UK: London backs solar with funding for 1 GW PV scheme
London has launched a £34 million Energy for Londoners scheme, which includes goal of generating 1 GW of energy from solar by 2030. Shirley Rodrigues, deputy mayor for the environment and energy, presented parts of London’s energy vision this week at the Energy Storage Connected Systems conference.
Russian scientists investigate quantum dot solids for PV applications
Researchers at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI) have developed next-generation solids consisting of quantum dots (QD), or semiconductor crystals with a diameter of just few nanometers, that could deliver a big step towards cheaper and more efficient photovoltaic devices.
Dutch consortium plans world’s first “off-shore” floating PV plant for the North Sea
The pilot project will be developed over the next three years and will utilize standard PV modules. The consortium expects the solar array to have a 15% higher yield compared to traditional installations.
The rebirth of Spain’s solar sector: 135 MW of new PV systems installed in 2017
While expecting the deployment of several GWs, which were allocated in this year’s auction, Spain’s solar demand grew by 145% last year. Most of the 135 MW installed last year comes from self-consumption and off-grid projects.
GE, Arenko form partnership to deliver 41 MW battery to UK
Large-scale battery energy storage system will be supplied by GE and tap into U.K.’s growing demand for stationary storage solutions.
Belgian solar market grew by 50% in 2017
While new PV additions in 2017 totaling 264 MW, the country’s cumulative PV capacity had reached 3.8 GW. The market’s main driver remains residential PV.
OPES Solution, Fraunhofer CSP develop ultra-light solar modules
The new products for off-grid applications are two thirds lighter than standard modules.
Total invests in semiconductor, PV research
The parent company of SunPower and the French National Research Agency have launched a new initiative aimed at developing new plasma processing methods for semiconductors and solar PV.
Swedish government backs Northvolt battery plant to tune of €15m
The Swedish Energy Agency has granted SEK 146 million to support Northvolt Labs’ large-scale battery manufacturing plant in Västerås, Sweden. Project already secured financial backing from ABB, Vestas and Scania.
The weekend read: Taking batteries from lab to market
The conversation around battery cell production may be heated, but it is largely confined to the advanced industrial economies of China, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. Although also a high-tech hub of innovation and manufacturing expertise, Europe has been on the outside looking in for some time. But that could all be about to change as two exciting storage production programs take flight.
