United Kingdom

The British wafer manufacturer has reached a settlement agreement on unfulfilled long-term wafer supply contracts with a customer. The unnamed manufacturer has to pay €28.8 million to PV Crystalox.

The London-based metal alloy and metallic products provider has conducted a test on 500 kW of wafers in cooperation with the Silicon Module Super League (SMSL). In the next weeks, it will also test 500 kW of PERC cells relying on its own “black silicon”, in coordination with another Super League producer.

The heatwave across Western Europe saw wind power 20% lower than usual while solar irradiance was 20% above average, according to Vaisala, a provider of measurement systems and equipment for meteorology. If this balancing effect is confirmed by further analysis, the technologies may ensure future energy supply by providing a diversified, ‘climate-resilient’ portfolio.

Solar – and wind – will finally bring an element of environmental consciousness, and value for money, to the system charged with keeping the lights on in Britain. Is PV finally shaking off long-held fears about its intermittent nature?

With a group purchasing program securing hefty discounts for British households – and attracting thousands of potential customers as a result – solar has a viable business case no matter what further cuts the government throws at the industry.

Offgem has granted Limejump access to the balancing market via its VPP, meaning renewables can, for the first time, participate. Meanwhile, under its latest consultation on the capacity market, the government is considering granting access to renewables.

U.K. investor the Foresight Solar Fund today announced the acquisition of a portfolio of operational PV projects, following a placement of new shares in June which raised around £48.1 million.

The Italian wind energy specialist has joined forces with UK-based investment firm Quercus Investment Partners LLP to acquire another 150 MW of PV plants in Italy.

Circular Energy Storage, a London-based research and consulting group, reports a strong business case for reconstituted electric vehicle batteries for energy storage applications. As the EV and static storage system markets grow rapidly, synergies could be a useful tool for continued cost optimization.

The solar plant was commissioned last week in Ourique, southern Portugal. The project was developed by UK-based renewable energy company Welink and Chinese engineering services provider China Triumph International Engineering (CTIEC).