Big weekend: What will happen at the International Solar Alliance Summit?
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), now registered under the United Nations, is organizing its first summit to be held this Sunday, March 11. It is also set to host a founding ceremony of the ISA in the presence of French President, Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi President, Abdul Hamid. Government dignitaries of member countries are joining, and 51 solar projects will be signed.
EIB committed €1 billion to solar last year
The European Investment Bank (EIB) made its solar investments in 13 European Union countries, as well as in India, Mexico and Peru in 2017. The bank’s total investment volume for solar projects since 2002 amounts to around €6.3 billion.
Kazahkstan tenders 290 MW of solar
Overall, new auctions launched by the Kazakh government will allocate 1 GW of renewable energy generation capacity, including 620 MW of wind power plants.
Solar Ventures plans 1 GW of ‘grid-parity’ projects in Italy, Spain
The Italian solar plant operator has decided to re-enter the Italian PV market, as costs for large-scale solar are now under €1 million/MW and conditions for unsubsidized projects are improving. Overall, it plans to invest around €800 million in solar in the two southern European countries over the next five years.
Manz returns to profitability
Thanks to a one-off effect in the solar segment, the company was able to achieve a record turnover of €325 million in 2017.
European Commission unveils sustainable financing roadmap
An estimated €100 billion in additional investment is needed, annually, to reach Europe’s 2030 energy goals, states the European Commission, which has today released a roadmap to create a financial system that is focused on sustainable investment.
Sweden allocates $60 million in solar rebates for 2018
The Swedish Energy Agency will initially allocate 200 million SEK (around US$24 million). Two further tranches of 200 million SEK and 100 million SEK, respectively, will be assigned in April and in the fall. The funds will be used to finance small rooftop PV projects under the country’s solar rebate scheme.
German PV module maker CS Wismar plans to raise production in 2018
In addition to the manufacturing of its own modules, the German solar PV producer focuses primarily on OEM production. Negotiations are currently underway with two customers, which would lead to a significant increase in production volume this year.
Poland to tender 750 MW of solar projects up to 1 MW in 2018
The Polish government may also launch a mixed wind-solar auction for projects over 1 MW that, according to local analyst Piotr Pająk, would eventually conclude with a prevailing share of wind.
Storage Highlights countdown #1: combined gas and battery grid services power plant by Technische Werke Ludwigshafen and Younicos
As Energy Storage Europe approaches, pv magazine counts down the highest-ranked energy storage highlights, selected by our independent jury, that visitors to the exhibition can lay their eyes on. In first-place was Younicos’ combined gas and battery grid services power plant.
