PV plant

A new initiative now allows businesses in Malaysia to purchase green electricity directly from renewable energy developers through the national grid. The country’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) estimates that it will generate more than MYR 10 billion ($2.4 billion) in direct investments.

The Taiwanese government has introduced a new, favorable framework for renewable-energy power purchase agreements (PPAs). Large energy consumers are no longer required to buy the entire output of large-scale facilities.

Scientists have developed a novel method that uses live video feed to detect shadows on solar panels. It uses computer vision techniques, such as gamma transform and histogram matching, resulting in performance that is reportedly better than conventional techniques, especially in large arrays.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that, as the storm Boris swept across Europe, snow began falling in some regions for the first time this season. The situation is now stabilizing as the system weakens and a high-pressure zone takes hold across the region.

Cape Verde has inaugurated a 5 MW solar array on Sal Island – its largest PV plant to date, according to the Ministry of Energy and Commerce.

New research from Spain reveals that stricter environmental impact assessments of large scale PV plants contrasts with smaller solar parks, which are not subject to the same degree of restrictions. The review also highlighted the need for more cumulative and synergistic environmental impact assessments.

Aplitop and Soltec have partnered to develop a computer-aided design (CAD) plugin application aimed at simplifying the planning process and reducing earth-moving operations, measurements, and the relocation of solar trackers in ground-mounted PV projects.

GE Vernova has developed a 2,000 V (DC) utility-scale inverter, to be used in a North American pilot operation starting in early 2025. The inverter offers up to 6.0 MVA of output power.

EDF Renewables, Korea Western Power Co. (Kowepo), and Masdar have secured financing to build a 1.5 GW solar plant near Abu Dhabi, backed by a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Emirates Water and Electricity Co.

The Chilean solar market is booming but as curtailment grows, a hybrid approach to generation is gaining ground. Storage project announcements are coming thick and fast as co-location with wind turbines offers cost efficiency and a smoother generation profile. Meanwhile, new capacity mechanism rules could take Chile one step closer to runaway battery growth.