Aging tests for perovskite, dye-sensitized solar cells must improve, research says
Finnish scientists have found that only one third of tests reported the intensities of visible and UV light, humidity and temperature adequately.
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.
Acciona breaks ground on 404 MW solar park in Mexico
The solar complex, Puerto Libertad will be located in the state of Sonora. The project’s completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.
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.
Belgian solar market grew by 50% in 2017
While new PV additions in 2017 totaling 264 MW, the country’s cumulative PV capacity had reached 3.8 GW. The market’s main driver remains residential PV.
Chile’s PV capacity surpasses 2 GW
Although official statistics report that grid-connected PV capacity reached 1.82 GW as of the end of December 2017, the completion of two large-scale projects totaling 215 MW in early January has raised Chile’s total installed power to around 2.04 GW.
Lebanon to launch 360 MW solar tender
The new tender will be issued as soon as the ongoing tender for 180 MW of solar projects has concluded. The new round will select another 24 large-scale solar projects, and will be open to bidders that failed to qualify for Round 1.
Total invests in semiconductor, PV research
The parent company of SunPower and the French National Research Agency have launched a new initiative aimed at developing new plasma processing methods for semiconductors and solar PV.
