Marie Beyer
BlackRock invests $200 million in Enviria
BlackRock has invested €183 million ($200.2 million) in Enviria, a Germany-based company that specializes in deploying C&I PV systems, with a project portfolio currently totaling 2.3 GW.
Africa’s annual PV additions hit 3.7 GW in 2023
According to new figures from the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), the continent’s cumulative installed PV capacity reached 16 GW at the end of December, based on 3.7 GW of new annual installations.
Mali-Mauritania interconnection project to support solar
The African Development Fund has approved $302.9 million of financing for a 225 kV electricity interconnection project linking Mauritania and Mali. The project is part of the Desert to Power initiative, which facilitates the development of solar plants in the region.
Dracula Technologies integrates organic solar cell into flexible storage device
Dracula Technologies has developed a new indoor technology for its organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. It designed the tech to replace traditional batteries in connected devices.
SolarPower Europe publishes guidelines for floating PV
SolarPower Europe has published guidelines for floating solar to offer an overview of the European market and the global landscape, with practical advice for project developers.
South Africa approves 1 GW solar project
German developer Soventix has secured approval from Eskom for the first phase of a giant 1 GW solar project in the town of De Aar, South Africa. Construction of the first 342 MW is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024.
France’s INES building first TOPCon panels for space applications
France’s National Solar Energy Institute (INES) – a division of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) – is developing ultra-thin TOPCon solar devices for space missions, in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Voltec Solar secures funds to make perovskite-silicon tandem modules
Voltec and the Institut Photovoltaïque d’Île-de-France (IPVF) plan to set up a pilot line for their new tandem panel tech in 2023 and their first 200 MW industrial demonstrator in 2025. They also plan to increase the factory’s capacity to 1 GW in 2027 and 5 GW by 2030.
Kenyan startup offers PV-powered water filter
Inno Neat has developed a solar-powered water filter that removes contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and heavy metals for rural communities.
French startup unveils off-grid solar refrigerators
French startup Koolboks has developed off-grid solar refrigerators that offer continuous refrigeration for up to four days via solar modules, ice storage, and lithium-ion batteries. The units are available for rental and include two LED lighting bulbs and USB ports to charge phones.
