North America faces cloudy November with few brights for solar
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that November proved challenging for solar energy across most of the US and Canada, as persistent cloud cover reduced solar irradiance.
Agrivoltaics can increase grape yield by up to 60%
French agrivoltaics company Sun’Agri says that two of its facilities increased grape yields by 20% to 60% in 2024, compared to areas without solar panels. The PV modules helped regulate temperature fluctuations, reducing summer heat peaks and winter temperature declines.
Australia launches 6 GW wind, solar tender
Registration has opened for the Australian government’s fourth Capacity Investment Scheme tender, which aims to underwrite contracts for 6 GW of new solar and wind projects.
Overhead agrivoltaics could disrupt global navigation satellite systems used for precision agriculture
Fraunhofer ISE researchers have investigated whether PV panels installed above orchards can affect the reception of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals and, in turn, affect the precision of advanced autonomous tools. They found a disruption and suggested some alternatives.
UK records 1 GW of new solar in 12 months as pipeline swells
Government data records 17.2 GW of deployed solar capacity in the United Kingdom at the end of October 2024. Planning applications for three plants with combined capacity exceeding 1.8 GW submitted in November 2024, suggesting potential for greater additions in the future.
North Macedonia kicks off 30 MW solar tender
Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM), a state-owned electricity company in North Macedonia, has launched a 30 MW solar tender for the design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover of two solar plants. The deadline for applications is Jan. 17, 2025.
Jordan’s solar panel, water heater subsidy scheme backed by banks
Cairo Amman Bank and Jordan Islamic Bank have signed joint cooperation agreements with Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to support the 2024/2025 phase of the country’s subsidy scheme for residential solar panels and solar water heaters. The scheme covers 30% of the cost of installations.
Serbia opens second renewables auction, tenders 124.8 MW of solar
Serbia’s Ministry of Mining and Energy has announced a second renewable auction to procure 124.8 MW of solar at a maximum price of €72 ($75.90)/MWh. Bids are due by Feb. 5, 2025.
Hungary deploys 1.3 GW of solar in January-October period
Hungary installed 1.3 GW of solar between January and October, bringing its cumulative PV capacity to 7.3 GW by the end of October, according to new government data.
Germany set to cross 100 GW milestone
Germany might exceed 100 GW of cumulative solar capacity in 2024, as new projections from Bundesverband der deutschen Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft (BDEW) estimate 17.5 GW in new PV installations.
