Construction begins on El Salvador’s first state-owned solar park
El Salvador’s Lempa River Hydroelectric Executive Commission (CEL) has started building a 17 MW solar park. It is the first to be owned, designed, planned and executed by the national authorities. It is scheduled to start operations in December 2023.
Spain, Portugal to lead renewables in Europe, says Rystad
Norwegian consulting firm Rystad Energy has described the Iberian Peninsula as “a new European energy powerhouse.” It expects Spain and Portugal to reach 79% renewables in their combined electricity mix by 2030.
Thailand introduces FIT scheme for solar, storage
In an unexpected move, the government of Thailand has introduced a feed-in-tariff (FIT) of THB 2,1679 ($0.057)/kWh over 25 years for solar and a 25-year FIT of THB 2,8331/kWh for solar plus storage.
Malaysia to grant 4-year PPA extensions to bidders in large-scale solar tender
The Malaysian authorities have revealed that they will extend power purchase agreements from the fourth LSS4 tender for large-scale PV from 21 to 25 years.
Vietnam set to open renewable energy market to PPAs
The Vietnamese government has been working on a scheme to allow bilateral power purchase agreements (PPAs) since 2020. The start of the pilot scheme has been delayed and is now expected for the first quarter of 2023. The official program would launch in 2025.
Ireland’s first PPA for large-scale solar
Allied Irish Banks will buy electricity from two solar parks that NTR is now developing. The power purchase agreement has a duration of 15 years.
Rio Tinto unit signs up for 148 MW of solar
Richards Bay Minerals has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with French renewables developer Voltalia, which plans to build a 148 MW solar project in South Africa’s Limpopo province.
The weekend read: Mining for gold in legacy PPAs
As the pace of solar installations quickens, developers are racing to find the best remaining sites and optimize their position in interconnection queues. But what if the best investment opportunity is hidden in a site built a decade or more ago? Time gets the better of us all, and many early solar sites no longer perform as expected. Yet those sites generally sell power at prices today’s developers can only dream of. Chris Chappell and Stephen Shirey of Clean Energy Associates examine what can be done to unlock the value in these legacy sites.
SolarPower Europe at odds with implications of EU windfall tax on renewables
SolarPower Europe has issued a statement opposing any moves by the European Commission to impose a lower maximum electricity price on renewables than on fossil fuel energy. EU member state energy ministers will meet this week to thrash out emergency measures to protect bill payers.
A game-changer for PPA markets
Extreme volatility and high prices recorded on energy markets, coupled with inflation, and soaring interest rates are impacting long term power purchase agreements. Still there is a way to the success and signing of contracts.
