Trump budget guts solar research at NREL and Berkeley (14 essential documents embedded)
The president’s federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018 includes the expected cuts to renewable energy within the DOE’s walls, but the cuts to prominent national labs – including the elimination of energy-storage research funding at both – could have unforeseen long-term effects on the industry.
TEP to buy solar power at under 3 cents per kWh
The Arizona utility has signed a 20-year contract to buy electricity from a 100 MW plant at this new record low price.
Hevel commissions 25 MW solar facility in Russia’s Orenbung region
The project was selected in the first round of Russia’s renewable energy tender for large-scale power plants.
Iranian solar market set to boom as SATBA takes over authority on renewable energies
Interview: Seyed Moslem Mousavi, Chief executive officer of The Iran Renewable Energy Association, revealed that large volumes of grid-connected PV power are expected to come online this year in Iran, and that, however, projects realized with locally manufactured PV modules, which have right to higher FITs, are still missing.
Nicaragua hosts 12.5 MW PV plant relying on Recom modules
The facility, located in Puerto Sandino, is one of the country’s largest PV plants. Modules provided by Recom were installed at the plant.
Ukraine’s project to make Chernobyl solar energy hub moves forward
The prime minister of Ukraine said large-scale solar projects to be built in the contaminated area of the nuclear disaster will be selected through clear and transparent bidding rules.
EU supports integration of renewables between Croatia and Slovenia with €40 million
The smart grid project is expected to boost to the use of renewable energy in the region, and to enable smaller power producers participate in the market.
Kazakhstan unveils web-based solar atlas
The new interactive electronic resource was developed by local company Sapa Pro&Tech in the frame of a joint project of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and the United Nations Development Programme.
Switzerland says yes to exit from nuclear power and more renewables
Over 58% of voters approved the country’s new energy policy, which envisages the progressive phasing out of all the nuclear power plants, and the further development of renewables, especially hydropower and solar.
GCL signs PV supply deals for 370 MW in China
Hong Kong-listed PV developer GCL New Energy has agreed to sell 320 MW of solar panels to China Resources Leasing for CNY 148.5 million ($21.5 million), as part of supply arrangements for the first 40 MW phase of a planned PV array in Zhanjiang, in China’s Guangdong province.
