Interview: Bringing solar power to West Africa with Off Grid Electric
CEO of Off Grid Electric Xavier Helgesen discusses the company’s goal of bringing solar power systems to three million West Africans and explains how off-grid solar is gaining wider acceptance as a “real” power source that can transform local economies.
India to reach 57% renewable penetration by 2027, forecasts government
Bullish ten-year energy blueprint suggests India will surpass renewable targets outlined in Paris Agreement by more than 50% and three years ahead of schedule.
China: NEA adjusts PV goal to at least 105GW by 2020
China’s NEA has officially dropped the target to at least 105 GW by 2020, as well as setting goals for the PV industry and indicating that it will emphasize projects in Eastern China and the region around Beijing.
Third quarter solar installations fall 10% year-on-year across Europe, data shows
Update from SolarPower Europe reveals that the continent installed 1.56 GW in the months from June to September, a 10% decline on Q3 2015. First nine months of the year saw 5.3 GW installed, a decline of 18%.
Global solar market on course for 10th consecutive year of growth, says IHS Markit
Analyst’s quarterly data shows 2016 will deliver 34% year-on-year growth rate as Chinese demand fuels another strong 12 months for the industry, with annual installed capacity to reach 77 GW.
UK: CNBM inks GBP 2.5bn deal to build thousands of solar homes
Joint venture including China National Building Material Company and British renewable energy specialists WElink will see the creation of six prefab home factories over next five years in deal that will deliver huge boost to the U.K.’s BIPV sector.
Intersolar North America: SmartFlower unfurls its dual-axis tracker
The Austrian firm launches its 4kWh-equivalent standalone solar system at the exhibition.
Greece begins second round of net metering applications
Greece is set to begin accepting applications for net metering systems to connect to the medium voltage electricity grid. Will this new approach lead to an uptick in new PV installations?
Cornwall experiments with ‘sunshine tariff’ as possible alternative for UK solar
A grassroots project in Cornwall, England, is examining ways to implement a special, so-called “sunshine tariff.” The project, although small in scale, could provide the template for the solar business models of the new era of zero subsidies.
UK: The smart home in focus as startups drive innovation
The concept of the smart home is emerging as a hot topic in the debate regarding the U.K.’s energy future. At the EcoBuild last week, a special session entitled “Smart and Efficient Use of Future Energy” depicted accurately the central role solar PV plays in the transition to the smart era. It also highlighted how innovation leadership is coming from small, bottom-up firms as utilities and policy-makers struggle to adapt and embrace the new technologies.
