News

ConFlow wraps up acquisition of AI-powered battery testing technology
The company launched a solid-state battery in August it claimed could recharge itself to some degree from electrons in the air. Now ConFlow is preparing to test its devices with the help of artificial intelligence-powered monitoring devices in the new year.
Oct 10, 2019 // Storage, storage, TESLA, UK, Europe, ConFlow
Denmark launches second solar-wind auction
Selected schemes will be eligible for a feed-in premium – related to the wholesale electricity price – for 20 years. The ceiling price for the premium has been set at the equivalent of $0.0089/kWh.
Oct 10, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Europe, auction, Denmark
Australia is boosting shift to commercial EV fleets
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the governments of New South Wales and South Australia, grid operator Ausgrid and insurer NRMA, have awarded almost AU$500,000 to e-mobility start-up Evenergi to help businesses and consumers plan for the electric vehicle revolution.
Oct 10, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Transport, Australia, Oceania, Darren Miller, Ausgrid, NRMA, Dan Hilson
Energy without borders
Germany has long been a global leader in driving acceptance of clean technologies through its progressive energy policies and regulations. Its influence in addressing climate change extends well beyond its borders, and the country is taking an active role to support the global energy transition through international cooperation. Germany has bilateral energy partnerships with approximately 20 countries, and its strong partnership with California is focused on creating a route to the future – a carbon-neutral one. State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Andreas Feicht met with pv magazine to discuss the country’s partnership with California, and its journey toward decarbonization.
Oct 10, 2019 // Opinions, Solar, Solar to Fuel, California, USA, Germany, Europe, North America, Andreas Feicht, Solar to Fuel, Solar to Hydrogen, Producing Hydrogen, Hydrogen from renewable, Renewable fuels
7X Energy stockpiles 2GWac of inverters to make most of closing ITC window
Solar and storage developer 7X Energy has spent more than US$100 million to stockpile 2GWac of Power Electronics inverters in order to take advantage of the full investment tax credit (ITC) before it starts to taper next year.
Oct 10, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Inverters, USA, SunPower, Inverters, North America, 7x energy, power electronics, hannon armstrong sustainable infrastructure capital, Clay Butler
Cubico, Celsia team up to bring large-scale PV boost to Colombia
Colombia’s still-dormant solar scene is poised for a major boost under a new partnership, bringing together a European and a Latin American player.
Oct 10, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, USA, Canadian Solar, EDF, South america, Europe, Brazil, Oceania, enel green power, Trina Solar, Mexico, North America, cubico, large-scale pv, Acciona, Colombia, celsia, pension fund
Dutch system operator to fund grid boost to accommodate 2GW of PV, wind
Dutch system operator TenneT has announced that it will invest €215 million (US$237 million) to accommodate 2GW of solar and wind capacity towards the country's north.
Oct 10, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, Germany, Europe, Netherlands, Tennet, distribution network, sfieu, lsse, Ben Voorhorst
EU clears joint ownership of Spanish solar firm X-Elio by private equity duo
The European Union’s executive arm has approved a major ownership shake-up of Spanish developer X-Elio Energy, giving Brookfield Asset Management the green light to purchase a 20% stake from Acek Renewables alongside a 30% tranche from US infrastructure fund KKR.
Oct 10, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, Grids, x-elio, Toronto, brookfield asset management, european commission, terraform, Acek, Gestamp Renewables, Jorge Barredo López
India rebukes analyst claims it will miss clean energy targets
Expert warnings that India will be falling short of its renewable deployment targets have sparked a strong-worded rebuke from the government, which has slammed them as “ill-founded”
Oct 10, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, Tariffs, Policy, India, Asia, auction, tariff, Vinay Rustagi, CRISIL, narendra modi, mnre
ReneSola’s project disposals ramp with 22.3MW in China offloaded
PV project developer and EPC firm, ReneSola is continuing with plans to offload operating plants to recoup cash and invest in new projects.
Oct 10, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, China, pv power plants, Asia, investment, renesola, Shelley Xu
Reden, Natixis close financing on up to 100MW of PV projects in Chile
Reden Investments Chile and Natixis have successfully closed senior facilities totaling US$96.4 million for an up-to-100MW portfolio of PV projects in Chile.
Oct 10, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, Natixis, Engie, Chile, South america, Reden
Lithium dreams: The surreal landscapes where batteries are born
Batteries that power our smartphones need lithium – an increasingly precious resource. Could Bolivia supply the world?
Oct 9, 2019 // Storage, USA, Germany, Chile, South america, Europe, lithium, North America, Bolivia, Salar de Uyuni, Stephen Kesler, Tesla Motors, LITCO, Marco Antonio Limachi, COMIBOL, Evo Morales
‘They created a rechargeable world’
American John B. Goodenough, Brit Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino, from Japan, have received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for developing the lithium-ion battery. A statement from the Royal Academy of Sciences of Sweden said the invention “laid the foundations of a society without wires and fossil fuels, and [they] are of great benefit to humanity”.
Oct 9, 2019 // Technology, Storage, USA, Japan, Lithium-ion batteries, Germany, UK, Europe, Asia, North America, John B. Goodenough, Brit Stanley Whittingham, Akira Yoshino, Nobel Prize
India to fall well short of 175 GW renewables target
A report by Indian ratings agency CRISIL points to a rising rate of tender failures, an inconsistent policy approach from central and state governments and restrictive solar energy tariff caps and says India could have just 104 GW of renewables capacity by 2022.
Oct 9, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, Tariffs, India, SECI, Asia, tariff, CRISIL
German government wants 98 GW of solar by 2030
The new. more ambitious target is part of a climate protection program Berlin is now defining. The solar sector believes, however, 98 GW will not be enough to ensure the country’s energy transition.
Oct 9, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Germany, Europe, Angela Merkel, Carsten Körnig