Patrick Jowett
NREL updates online tool with data for Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East
The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has added a high-resolution solar data set covering Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East on its Renewable Energy Data Explorer tool.
Sweden records up to 1.4 GW of new solar for 2023
High interest rates, inflation, and customer uncertainty could slow down residential PV growth in Sweden this year, despite record solar installations in 2023, but interest in utility-scale PV remains strong.
Finnish investor, Romanian developer to build 600 MW of solar in Romania
Korkia, a Finland-based renewables investor, says that solar projects it is developing with Romania’s Econous Green Energ are set to be licensed and will be ready for construction from next year.
ACWA forces offline Moroccan CSP plant following leak
ACWA Power’s preliminary analysis of a leak in the hot molten salts tank at its 150 MW solar plant in Morocco indicates a forced outage until November this year.
Global Solar Council to introduce training standards for solar technicians
The Global Solar Council and Global Wind Organisation are collaborating on the development of standardized, basic training for PV technicians, starting with utility-scale solar.
UK firm finalizes $18 million deal for renewables in Nigeria
UK-based Konexa has finalized a deal that will see Climate Fund Managers and Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund invest $18 million to establish Nigeria’s inaugural private renewable trading platform and provide renewable energy to Nigeria Breweries.
Cape Town launches online solar authorization portal
Cape Town, South Africa, has opened an online portal to simplify the authorization process for solar and reduce approval waiting times.
Fotowatio switches on 99 MW/198 MWh of storage in England
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) has activated 99 MW/198 MWh of storage in England. It claims it is Europe’s largest battery storage system by capacity, capable of powering more than 300,000 UK homes for two hours.
Romania sets ceiling price of €91/MWh for solar in first renewables auction
Romania has set a ceiling price of €91 ($99.33)/MWh for solar energy in its first renewables auction. A legal analyst tells pv magazine that this strike price is a good level for the nation’s first contract-for-difference (CfD) auction, but warns that certain aspects of the draft legislation could significantly affect the bankability of the scheme.
EDP Renewables switches on 202 MW of PV in Portugal
EDP Renewables has activated 202 MW of solar capacity in Portugal. The plant, in the district of Lisbon, was awarded to the company in the country’s inaugural solar energy auction. It is the company’s largest solar facility in Europe thus far.
