Sweden

The German Energy Agency has drawn up a list of proposed measures which it says could help the world’s biggest solar market accelerate its clean energy plans through the adoption of subsidy-free – private – power purchase agreements.

The devices, developed by a European research team, are said to have twice the energy density of conventional aluminum devices. The scientists used a cathode made of anthraquinone, instead of one based on graphene, increasing energy density.

A new report in Sweden suggests that renewables are an ideal source of power for marine vessels, based on a case study in which solar PV and proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, combined with a diesel generator, were used to reduce the greenhouse gas and particulate emissions of cruise ships by almost 10%.

A Swedish-Chinese research team has developed an organic cell said to be ideal for wide use in daily life to power internet of things-enabled devices. The cell could be used to power sensors that detect and measure moisture, particle concentrations, temperature and other parameters indoors.

Funding for the rebate scheme had already been increased in April. Overall, the budget for this year now amounts to almost $125 million.

The Japanese multinational lender is making its second investment in the Swedish start-up. The funds will help the company ship its first products next year.

pv magazine‘s delve into unsung solar markets continues with a look at Sweden. While its installation numbers are small, solar in the Scandinavian nation has developed steadily, and megawatt scale installations are beginning to appear.

The 5.8 MW Sparbanken Skåne Solar Park is in the Sjöbo Kommun, in the southern region of Skåne. The facility is selling more than half its output to the spot market and around a third to Swedish bank Sparbanken Skåne under a 10-year PPA. The rest is being traded on the Nord Pool electricity certificate market for renewable energy in Sweden and Norway.

While Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and Brazil attracted more funds than last year, China’s transition to an auction-based procurement system and slow performance overall in Europe saw worldwide backing decrease. BloombergNEF does expect investments to ramp up in the second half, however.

Renewable energy company Eneo Solutions AB has signed a letter of intent for a 20-year power supply deal linked to a 10 MW solar park it will start building in November. The energy buyer is Swedish financial services provider Swedbank. The plant, scheduled for completion by mid-2020, will meet 30% of Swedbank’s electricity demand.