Nairobi’s Sunfunder sets up $70m pot for solar and storage in Africa and Asia
The oversubscribed fund was closed with the help of a commitment by Austria’s national development bank. U.S. and Swedish state-owned lenders and impact investors dominate the pool of contributors to the debt finance, which will fund small-scale installations.
SunPower launches home monitoring app for solar, storage
The SunPower solar monitoring app draws inspiration for its user interface from unlikely non-energy sources such as Spider-Man.
Total and Google Cloud develop tool to predict rooftop PV potential
The Solar Mapper uses artificial intelligence algorithms that compile data extracted from satellite images. It can estimate site solar potential and indicate the most suitable technology.
US corporate solar market reaches 8 GW
The new Solar Means Business report by the Solar Energy Industries Association indicates that low prices and climate change commitments are driving corporate interest in solar and storage. Apple, Amazon and Walmart lead the list of top players.
Google to create easier renewable power purchase pathways
The tech giant has eliminated its entire carbon legacy and is moving toward running entirely on renewables, 24/7. More importantly, it’s looking to create pathways for other renewable purchasers to follow in its wake.
The ‘rubber-band effect’ on renewable energy project margins
David Riester of Lacuna Sustainable Investments, looks at how, on the journey from concept to monetized power plant, renewables and energy storage projects tend to get tugged toward ‘zero’ margin, from either direction. The further the rubber band is stretched, the stronger the pull back toward zero.
Global energy storage market to surge to 15 GW by 2024
As the sector continues to grow rapidly, delays in manufacturing scale-ups, difficulties sourcing raw materials and a separate path taken by the electric vehicle sector could all chuck ‘sand in the gears’, according to analyst Wood Mackenzie.
Corporations inked 19.5 GW of clean energy contracts in 2019
Corporations contracted a record amount of wind and solar energy through power purchase agreements in 2019, up more than 40% from the previous year’s record, says a new report from BloombergNEF. The bulk of this purchasing occurred in the U.S. with tech companies and oil and gas majors leading the charge.
European Utility Week: ‘The confidence is coming back’
The energy transition is becoming ever more apparent among power companies, as was evident at the European Utility Week event last week in Paris, which showcased the hopes and fears of energy companies. Rebranding next year to ‘Enlit’, the organizers aim to reach the whole energy industry.
Turkcell inaugurates data center with 1 MW rooftop array near Ankara
The telecommunications company opened a large data center near the Turkish capital. Turkcell said it wants to improve data security by storing more information on Turkish soil.
