Trina Solar launches TrinaPro Mega ultra-high-power PV solution
As the solar industry starts to embrace ultra-high-efficiency modules, the Chinese PV heavyweight has unveiled TrinaPro Mega, the first integrated solar system in the world that incorporates 500 W+ modules.
Hungary to launch renewables auction in July
The maximum size of eligible projects has been increased from 20 MW to 50 MW. The Hungarian government aims to contract around 390 GWh of generating capacity per year, with 40h GW to be reserved for the Small PVPP category, including installations between 300 kW and 1 MW in size. It will set aside 350 GWh for the Large PVPP group, which includes projects ranging in size from 1 MW to 50 MW.
French railway operator buys 40 MW of power through solar PPA
The 15 to 20-year power purchase agreement is expected to provide around 2% of the electricity consumption of all SNCF passenger trains.
‘Ultra-mega’ 2 GW renewables project approved in India
The state cabinet has approved a 74:26 joint venture proposal by publicly-owned hydropower company THDC India and the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency for the ambitious project.
Volkswagen invests up to US$200 million in solid-state battery builder QuantumScape
This investment comes on top of US$100 million invested in 2018. Venture capital and corporate funding of new energy technologies continues despite – or perhaps because of – the pandemic.
Tunisia’s 70 MW PV tender concludes with lowest bid of $0.044/kWh
Launched in July 2019, the procurement exercise has seen final bids ranging from TND millimes 125.3922 ($0.0444)/kWh to TND millimes 129.9736/kWh for projects ranging from 1 MW to 10 MW. The tender lot for projects of 1 MW, final bids are between TND millimes 189.500 ($0.0671)/kWh to TND millimes 213.500/kWh
Tender launched for 14.8 MW/40.9 MWh of solar+storage in Ecuador
The Conolophus project, to be built on Santa Cruz Island in Galapagos National Park, will reduce regional diesel consumption.
Data shows solar asset underperformance and bias towards optimistic pricing
Solar assets are underperforming far more frequently than official energy estimates would suggest, according to the industry experts who contributed to KwH Analytics’ 2020 solar risk assessment report.
China entering post-FIT era with solid prospects
The Chinese government is planning to phase out FITs and subsidies for all kinds of PV installation by the end of this year, according to the China Photovoltaic Industry Association. The trade body, however, expects strong recovery for domestic solar demand over the next five years, beginning in the second half of 2020.
Global solar capacity may reach 1,448 GW in 2024
SolarPower Europe has predicted the volume of new PV capacity added this year will be 4% less than last year’s figure because of the Covid-19 crisis. At the end of 2019, the world had topped 630 GW of solar. For 2020, around 112 GW of new PV capacity is expected, and in 2021, newly installed capacity could be 149.9 GW if governments support renewables in their coronavirus economic recovery plans.
