Solar Plants News

Microsoft is on a solar shopping spree
The tech giant has signed a power contract for the output of First Solar’s 150 MWac Sun Streams 2 solar plant, bringing its procurement of solar to almost 500 MW – but none of its PV projects have been completed yet.
Aug 1, 2019 // Plants, Markets & Finance News, Solar, USA, Microsoft, Sun Streams2, Virginia, Apple, North America
FLIR, Raptor Maps Offer Resources on Drones in Solar
In collaboration with Raptor Maps, FLIR has created a five-part series with four videos and a webinar on the use of thermal drones for solar inspection.
Aug 1, 2019 // Technology, Plants, Commercial, Solar, Raptor Maps, FLIR, Brett Kanda, Austin Coffin, webinar, drone
Groups Push For Stronger Clean Energy Rules In Arizona As APS Seeks More Solar, Wind
As clean energy stakeholders urge Arizona regulators to adopt stronger renewable energy standards, Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) has announced plans to add new solar and wind resources, helping expand the company’s renewable energy portfolio to about 2.5 GW by 2021, which would be enough to power more than half a million Arizona homes.
Aug 1, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Plants, Large-Scale, Solar, USA, Arizona, APS, ACC, Art Terrazas, Carol Davis, Bret Fanshaw, North America
Chinese investment in renewables triples under Belt & Road initiative
A report by Greenpeace has found in the five years since China announced the continent spanning ‘One Belt, One Road’ infrastructure plan, investment in Belt & Road countries has supported 12.6 GW of wind and solar power generation capacity. That is almost three times the 450 MW that came online in the territories before 2014. The initiative has also supported 68 GW of new coal capacity.
Jul 30, 2019 // Plants, China, Tata Mustasya, NGO, Liu Junyan, Wang Yan, Asia
Sonnedix closes US$224m financing for PV portfolio in Italy
IPP Sonnedix has completed a non-recourse financing of a portfolio of PV projects in Italy, at a value of US$224 million.
Jul 30, 2019 // Plants, IPP Sonnedix, Sonnedix, Banco Santander, Milan Branch, ING Bank N.V., Mediocredito Italiano, Natixis S.A., Axel Thiemann, CEO of Sonnedix
Enel plants to power Anglo American’s full renewable switch in Chile
A mining giant has turned to Enel to power its transition to a fully renewable energy supply in Chile, signing a deal set to kick in two years’ time.
Jul 30, 2019 // Plants, PV Tech, Enel, Los Bronces, Collahuasi, El Soldado
Duke Energy acquires its largest solar project yet
Duke Energy Renewables is expanding its solar energy portfolio by acquiring the 200-MW Holstein solar project from 8minute Solar Energy. The project, located in Nolan County, Texas, will be the largest in Duke Energy Renewables’ fleet once complete.
Jul 24, 2019 // Plants, USA, EPC, Duke Energy Renewables, Texas, O&M, SunTrust, Hauer & Feld LLP, Akin Gump, Wingate, Blattner Energy, First Solar, Solar Energy, North America, 8minute Solar Energy
Poland launches €235 million solar rebate program
The Mój Prąd scheme will be open to residential rooftop PV projects ranging in size from 2 kW to 10 kW. Furthermore, the Polish Parliament approved a new act that will allow for the wind and solar auctions planned for this and next year to move forward.
Jul 24, 2019 // Plants, Rooftop PV, Poland, Mój Prąd, PV micro-intallations, Piotr Pająk, Europe
PPA-linked solar park comes online in Sweden
The 5.8 MW Sparbanken Skåne Solar Park is in the Sjöbo Kommun, in the southern region of Skåne. The facility is selling more than half its output to the spot market and around a third to Swedish bank Sparbanken Skåne under a 10-year PPA. The rest is being traded on the Nord Pool electricity certificate market for renewable energy in Sweden and Norway.
Jul 22, 2019 // Plants, Swedish, SVEA Renewable Solar AB, Skåne region, Sjöbo Kommun, Pontus Skog, SVEA utility, PPA, Eneo Solutions AB
Q CELLS Launching Latest Q.PEAK DUO Module In U.S. Market
Solar cell and module manufacturer Q CELLS plans to launch its new solar module, the Q.PEAK DUO BLK-G6+, in the U.S. market in September.
Jul 22, 2019 // Plants, Solar, Q CELLS, Q.PEAK DUO BLK-G6+
Continuing Shift To Renewables, AEP Commits To Coal Reductions
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio has approved a modified agreement that will accelerate emission reductions from American Electric Power’s (AEP) remaining coal-fueled power plants in the Midwest, eliminate a requirement to install “high-cost” emission reduction equipment at the Rockport Plant in Indiana, and retire Rockport Plant Unit 1 (1,300 MW) by the end of 2028, the utility says.
Jul 22, 2019 // Plants, USA, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, AEP, CEO of AEP, Nicholas K. Akins, Sierra Club, AEP Indiana Michigan Power., North America, Indiana
It's time for energy freedom in Alabama
Alabama is ranked 13th in the nation as having the greatest solar potential, yet only 0.26% of its energy comes from solar, leaving the state far behind others when it comes to total installed solar capacity.
Jul 4, 2019 // Plants, USA, NREL, Alabama, Solar Energy Industries Association, SEIA, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, North America