Enel invests in Italian start-up Aton Storage
Aton is offering batteries to be integrated with photovoltaic systems for residential customers. Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo also invested in the company.
France makes room for solar, Total announces 10 GW plan
The announcement was given by the French energy company during the #PlaceAuSoleil initiative, a new plan of France’s government to speed up PV development, and to make surfaces for large-scale solar plants available. The new package of measures includes doubling the volume of tenders for PV projects on agricultural land and increasing by 50% the volume of tenders for rooftop PV.
GT Advanced Technologies opens silicon carbide factory in New Hampshire
The upstream technology company plans to sell silicon carbide for applications including advanced inverters for solar and battery storage, as part of a new emphasis on materials supply.
Acciona secures short-term PPA in Portugal
The Spanish renewable energy company will sell power to a local glass container producer for a year and a half. The electricity will be provided by its 45 MW solar park in southern Portugal, as well as by other wind power facilities.
Europe’s first GW-sized solar park may be built in France
The huge 1.2 GW PV facility is currently being planned in the Lot-et-Garonne Department, southern France. The project’s required investment is expected to reach around €1 billion. Five big solar players are currently interested in developing the plant.
Irico starts production at second solar glass factory in China
The manufacturing facility is aiming to produce enough glass to satisfy production of approximately 3.7 GW of solar PV modules per year. The company is also planning to build a 2 GW module factory in Zhangjiagang.
Gas Natural Fenosa rebrands into Naturgy
Another big energy group transitioning to clean sources has chosen to change its name to reflect the new strategy. The Spanish gas and power provider started investing in solar last spring.
LG to make high-efficiency solar panels in the US
LG Electronics has announced plans for a 500 MW/year solar module manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama. The facility will assemble the manufacturer’s 19.8% efficient NeON2 60-cell 340-W panels for residential applications.
Spain prepares to resume renewable energy auctions
Although it is still unknown when exactly the new auctions will be held, the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition is now defining new bidding rules, in order to adapt them to international standards.
Canada’s Nova Scotia launches rebate program for residential PV
Solar rebates granted through the scheme are expected to cover around 30% of the costs of a residential PV project.
