Global smart grid activity heating up
At the end of Q2 2012, China continued to dominate the worldwide renewable energy market, with Germany and the U.S. nose-to-nose in second place, and India and the U.K. just behind, according to Ernst & Youngs latest quarterly Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices (CAI) report. Activities centered strongly around the smart grid.
Solon: North American strategies, growth prospects and how Microsol stepped in at just the right time
Solon Corporations new VP and GM of power plants, Jared Schoch discusses his plans for growing the companys North American photovoltaic business, the financing landscape in the region, and the impact of Microsols recent takeover of Solon SE with pv magazine.
Automated demand response key to intermittent renewables
Automated demand response, or AutoDR could cost-effectively help combat intermittent renewable energy supply, particularly in light of the current high costs of grid-connected storage batteries.
Australia: $40.7 million grant secured for PV research
Hailed as “historic”, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the University of Queensland have been awarded a AU$40.7 million grant to establish two photovoltaic research programs.
US injects $43 million into energy storage research
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has made US$43 million worth of funding available to 19 energy storage research projects.
Grid-connected renewable energy storage project launched in Europe
A 39 megawatt-hour grid connected renewable energy storage project has been launched in Europe by a consortium of seven partners.
Australia: Infigen to build PV integrated energy storage demonstration project
Infigen has begun work on a one MW photovoltaic and energy storage plant in Australias New South Wales. A first for both the company and the country, the demonstration project aims to pave the way for future utility-scale projects.
US: PV installers emerge as "favorable" investment area
Solar M&A activity in the U.S. has tailed off this year compared to 2011, according to the latest figures. Despite this, photovoltaic project installers have reportedly emerged as a favorable investment area. Furthermore, energy storage M&A activity is said to have enjoyed strong growth.
$2 million grant awarded to develop PV-integrated storage solutions
Satcon Technology Corporation, A123 Systems, Renewable Energy Services, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) have been awarded US$2 million by the California Energy Commission to work on the development of storage technologies that will help reduce renewable energy power intermittency.
Hanwha SolarOne unveils new storage partnership
Korea-based photovoltaic module manufacturer, Hanwha SolarOne Co. Ltd has announced a new partnership with U.S. storage system company, Silent Power.
