Solar parks provide refuge for birds, claim Chilean researchers
Chilean researchers from Universidad Mayor say that the 10.8 MW La Colonia photovoltaic plant, built by IM2 Solar Chile and Enel Green Power, provides a habitat for birds.
Candi Solar Secures $38 million to support clean energy in Africa, Asia
Philippe Flamand, the director and co-founder of Candi Solar, tells pv magazine about the company’s recent $38 million funding round and its plans to deploy renewables in emerging markets.
EDF invests in Israeli robotic agrivoltaics startup
AgRE.tech, which is developing a robotic operating system for existing photovoltaic infrastructure, has raised $2 million from EDF and Zemach Regional Industries. The company says it will soon set up commercial fields.
Vietnam opens energy market to bilateral PPAs
The Vietnamese government issued new rules this week allowing direct power purchase agreements (DPPA) between independent power producers (IPPs) and energy consumers, according to state-owned media. IPPs can now sell power to final clients via the national grid or direct connection lines.
Rio Tinto building more solar at mining sites
Multinational mining company Rio Tinto has finished installation work at the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada and has announced plans for two 5.25 MW plants at a bauxite mine in Australia’s Northern Territory.
How to make seaports into energy communities with PV, wave energy
Researchers have simulated the operation of seven renewable energy communities in the Port of Naples and found them to offer lower life cycle costs. Using varying capacities of solar and wave energy, they were able to optimize the system to a 90% self-consumption rate. They also offered a scheme for the management of a port energy community.
Spain authorizes 7.2 GW of new PV projects
The Spanish authorities have approved 7.2 GW of new PV projects so far this year, with 3.1 GW authorized in the second quarter alone.
Colombia’s PV capacity hits 1.2 GW
Colombia’s Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) says the country’s PV capacity has reached 1,193 MW. The nation surpassed the 1 GW threshold several weeks ago with the commissioning of two large-scale solar facilities.
Optimal size ratios for solar, wind-powered hydrogen production
Researchers in Italy outlined a new model for estimating hydrogen production cost as a function of the plant’s component sizes. They tested both PV, wind, and hybrid production of hydrogen to determine the optimal size ratio for the 2030-2050 period. They also found that PV-powered hydrogen may currently achieve a levelized cost of hydrogen of €5.11/kg in Italy, with a PV ratio of 2.2.
Maldives opens tender for grid-tied solar-plus-diesel plants
The government of the Maldives is accepting bids for the design, supply and installation of grid-tied solar-diesel hybrid power generation plants. The projects will be built on nine inhabited islands across the country.
