Western Europe

The solar company has launched a five-year research project with the British scientists, which has been funded with £2.5 million from the U.K. Government. The goal is to develop a thin film multi-junction perovskite solar cell with a 37% efficiency and long-term stability.

Norway’s state-owned hydropower and wind company plans to invest around NOK 10 billion (US$1.23 billion) in wind and solar between 2019 and 2025.

Although solar energy roads are still considered economically unviable, the Dutch water management agency, Rijkswaterstaat announced it will investigate their potential as an alternative to the lack of surfaces for PV deployment in the Netherlands.

German suppliers may still play a central role in providing residential storage systems, however the increasing number of Asian manufacturers on the European market is undeniable. Particularly in the U.K. and Italy, they have captured the lion’s share of sales.

While global coal mining companies are enjoying the highest prices in years on the back of boosted Asian demand, banks and financiers are increasingly ending their support for coal power. London-based Standard Chartered the latest to stop financing new coal-fired stations.

After the emissions scandal, many customers have turned their backs on diesel, partially due to environmental concerns, partially out of fear of a future bans on the fuel. Porsche says it has not had diesel engines in its portfolio since February, and will now scrap production altogether.

Labour this morning unveiled plans for an energy system free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but it is unclear what proportion of the party’s “clean energy” mix would be met by nuclear.

The new Selectively Coated Ribbons (SCR) technology could improve yields by 2.2 Watts on module level, says the manufacturer. The new ribbons can also be used with existing equipment, omitting the need for manufacturers to invest in new production outlay, at a time when profit margins in module manufacturing are squeezed.

More than 100 free storage systems will given to residential and commercial users to maximize utilization rates of storage systems while reducing costs for grid operators. The algorithms behind the technology would improve the supply situation and shave peak demand.

The Italian developer and largest shareholder of inverter maker Elettronica Santerno, said on Friday it would delay its financial results for the first half. Its statement also revealed the loss of a contract to build a 120 MW solar plant in Spain and a $5 million loss linked to another project in the US.