UK, Germany should push on storage, EVs – BloombergNEF
Two new reports from BloombergNEF recommend that the two northern European countries should implement policies to accelerate the adoption of energy storage and smart electric vehicle charging, while also improving demand response and interconnection to Nordic hydropower reservoirs. All of these actions are expected to further reduce fossil fuel dependence and add flexibility to their respective energy markets.
Spain’s Solarpack goes public on Dec. 5
The Spanish developer is expected to increase capital between 38.5% and 40.7%. The price range has been set between €8.0 and €10.3 per share. The raised funds will be invested mainly in the execution of the contracted portfolio of projects totaling 510 MW, in the acquisition of 13 MW of operating assets in Spain and in the development of its additional portfolio of projects totaling 2.9 GW.
Enel plans to deploy another 11.4 GW of renewables by 2021
In its new strategic plan for the period 2019-2021, the Italian power utility announced it will invest an additional €10.6 billion in renewable energy projects. It aims to strenghten its position in the markets where it has an integrated presence such as Italy, Spain, Chile and Brazil.
Industry hails UK energy minister’s export tariff stance
Renewable energy industry bodies are hailing the U.K. Energy Minister’s comments today that power should not be provided to the country’s electricity grid for free. She was referring to the ongoing debate over whether or not to end solar export tariffs.
Islands ditching diesel in favor of renewables
The U.K. is helping islands in Scotland and the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian oceans, make the switch from dirty diesel generators to renewables. In the former, community-owned renewable systems are ensuring 24 hour energy supply, while in the latter, a new renewable energy analytics platform is set to help identify the optimum energy mix for six islands.
Solarcentury secures permit for 200 MW of PV in southern Spain
Four projects – “Cerrado Cabrera”, “El primo Aleman”, “Hazas de los sesenta” and “Los Gonzalez” – each totaling 50 MW will be located in Alcalá de Guadaíra, near Seville. Work on the plants is expected to commence in April 2019.
Plans advance for UK’s first solar + storage Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project
Wirsol Energy Ltd and Hive Energy Ltd are developing an over 50 MW solar + storage project which, when completed, will represent the United Kingdom’s first Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
German researchers achieve 25.5% efficiency for perovskite tandem solar cells
The research team was able to improve the cell efficiency by 2.1%. The cell silicon layer was etched on the back-side, while a a polymer light management (LM) foil was applied to the front-side of the device.
France’s decision to delay nuclear phaseout by a decade jeopardizes PV plans
The French government has devised three possible scenarios for the planned phasing out of part of its nuclear power generation assets. Even under the most optimistic scenario, the target to reduce the share of nuclear power from around 75% to 50% by 2025, which had been set by the previous government, will only be reached in 2035. The most pessimistic scenario envisages the construction of four new nuclear reactors by 2040.
PV snaps up all capacity in Germany’s second mixed wind-solar auction
The German Federal Network Agency has selected 36 solar PV power projects with a combined capacity of 201 MW in the mixed energy auction, which ended with a final average price of €0.0527/kWh.
