EU launches first cross-border solar tender
Participants in the European Union’s new cross-border solar tender will have to submit project proposals with capacities between 5 MW and 100 MW. Luxembourg is providing a voluntary payment of €40 million ($43.9 million) and Finland is hosting the projects that will compete for the subsidies.
Italy sets new provisions for innovative agrivoltaics
The European Commission is now reviewing Italy’s new rules on agrivoltaics. They define which “innovative agrivoltaic systems” are entitled to the Italian government’s €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) incentive scheme for agrivoltaics.
US manufacturer releases cold climate heat pump
Rheem has unveiled an air-source heat pump that provides uninterrupted heating under -30.5 C ambient conditions. It has successfully passed the US Department of Energy’s Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge.
India’s largest oil company targets 10 GW of renewables by 2030
State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) said it plans to invest INR 1,000 billion ($12.1 billion) to build 10 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Turkey grants provisional licenses to 744 MW of storage-linked wind, solar
Turkey has approved the first batch of renewables-plus-storage projects since it enacted new rules for storage in November.
Agrivoltaics for grape farms
Researchers in Hong Kong have designed an agrivoltaic system that uses blockchain tech and smart contracts to reduce uncertainties between PV system operators and grape farmers. The proposed system uses rainwater to clean solar panels and provide irrigation.
PV-powered underground heat exchanger for buildings
Researchers in India have designed a PV-powered earth-to-air heat exchanger to provide buildings with space heating and cooling. They say the proposed system could result in an annual energy gain of 8116.7 kWh.
Key takeaways from South Korea’s Green Energy Expo
Green Energy Expo, South Korea’s largest solar event, attracted a higher number of visitors and exhibitors this year, underscoring the strength of the domestic PV industry, despite recent unfavorable regulatory changes.
Solar panels on downed Chinese balloon could support advanced radar
The US authorities took down a Chinese balloon off the coast of South Carolina earlier this year that featured contained 10 kW of solar capacity – similar to a typical rooftop PV installation.
Inflation Reduction Act triggered plans for 46 factories, says industry group
Since the passage of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) last August, the utility-scale clean power sector has announced $150 billion in funding, 46 new manufacturing facilities, and nearly 20,000 new jobs, according to the American Clean Power Association.
