EDF commissions ‘France’s largest collective self-consumption PV project’
A social housing development of 100 dwellings will benefit from the electricity generated by 600 sq meters of PV panels. Any output not used by residents will power hot water tanks, effectively functioning as an energy storage element of the project.
UK mulls 15% rise in VAT rates that would hit residential solar and storage
Having declared a climate emergency last week, the U.K. government is considering raising VAT rates from 5% to 20% on ‘energy saving materials’ in the home. While the tax authorities are blaming Europe, trade body the REA has pointed out the 5% rate would still apply for coal used for domestic heating.
IEA warning against stagnation of renewables
After two decades of growth, the amount of newly installed renewable energy capacity is no longer rising and, despite a 7% growth in electricity generation from clean energy sources, global energy-related carbon emissions have risen 1.7%.
UK scientists build new 3D solar architecture
The back-contact solar cell is said to have a conversion efficiency of around 7%. According to researchers, the cell design includes the removal of expensive transparent conductive oxides.
Longi claims new record for bifacial half-cut module as production equipment orders pour in
The Chinese monocrystalline panel maker said its 72-cell bifacial product has reached an ouput of more than 450 W on the front side. The result was confirmed by Germany’s TÜV-SÜD.
Swedish Energy Agency eyes PV to achieve 100% renewables by 2040
Though PV will remain in the shadow of wind and hydropower in the north of Europe, an ambitious solar deployment scenario in Sweden could lift the market into the gigawatt club through to 2040.
French-German battery alliance secures €5 billion as Tesvolt works on gigafactory
Ministers have reaffirmed plans for a Franco-German battery industry. The project is being supported in principle by the European Commission, which could give its approval by October. Meanwhile, German storage specialist Tesvolt is building a commercial storage system factory in Germany.
A floating solar island archipelago
Dutch water borne PV specialist Floating Solar has begun construction of a 25 MW project consisting of installations spread across a reservoir owned by Dutch water provider PWN. Construction has started on three floating arrays.
France sets second-quarter FITs for rooftop solar systems
The feed-in tariff granted reduces each quarter in line with how much solar capacity was installed in the previous three-month period and the drop will be felt more keenly in sun-rich Corsica and the nation’s overseas territories than on the mainland.
Italy and Tunisia revive plans for 600 MW interconnector
The power line, under development by Italian transmission company Terna and Tunisian gas and electricity group STEG since 2003, was originally conceived to export power generated in Tunisia to Italy but is now based on an electricity exchange in the opposite direction.
