming the largest energy segment in terms of new investment. This is the key finding from Bloomberg New Energy Finance in its New Energy Outlook 2015 (NEO), published today, which estimates solar will generate 14% of the earth’s electricity by 2040.

Oxis Energy is gearing up to sell its energy storage batteries in 2016. The lithium sulfur (Li-S) battery developer, which unveiled a solar storage technology demonstration project in early June with Proinso, predicts a battery price of $250/kWh in 2020.

Eicke Weber, the head of leading solar research body the Fraunhofer ISE, has announced that he will step down from his post and run for public office. Most interestingly Weber has announced he will stand for Germany’s Free Democratic Party in regional elections.

2015 looks set to be another year of growth for the global solar market with new installations set to reach 57.4 GW. Mercom Capital delivered the prediction its Global Solar Forecast, published this week.

Solar PV technology has already exceeded its deployment goals under the European Commission’s renewable energy targets. Overall, the EU is on track to meet its 2020 targets, with renewables accounting for a projected 15.3% of overall European energy consumption in 2014.

Fraunhofer spinoff, NexWafe GmbH plans to set up a 250 MWp production line for its kerfless wafer production. The first pilot line is expected to begin in 2017.

The investment opportunities and business models in the energy storage industry need to be identified, writes Ernst & Young. In the energy industry in general, more focus needs to be placed on the customer, with utilities adapting their traditional supply and demand models. Energy security in the Mediterranean is also a top priority.