Mexican government halts grid connection of new solar and wind projects
The move has been brought in by the National Energy Control Center which claims it is necessary to safeguard energy security during the Covid-19 public health crisis. Critics say the authorities are using the pandemic as an excuse to extend a pattern of action against the renewables industry.
Storing solar and wind energy with compressed air
Researchers have studied the potential of using compressed air to store renewable energy in offshore saline aquifers. The technology could hold 77-96 TWh for up to two months in British waters, although the costs have proven hard to pin down.
US utility issues tender for 1 GW of renewables
Virginia-based utility Dominion plans to procure 16 GW of solar, 2.7 GW of storage and 5.1 GW of offshore wind in the next 15 years. Kicking off these new plans comes a request for proposals of 1 GW of solar or wind and 250 MW of energy storage.
US fossil fuel developer goes solar with 350 MW project
The economics of a solar project in Texas are so compelling coal and gas developer J-Power wants a piece of the action.
Trina secures 105 MW order for its 500 W modules
The Chinese manufacturer will provide Indian developer SunSource Energy with its Vertex panels. Shipments will be made in the fourth quarter.
Germany deployed 1.1 GW of solar in Q1
In March alone, 368 MW of new PV capacity was deployed, representing an increase of just 18 MW from the same month a year earlier.
Global PV capacity additions hit 115 GW in 2019, says IEA
In terms of new solar installations, China was the world’s largest PV market for the third year in a row with 30.1 GW of fresh capacity in the 12 months to the end of December, followed by the United States with 13.3 GW and Japan with 7.7 GW.
Pakistani regulator expects solar capacity to hit 27 GW by 2047
Solar and wind are expected to account for a growing share of the electricity mix in the years ahead, rising from around 3% at present to 23% by 2030. Over the following two decades after that, however, this share will likely remain unchanged, as the national regulator expects the country to deploy more coal-fired generation capacity.
Australian grid could derive 75% of electricity from renewables by 2025
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) claims that the country already has the technical ability to safely operate a system in which three-quarters of the electricity comes from wind and solar. However, it needs to get the regulations right in order to do so.
Indian Railways tenders for 1 GW of solar
Developers have until June 30 to lodge bids to develop plots of solar capacity across the national rail network which offer a maximum INR2.71/kWh ($0.036) for the electricity generated under a 25-year contract.
