Africa: solar power and Indian bilateral trade key routes to prosperity, says AfDB president
African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina tells the media ahead of the bank’s Annual Meetings forum that Africa-India bilateral trade will reach $100bn by 2018, with solar power playing a prominent role in closer cooperation and boosting economic opportunities.
Itochu launches residential lithium-ion battery in Japan
The Japanese trading firm has started selling its new Smart Star L lithium-ion storage battery system for the Japanese residential PV market. It has designed the system in cooperation with Yokohama-based manufacturer NF Corp.
ABB unveils suite of new solar inverters as part of pivot towards greater digitalization
The Swiss-headquartered power electronics company is to introduce new 100 kw and 120 kW three-phase string inverters for the C&I and large-scale markets, the new 60 kW TRIO TM and a new addition to its residential UNO-DM-PLUS range.
Mercedez Benz enters U.S. battery market with Vivint partnership
The German manufacturer, in partnership with the No. 2 residential solar installer in the United States, will bring customizable home energy storage systems to the United States.
Belgium: researchers say solar-plus-storage is far from becoming economically viable
According to a scientific paper from the Université libre de Bruxelles, even a further reduction in storage prices may not be sufficient to make solar-plus-storage attractive in the Belgian market.
Wärtsilä takes over U.S. storage specialist Greensmith
The Helsinki-based company has taken a step further in strengthening its position as a global energy systems integrator. Greensmith´s software is used in Wärtsilä´s new hybrid power plants.
Ten energy majors back global blockchain initiative
Ten energy companies from nine nations have joined forces to provide $2.5 million support for the Energy Web Foundation (EWF), a global non-profit organization focused on accelerating blockchain technology across the energy sector.
Italy opens ancillary services market to pilot renewable energy and storage projects
The project is the initial stage of an organic reform of the Italian ancillary services market, which is expected to be implemented in accordance with the European balancing code.
Italy issues new regulation to promote solar and renewables in non-interconnected islands
The new rules will apply to the country’s 20 minor islands that have no connection with the national grid. Solar installation will be entitled to receive a premium tariff for both injected and self-consumed power.
USTDA helps Kenya build 40 MW solar-plus-storage power plant
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency will partner with Kenya-based engineering services provider Xago Africa on the development of the project. U.S. battery maker Suniva will supply a battery that will be combined with the facility.
