UN Climate Summit strikes bum note
Despite the self-congratulatory mood, critics attack gathering of 120 world leaders for failing to rise to the challenge of climate change.
EU commits $4.2 billion for sustainable energy in developing countries
Aimed at increasing access to sustainable energy sources globally, the EU will allocate more than EUR 3.3 billion ($4.2 billion) in grants in the next six years. Some EUR 2 billion will benefit African countries.
Mercom: 48 GW of solar PV to be installed globally in 2014
Despite a slow first half of the year, Mercom Capital has raised its forecast for global PV installations to 48 GW, as the second year of accelerating market growth.
Rockefellers dump oil, embrace clean energy
If John D. Rockefeller were alive today, “as an astute businessman looking out to the future, he would be moving out of fossil fuels and investing in clean, renewable energy,” says Stephen Heintz, president of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
ZSW sets 21.7% thin film efficiency record
Scientists at Stuttgart’s Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research have regained the gong for CIGS efficiency, improving upon the previous record of 21%.
The pv magazine weekly news round-up
Good news from Italy and India, astonishing news about sunlight levels and the solar cell coming to a printer near you but it’s all too late for one US state. We should have listened to Barry…
U.S. installed solar PV costs continue to fall
The latest report by Berkeley Lab shows that installed PV costs in the United States fell 12-15% during 2013, despite a stabilization in PV module costs. However, America still has the highest installed costs among major markets for systems under 100 kW.
California calls for scaled-down version of Palen CSP project
Regulators at the California Energy Commission have recommended approval of a new plan for the Palen solar CSP project with a single solar tower and reduced acreage. A final decision on the controversial project will be made on October 29.
ABB going big on storage and renewables
Interview: Otto Preiss, the Group Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit Power Conversion, spoke to pv magazine about the growing opportunities in the transition of the utility sector, the growing significance of distributed generation and smart grids as well as electric mobility and increased mass transportation coming with growing urbanization.
Duke Energy commits to 278 MW of solar PV in North Carolina
Following on its February RFP, Duke has announced that it will acquire and construct three PV plants totaling 128 MW, including the largest PV project east of the Mississippi River, and sign PPAs with another five totaling 150 MW. This will increase the existing PV capacity in North Carolina by 44%.
