Meyer Burger goes to Chinese court for patent infringement
The Swiss PV equipment manufacturer has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in China against Wuxi Shangji Automation Co, Ltd for the protection of its patented wire winding system for the cutting of solar wafers, the Diamond Wire Management System (DWMS).
UK: London backs solar with funding for 1 GW PV scheme
London has launched a £34 million Energy for Londoners scheme, which includes goal of generating 1 GW of energy from solar by 2030. Shirley Rodrigues, deputy mayor for the environment and energy, presented parts of London’s energy vision this week at the Energy Storage Connected Systems conference.
Dutch consortium plans world’s first “off-shore” floating PV plant for the North Sea
The pilot project will be developed over the next three years and will utilize standard PV modules. The consortium expects the solar array to have a 15% higher yield compared to traditional installations.
The rebirth of Spain’s solar sector: 135 MW of new PV systems installed in 2017
While expecting the deployment of several GWs, which were allocated in this year’s auction, Spain’s solar demand grew by 145% last year. Most of the 135 MW installed last year comes from self-consumption and off-grid projects.
Researchers develop approach to identify best organic solar cell mixtures
The new temperature-dependent parameter can say “it’s a match“ even before manufacturing organic solar cells, saving time and resources, find scientists at the North Carolina State University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Solar tender launched for up to 40 MW in Malawi
The 40 MW project is part of a 70 MW solar plan launched by local utility, Escom in February to reduce chronic power shortages.
ACWA wins Saudi Arabia’s 300 MW solar tender
The Saudi energy company submitted the second lowest bid, an LCOE of 0.08872 SAR ($0.0236) per kWh, while the excluded competitor, a consortium led by Japan’s Marubeni, had offered 0.09976 SAR ($0.0266) per kWh.
BBOXX and Bamboo create finance platform BEAM for off-grid sector
Bamboo and BBOXX launch pioneering platform aimed at providing developmental infrastructure for off-grid energy services.
Swedish government backs Northvolt battery plant to tune of €15m
The Swedish Energy Agency has granted SEK 146 million to support Northvolt Labs’ large-scale battery manufacturing plant in Västerås, Sweden. Project already secured financial backing from ABB, Vestas and Scania.
South Australia, Tesla partner for $800 million virtual power plant
South Australia could play host to the world’s largest deployment of residential solar+storage in the form of a virtual power plant. The scheme, announced by SA Premier Jay Weatherill on the election campaign trail, could see 250 MW of rooftop PV and 650 MWh of battery storage added to 50,000 homes over 4.5 years.
