Europe

Greece to tender 287 MW of new solar capacity in December
The nation’s energy regulator today announced separate tenders for solar and wind generation capacity will be held on December 12.
Sep 13, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Greece, tender, Europe
Germany will need 160 GW of solar by 2030 to prevent power shortages
EuPD Research has calculated what needs to be done to replace the nuclear and coal generation to be phased out in Germany. Accelerated expansion of PV appears the best short-term option. However, storage capacity will need to increase 30-fold by 2040 so solar can become the main pillar of the country’s energy system.
Sep 13, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Storage, Rooftop PV, Solar to Fuel, Germany, Europe, EuPD Research, BSW-Solar, Solar to Fuel, Solar to Hydrogen, Producing Hydrogen, Hydrogen from renewable, Renewable fuels
Swiss scientists identify causes of defects in silicon carbides for power electronics
Carbon clusters of a few nanometers in size could be responsible for the defects affecting the thermal stability of SiCs. The defective carbon accumulations arise during the oxidation of silicon carbide to silicon dioxide under high temperatures
Sep 13, 2019 // Technology, Inverters, Europe, Switzerland, carbon, Dipanwita Dutta
Five takeaways from EU PVSEC 2019
This week, pv magazine headed to Marseille for the 36th edition of the EU PVSEC conference and exhibition. During the week-long show, leading universities and research institutes presented their latest results to the industry and public. As the conference heads into its final afternoon, we’ve put together five key takeaways from this year’s event.
Sep 13, 2019 // Solar, France, China, Europe, Asia, recycling, EU PVSEC 2019, thermal and UV drone
Wacker enters battery business with acquisition of 25% stake in Nexeon
The Munich-based chemical company has taken a substantial minority share in the British materials specialist to expand its silicon-based high-performance battery activity. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
Sep 13, 2019 // Storage, Germany, UK, Europe, Wacker Chemie AG, Nexeon, Christian Hartel, Scott Brown
Essent takes over Belgian solar installer Aralt
The Essent business of German utility RWE wants to widen its clean energy offer for Belgian clients. Last year Aralt achieved a €5 million turnover.
Sep 12, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Residential, Markets & Finance News, Germany, Europe, Belgium, Aralt, Essent, Benelux
Discovery challenges accepted wisdom on organic PV
Researchers at the University of Warwick in the U.K. have made a discovery that could lead to new designs for organic PV devices. Their findings could open up a new range of materials for the electrode layer and bring low cost, flexible organic PV devices a step closer commercial reality, say the academics.
Sep 12, 2019 // Technology, UK, Europe, University of Warwick, flexible organic PV, Dinesha Dabera, Ross Hatton
Luxembourg launches 40 MW solar procurement
The exercise will be open to PV projects ranging in size from 200 kW to 5 MW.
Sep 12, 2019 // Plants, Commercial, Residential, Tariffs, tender, Europe, Luxembourg, Claude Turmes
Top EU financier to refocus on market-based renewables, energy storage
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is debating plans to shift its multi-billion energy funding firepower to back energy storage and free-market renewables more decisively.
Sep 12, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Storage, Grids, solar pv, Europe, subsidy-free pv, BESS, European Union, european investment bank, eib, green finance, storage systems bess
ABB and Fimer respond to UK criticism of products and customer service
The inverter businesses have responded to the letter published by the UK Solar Trade Association which was critical of the former’s products and customer service record.
Sep 11, 2019 // Inverters, ABB, UK, Europe, Fimer, Mr Chris Hewett, Filippo Carzaniga
Interview: PV Hardware chief operating officer Rodriguez talks heat dust and wind
Emilio J Garcia Rodriguez, from tracker manufacturer PV Hardware, spoke to pv magazine about the company’s activity in the Middle East and North Africa market. Dust, heat and heavy storms complicate the installation and operation of trackers.
Sep 11, 2019 // Solar, Spain, Europe, Emilio J Garcia Rodriguez, Hardware
HZB hits 23.26% efficiency with CIGS-perovskite tandem cell
Scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin research institute this morning presented a new world record efficiency for a tandem cell combining CIGS and perovskite technology at the EU PVSEC conference in Marseille. The development of an organic coating layer between the two semiconductors was key.
Sep 11, 2019 // Technology, Germany, Europe, eu pvsec, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Amran Al-Ashouri
New methods for fault detection revealed at EU PVSEC
Quality control and problem detection and classification was brought into focus at the conference in Marseille. A packed house at a session focused on the latest fault detection techniques indicated the high level of interest in the field.
Sep 11, 2019 // Technology, Solar, France, Engie, pv modules, Europe, eu pvsec, Marseille, Jay Lin, PV Guider, UVFL, Stijn Scheerlinck, Chantelle Clohessy, Nelson Mandela University
Recovering interest rates may raise large scale solar electric price 11%
Renewables investment may by hit by rising interest rates despite the falling cost of clean energy tech just as fossil fuels avoid the impact of rising base rates.
Sep 11, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Policy, LCOE, Europe, ETS
Solar pioneer Pierre Verlinden: The big problem is apathy
On the first day of this year’s EU PVSEC conference, veteran solar researcher Pierre J Verlinden won the Becquerel Prize for Outstanding Merits in Photovoltaics. The award recognized more than 40 years as a leading PV researcher in academia and at leading companies including Sunpower and Trina Solar. Its recipient spoke to pv magazine about what is needed from solar to stave off catastrophic climate change.
Sep 11, 2019 // Opinions, SunPower, China, Europe, Asia, wafers, Trina Solar, PERC, eu pvsec, Pierre Verlinden