Articles written by Patrick Jowett

View article
Energy Vault signs gravity storage deal covering southern Africa Under a new 10-year agreement, Gravity Energy Storage Solutions (GESSOL) has secured the rights to deploy Energy Vault’s gravity energy storage tech throughout the 16 nations of the Southern African Development Community region. Energy Vault CEO Robert Piconi says the deployments will smooth out load shedding and optimize grid performance.
Patrick Jowett
Feb 01, 2024
View article
Mauritania secures $289.5 million for solar projects, interconnection line The authorities in Mauritania have obtained $289.5 million of financing for two solar projects, including a $272 million loan – the largest ever granted to the country by the African Development Bank – for a recently approved 225 kV electricity interconnection.
Patrick Jowett
Feb 01, 2024
4
View article
Ivory Coast to host 52 MW solar plant The Ivory Coast government has signed an agreement with infrastructure investor PFO Africa for the financing, construction and operation of a 52 MW solar plant. The project has been billed as the country’s largest to date. 
Patrick Jowett
Feb 01, 2024
2
View article
Caribbean utility launches tender for PV, wind, battery storage project Saba Electric Co. (SEC), an energy supplier on the Caribbean island of Saba, is seeking expressions of interest for a solar, wind and battery energy storage system. The deadline is Feb. 5, 2024.
Patrick Jowett
Jan 31, 2024
View article
Consultations underway for 1 GW of solar, storage in UK Once operational, the Great North Road Solar Park in Nottinghamshire, England, could meet the power needs of around 400,000 homes. A spokesperson for the project’s design team has told pv magazine that the installation site is currently owned by private landowners, but the acquisition process is set to be completed shortly.
Patrick Jowett
Jan 30, 2024
3
View article
Trilantic Europe acquires 60% stake in Aerocompact Mathias Muther, the founder of Aerocompact, says a new investment from private equity firm Trilantic Europe will allow the Austrian mounting system manufacturer to expand its international market presence.
Patrick Jowett
Jan 29, 2024
1
View article
Record number of European PPAs in 2023, says Pexapark The European market for power purchase agreements (PPAs) reached 16.2 GW in contracted volumes in 2023, up 40% year on year. Pexapark, a Swiss consulting firm, says the result marks a “golden era” for European PPAs, as it predicts the market to surpass 20 GW in 2024.
Patrick Jowett
Jan 29, 2024
3
View article
NREL says long-term degradation of 8 GW of US solar ‘matches expectations’ Research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on the degradation of almost 8 GW of US solar shows that PV systems are degrading at a modest rate, within expectations. It says most PV systems experience minimal damage from short-term extreme weather, but warns of the risk of powerful hail, wind and snow.
Patrick Jowett
Jan 29, 2024
3
View article
Smart grids could improve Saudi Arabia’s renewables potential Saudi researchers say smart grids could have a minimal impact on the environment in Saudi Arabia, while supporting a technologically advanced power system compatible with end users.
Patrick Jowett
Jan 26, 2024
2