Solar Power

France’s cumulative PV capacity reached 10.3 GW at the end of June. Solar generated 6.7 TWh of electricity in the first half of 2020, compared to 5.9 TWh during the same period in 2019, representing 3.0% of French electricity consumption.

Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL) has invited bids to set up an aggregate 110 MW of grid-connected solar power plants at several substations operated by Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited. Bidding closes on September 16.

A newly proposed inverter design relies on a solar charge controller featuring maximum power point tracking. It is based on an artificial fish-swarm algorithm, which offers high convergence speeds, flexibility, fault tolerance, and accuracy.

Statkraft and Naturstrom AG have signed a power purchase agreement for a 50 MW solar array in Bavaria, while BayWa r.e. has announced a new solar-wind hybrid project, with 22 MW of solar capacity.

In its first-half earnings report, John Laing revealed that it has suffered substantial losses, mainly due to performance issues related to its renewable energy projects.

The South Korean solar panel maker secured around 300 MW of the 700 MW awarded in the procurement round. The other winners are reportedly Spanish power company Iberdrola, Italian peer Enel and French-owned developer Tag Energy.

A study from the Lappeenranta University of Technology states a deeper complementarity between solar and wind generation may favor renewables deployment reducing the need for stronger developments in storage technology. Combining solar with wind more widely could also reduce the need for ramping and improve the reliability of energy supply, say the researchers.

The Conolophus project is designed to lower diesel consumption on Santa Cruz Island in Galapagos National Park, as well as the adjacent island of Baltra.

Pandemic-related disruptions hit solar project construction in the second quarter, according to Bridge To India. Activity will likely rebound over the coming quarters, with 4,720 MW expected to be commissioned in the second half.

Chinese polysilicon manufacturer Daqo has secured a long-term supply agreement with PV equipment provider and monocrystalline wafer manufacturer Wuxi Shangji Automation, Shanxi Coal International Energy Group has unveiled a plan to set up a 10 GW heterojunction solar cell production fab and Longi has held its wafer prices.