African Development Bank opens $50-60m pot for off-grid solar Covid recovery
The development lender has established a Covid-19 Off-Grid Recovery Platform with impact investors from the Netherlands, U.S. and U.K., to offer affordable loans to off-grid solar companies operating in Africa.
Solar facade for 3D-printed concrete house
Taiwan-based Heliartec has deployed a solar facade on a 3D-printed concrete house in Belgium. It said it installed the solar facade with the “circular construction” philosophy in mind.
US scientists apply Suns-VoC method to outdoor PV tests
Researchers in Arizona have used the Suns-VoC characterization method for indoor solar cell testing to monitor PV installations. The method can also be used with outdoor distributed-generation and large-scale solar arrays.
Solar greenhouse for crops
Scientists in Canada have created a greenhouse that is exclusively heated by solar panels. The rooftop PV system is not connected to the grid, but is linked to four batteries with a total capacity of 5.56 kWh.
World’s largest residential virtual power plant
Like Airbnb, but monetizing spare energy: “The first big step toward opening the door to a massively transactive grid.”
Ramping up renewables now could save Europe €363bn by 2050
Delay, and policymakers will see the carbon emission allowance which would enable us to stay well below 2C frittered away so quickly net zero would have to be reached in 2040, rather than ten years later, when the relevant technology costs will be cheaper.
Sungevity auctioning off assets
The former company has laid off its remaining employees and locked up its offices, leaving dozens of customers and sub-contractors asking what comes next.
Kosovo introduces 20 MW FIT scheme for PV, but state aid commission said it is illegal
The scheme, which has now been halted, was expected to award a FIT of €0.0855/kWh to PV systems not exceeding 3 MW in size.
Hybrid power solutions take off in India
A new GOGLA report notes a growing focus on hybrid power solutions that integrate DC solar with AC grid power, and appliances that integrate both AC and DC power. Sales of hybrid solar inverters are growing by 25% per year in India, outpacing demand for conventional inverters.
Ikea extends PV offer to Spain
Starting from January, the Swedish furniture provider will launch its Solstrale PV panel offer in the Spanish market.
