Germany launches first auction of coal-exit compensation payments
Federal network agency the Bundesnetzagentur has announced it will retire 4 GW of coal-fired generation capacity through the exercise, which will see plant operators compete to secure one-off payments in return for shuttering, or converting operations.
Meyer Burger secures creditor approval to buy SolarWorld factory in Germany
Creditors of SolarWorld Industries have approved the sale of a production facility to Meyer Burger. The Swiss tech group plans to manufacture highly efficient solar modules at the plant.
Germany added 437 MW of PV in June
June installations brought first-half capacity additions to 2.36 GW, as Europe’s largest solar market largely shrugged off the impact of the pandemic.
German solar tender settles average power price of €0.0527/kWh
The federal network agency allocated 96.3 MW of solar in a procurement round which saw the solar power price nudge up slightly.
German scientists study causes of LeTID
Researchers at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB are trying to understand the causes of light and elevated temperature induced degradation (LeTID) in PERC solar cells. Initial investigations should provide a comprehensive understanding of the process and material dependency of LeTID and related degradation effects in monocrystalline and multicrystalline PERC solar cells.
SMA sold 4.4 GW of inverters in the first quarter
The German manufacturer secured around 60% of the turnover expected this year in the first three months alone but still posted a net loss for a company relying on strong pre-Covid-19 activity in the U.S. and European markets.
German solar glass maker acquired by timber company and start-up innovator
Interfloat Corporation, a European market leader for solar glass, has been bought by Holzverarbeiter HS Timber Group and Blue Minds.
EU climate law: Member states and interest groups demand more ambition
The European Commission today officially presented its Green Deal bill. Though the law has been welcomed in principle by environmental organizations, the provisions are not seen to be ambitious or concrete enough – and 12 EU member states already want to speed up decarbonization.
German polysilicon maker will cut 1,000 jobs
Wacker Chemie has taken the first steps of its restructuring program with the lay-offs set to particularly affect its German locations. Poor performance by the chemical company’s polysilicon business is the main cause of the crisis.
Court stops tree clearance for Tesla’s proposed Berlin gigafactory
The High Administrative Court of the Brandenburg region temporarily stopped preparatory work at the site in Grünheide, near Berlin at the weekend. A final decision from the local administration is expected “in a timely manner”.
