Marian Willuhn
Renault deploys smart EV charging on island grid
The car manufacturer is deploying its second island project this year. Smart EV charging – and second-life EV batteries for stationary storage – are expected to help increase self-consumption, reduce carbon footprints and improve energy independence. The news comes amid a rising uptake of EVs in Europe.
The weekend Read: Soft services, hard impacts
The application of IoT, tapping, and analytics of big data, and much hyped applications like blockchain are making an impact on the solar PV sector and related devices, and also their interactions with the grid. But software has played an important role in the evolution of our industry dating back some 30 years.
300 MW Talasol project in Spain receives funding from EFSI
The subsidy free mega project is entering the next stage of its development. Funding is expected to be finalized in 4Q 2018 and commissioning in 2020. The project, funded by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) will retail its electricity on the spot market, but will be secured through a financial hedge.
SMA presents new central inverter at REI
The German inverter giant says its latest central inverter offering has a capacity of 4.6 MW and offers the ability to connect AC and DC battery storage systems.
Enel Green Power breaks ground on tender’s first 85 MW solar farm in Spain
The site is the first to be constructed after last year’s exercise. A total of 3.9 GW was awarded, signaling a comeback for the Spanish solar market. The president of Spain’s solar association says there is 21 GW potential projects waiting to compete in future tenders.
Total acquires EV charging station developer
As EV adoption rates pick up pace, oil companies are looking to invest in the technology to maintain their position in the transport sector. Total has moved for G2mobility, which develops interconnected EV chargers that, using a web platform, provide smart energy management services.
SMA and Upside Group commission 25 MWh storage system
The two companies joined to build one of Europes largest storage systems. The project will provide grid management services, such as primary control reserve. SMA says it is just one of four others large grid management storage systems it will commission in Germany over the next few months.
Battery maker Lithium Werks to open research campus in Twente
The Dutch company provides lithium iron phosphate batteries and employs artificial intelligence solutions for mobility-as-a-service applications. It aims to develop its technology further with the help of the University of Twente.
EV charging companies to ramp up installations
The market for EVs is experiencing robust uptake worldwide with companies, governments and municipalities implementing policies to drive development. EVN and EVBox announced plans for expansion this week, and the UK government is also pouring investment subsidies into the electric vehicle market.
PERC market to reach 158 GW by 2022
Taiwan-based analyst firm, WisolPro says the global capacity for PERC cells is rapidly increasing, with the technology likely to replace polycrystalline cells. HJT, thin film, and n-type PERT technologies are also on the rise.
