Switzerland: New PV additions for 2017 range between 250 and 270 MW
According to provisional figures released by Swissolar, solar demand remained stable in the country last year. Looking ahead, the association expects another 300 MW to be deployed this year.
Portugal: ‘Unsubsidized’ approved large-scale PV projects top 756 MW, first private solar PPA signed
The projects will be developed without direct public incentives and will sell power to the spot market – an option still considered unviable by the local renewable energy sector – or through private PPAs. Meanwhile, local power provider, Axpo Iberia has agreed to buy electricity from a 28 MW solar facility planned in southern Portugal under a 10-year PPA.
AES, Siemens launch energy storage platform Fluence, confirm involvement in 100 MW LA storage project
Collaboration between the U.S. energy firm and the German power electronics giant officially licensed on January 1, as details of a massive 100 MW/400 MWh lithium-ion battery storage project in California were announced.
Baywa plugs in 41 MW solar park in southwestern France
The solar park was built on an area previously used for logging and which has been unused for several years.
Scientists study impact of RE, energy trade on power grid frequency fluctuations
Research by scientists at the Queen Mary University of London, the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Gottingen, alongside German and Japanese researchers, has sought to analyze the impact of renewables and trading on power grid frequency fluctuations.
Netherlands: Newly created consortium to develop floating PV
The consortium, which has received funding from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), is formed by Waterschap Rivierland, Blue 21 BV, Hakkers BV and TU Delft.
Germany’s EEG levy surplus reaches $4 billion in 2017
In December, Germany’s EEG levy surplus increased again by almost €500 million. The full-year balance sheet shows that transmission system operators received more than €1 billion than they spent.
Austrian solar incentives portal overwhelmed with applications, again
Around 3,000 incentive applications were filed with the portal in the first five minutes after it was activated. The first-come-first-serve principle, however, will not be applied to determine which developers will have access to the incentive program.
Shell to develop 20 MW PV project in southern Netherlands
The Dutch-British oil giant will build a 20 MW solar facility at its Moerdijk chemicals site. The project is part of the group’s strategy to install solar facilities at its own operations.
Belgium to host its first “giant” solar park
The 100 MW Kristal Solar Park will be the first ground mounted solar park built in the country since 2013. Belgium has so for implemented policies that have supported residential rooftop PV, and that only recently have helped increase the share of the commercial and industrial segments.
