PV

Three energy associations, including Holland Solar, have asked the Dutch parliament to take action amid worsening grid connection problems for renewable energy projects in the Netherlands. According to the energy groups, around 700 MW of solar and wind projects allocated under the SDE+ incentive program could lose their payments if they miss connection deadlines.

A new process is described as a tool to assess the value of deferring, relocating or abandoning PV projects under development in uncertain market conditions. Researchers say the model may help investors reconsider projects which could be prematurely rejected based on traditional analytical approaches.

In our recent webinar, held in partnership with JinkoSolar, on the impact of bifacial modules and modelling their yield under varying environmental conditions and system setups, JinkoSolar’s Andrea Viaro discussed innovations in bifacial module design, and implementing these into a system to positively impact the return on investment. Teun Burgers, a Senior Researcher at ECN.TNO also delved into the simulation of bifacial PV systems, and treated us to a closer look at ECN’s BIGEYE simulation model. Here, the two presenters answer some more of the questions posed by the audience during the webinar.

Some 37 solar projects with a combined generation capacity of 202 MW were assigned in a procurement round which was oversubscribed despite a lack of onshore wind bids.

Raad Al Haris, an energy advisor to the prime minister, announced the idea at the Energy Transition in the Arab World conference held in Berlin this week. Al Haris also revealed the Iraqi government has pre-qualified 45 bidders for the first tender.

The PV facility was completed a month and a half ahead of schedule by Saudi energy company ACWA Power. The project will sell power at $0.0236/kWh.

The Alqueva Dam on the Guadiana River, in southern Portugal, will host ten floating PV projects mostly financed by a €45 million Council of Europe Development Bank loan.

The court has deferred a hearing of the second case, with Huawei claiming that was due to insufficient evidence of patent infringement. The European Patent Office has revoked SolarEdge’s inverter multi-level topology patent and the Israeli company said it intends to challenge both decisions.

The French energy group has injected an unspecified sum into KarmSolar, which has a 165 MW solar project portfolio in Egypt. The developer specializes in power purchase agreements and solar distribution contracts with large commercial, agricultural and industrial clients.

The German project developer’s pipeline consists of solar plants with land and grid-connection approval across Apulia and Basilicata. Some of the projects are planned in the province of Brindisi, which already hosts several solar parks which have stirred strong resistance from local authorities and civil associations.