Daimler to follow Tesla with new 500 million lithium-ion battery factory
The battery subsidiary of German carmaker Daimler will begin construction of a new 500 million (US$544 million) lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in the third quarter of this year. The factory will produce batteries for electric and hybrid Mercedes-Benz and smart cars, along with stationary storage products for commercial and residential customers.
SolarCity unveils smart energy home system in Hawaii
The California company’s Customer Self Supply program offers a customized combination of solar, battery storage, smart electric water heater and Nest Learning Thermostat.
E.ON and Solarwatt to partner on electricity storage system
German utility giant will develop own storage system with Dresden-based Solarwatt GmbH based on MyReserve technology; first models to be rolled out in Germany over coming months.
First Tesla Powerwall systems installed in Germany
German solar and storage installer Praml has completed two of the first installations of Teslas 6.4 kWh residential battery system, the Powerwall, in the country. Praml has installed two Tesla Powerwall systems reporting that the install took a team of two around five hours.
Enphase posts $22 million losses during 'challenging' 2015
Despite shipping a record 706 MW of microinverters, the U.S. company ended 2015 at a loss following a profit-making 2014; fourth quarter losses amounted to $15.8 million.
German storage firm Qinous signs battery finance agreement with Bluetech
The strategic cooperation between the storage integration specialist and Bluetech Financing Solutions will deliver plug-and-play storage solutions to Australia, Pacific Islands and GCC nations of the Middle East.
2015: 57 GW of solar PV installed, clean energy investment hits highest ever levels
BNEF calculates that 57 GW of solar PV was installed last year, marking an increase of around 30% on 2014. Latest figures also show that, despite factors which could have impeded growth, clean energy financing reached US$329.3 billion in 2015. Chinese and U.S. markets led the charge, alongside a host of new markets; European activity, however, decreased.
Japan backs solar+storage project in Egypt with $89m loan
Government-backed loan of 10 billion yen will support the development of a 20 MW solar plant with 30 MW storage facility close to Egyptian city of Hurghada.
Germany's solar+storage subsidy extended to 2018
The German battery storage subsidy, for households adding a battery system to their PV array, has received funding through to 2018. The scheme has been allocated around EUR 30 million by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. The program commences March 1.
LichtBlick expands distributed energy optimization globally
LichtBlick’s international customers include utilities, grid operators and energy service companies. The company will next target private households, which will soon be able to market their energy via its IT platform.
