Albania’s ERBD-supported 50-100 MW solar auction moves forward
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the country’s Ministry of Energy are now seeking consultants for the implementation of the competitive bidding process.
Germany’s EEG levy surplus reaches $4 billion in 2017
In December, Germany’s EEG levy surplus increased again by almost €500 million. The full-year balance sheet shows that transmission system operators received more than €1 billion than they spent.
Austrian solar incentives portal overwhelmed with applications, again
Around 3,000 incentive applications were filed with the portal in the first five minutes after it was activated. The first-come-first-serve principle, however, will not be applied to determine which developers will have access to the incentive program.
Shell to develop 20 MW PV project in southern Netherlands
The Dutch-British oil giant will build a 20 MW solar facility at its Moerdijk chemicals site. The project is part of the group’s strategy to install solar facilities at its own operations.
Belgium to host its first “giant” solar park
The 100 MW Kristal Solar Park will be the first ground mounted solar park built in the country since 2013. Belgium has so for implemented policies that have supported residential rooftop PV, and that only recently have helped increase the share of the commercial and industrial segments.
Italy added 382 MW of PV in first 11 months of 2017
The Italian solar market grew by 25% in the first 11 months of 2017. This growth was mainly determined by the grid connection of several “grid-parity” PV plants totaling 66 MW, which were installed in Montalto di Castro, Italy’s central region of Lazio.
France announces winners of 150 MW tender for rooftop PV
Overall, the French government has selected 283 projects in the tender. The final average price was €85/MWh, slightly below the previous tender of the same type. Around 40% of the winning developers were granted the €3/MWh bonus which is guaranteed to the projects partly relying on crowdfunding.
German Development Bank granted incentives to 6,900 residential solar-plus-storage systems in 2017
Approved incentive applications reached a volume of approximately €123 million. At the turn of the year, however, the rebate granted by the German Government dropped from 13% to 10%.
Germany reports high realization rate for PV projects selected in auctions
Around 90% of the projects selected in the third round of the country’s tender program for PV plants ranging in size from 750 kW to 10 MW have reached completion on time.
EU launches initiative to support solar, renewable energy
The Clean Energy Industrial Forum will be part of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package, which is setting the energy strategy of the Old Continent for the period 2020-2030.
