Wales urges UK Government to renew solar, wind support
The Welsh Government, together with a number of local organizations, is calling for the U.K. Government to renew its support for solar and onshore wind development. In addition to reducing costs, it says these industries will help it survive a post-Brexit world.
NASA develops new tool to measure total solar irradiance
NASA is on course to more accurately monitor the level of solar irradiance that reaches the earth, with the launch of a instrument for the International Space Station.
Masdar to build 200 MW floating PV array in Indonesia
Abu Dhabi-based clean energy group Masdar has signed a project development agreement with a unit of Indonesian state utility PT PLN to build a 200 MW floating solar plant.
Soltec provides trackers for Scatec’s 162 MW solar project in Brazil
Around 5,300 trackers will be installed at a plant that Scatec Solar has developed in the Brazilian state of Ceará. With this project, Soltec has supplied a total of 909 MW worth of trackers in the country, and 1.7 GW in Latin America.
European PV market expected to grow by 35% in 2018 – GTM Research
European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain are all forecast to be gigawatt-scale markets in 2018. Globally, around 606 GW of new PV capacity is forecast to be installed between 2017 and 2022.
EU Energy Committee’s proposal to upgrade 2030 RE target to 35% welcomed
The European Parliament has proposed both an upgraded, binding RE target of 35%, and plans to reduce energy consumption by 40% by 2030. The two resolutions, along with other provisions to remove fees or taxes on self-consumption, now have to be approved in January. SolarPower Europe has welcomed the news, saying the move will boost jobs and investment.
Brazil’s BNDES offers new financing conditions for projects in upcoming auction
The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has changed its loan committments, and will now cover 80% of the financing of all competing technologies, compared to the previous auctions, where this percentage was granted solely to solar. As in the previous auctions, financing will only be allocated to projects using locally-manufactured equipment.
Burkina Faso commissions 33 MW PV plant
The country’s largest solar facility was officially inaugurated in the presence of French president Emmanuel Macron. The project was financed by France’s Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union.
Netherland’s Ballast Nedam expands into large-scale solar business
The Dutch construction group is currently developing four PV plants with a combined capacity of 50 MW in the Netherlands.
Danish Energy Agency releases draft plan for joint wind and solar auctions
The introduction of similar auctions was proposed by the government in the summer, and backed by the Danish People’s Party in September.
