Belgium

Belgian research institute Imec has achieved a conversion efficiency of 23.9% on a perovskite/silicon tandem module measuring 4 square centimeters. This efficiency level, according to Imec, represents the first time such a stacked configuration has outperformed a standalone silicon solar cell.

The Minister of Energy of the Flanders hopes that another 6.4 million solar modules can be installed in the region under his mandate until 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.

A 2.2 MW rooftop PV array was installed on Nike’s distribution center in Ham. The facility will cover up to 15% of the building’s energy needs.

Once a leading solar market, the Belgian macro-region of Flanders keeps showing signs of robust growth in new installations in the first five months of this year, after installing 103 MW of solar in 2016.

Ducatt had to start insolvency proceedings due to the insolvency of German solar module manufacturer SolarWorld. Around 50% of Ducatt’s revenue came from orders placed by SolarWorld, as reported by local media.

According to a scientific paper from the Université libre de Bruxelles, even a further reduction in storage prices may not be sufficient to make solar-plus-storage attractive in the Belgian market.

Dutch energy company Eneco Group announced its acquisition of a 34% stake in Next Kraftwerke, a German company operating one of Europe’s largest virtual power plant networks. The investment was announced at the Ecosummit cleantech event in Berlin today.

The Belgian research institute has developed a bifacial n-PERT solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 22.8%. Imec researchers claim this cell has the potential for a cost-of-ownership at module level of less than $0.30/W.

The Belgian research institute has improved the efficiency of its 4x4cm² perovskite module by 1.1%.