UtilityDIVE reports transmission congestion in the western portion of New York is limiting the state’s ability to access hydropower during summer peaks, state regulators said last week. This resource is regarded as essential to meeting a 50% renewables target by 2030. “Inadequate transmission capability is causing transmission congestion in Western New York, which prevents renewable resources […]
Argentina has awarded a total 1.1 GW of renewable energy projects in its first auction round of the RenovAR program. Of this total, 400 MW of solar electricity projects. The government has also announced a second round (“Round 1.5”) in November which will include a quota for 200 MW of PV projects. The RenovvAR program, […]
Originally published on CleanTechnica Debates have raged across the country around the value and/or need for net metering. Most conversation has focused exclusively on the residential perspective. However, Graham Smith, CEO of Open Energy, asks about the impact of the ever-changing net meeting policies on commercial solar? Net Metering Backgrounder According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): “Net […]
The Taiwan government is targeting generating 20% of the nation’s electricity from renewable sources by 2025. According to Taiwan Today, vice president Chen Chien-jen says this represents a boost to the green energy industry and a transition to a nuclear-free nation. To achieve its target, the government plans a substantial investment of NT$1.2 trillion (US$38 […]
Germany’s Federal Network Agency has announced a cross-border auction for ground-mounted photovoltaic installations in cooperation with Denmark. As reported by Energy Business Review, this auction will mark the first time Denmark jointly participates in a German auction. Rainer Baake, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, said: “With this first cross-border auction […]
The Public Utility Authority (PUA) of Israel has announced it plans to issue more than 1GW of a new solar tender following a two-year hiatus from any new solar development. This anticipated plan represents an effort to boost this nation’s renewable electricity production and distribution. As reported by PVTech, the planned tender is being authorized […]
According to World Nuclear News, the Swedish utility Vattenfall is suing Germany at the Washington-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes concerning the closure of the Brunsbüttel and Krümmel nuclear power plants. As announced by Vattenfall on October 10: “The hearing on Vattenfall’s claim against the Federal Republic of Germany at the International Centre for […]
UtilityDIVE reports Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has released a draft solar incentive program supporting the addition of 1.6 GW of solar power to the state. If enacted, this program will replace the state’s expiring solar incentive program, which uses solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) and is known as SREC-2, with a tariff program. The current SREC-2 program […]
Following a series of ill-managed issues concerning the operation of its electricity transmission infrastructure, Chile has appointed five directors for the Board of its Independent Coordinator of the National Electric System, after its major transmission law upheaval. The country passed a new law on electricity transmission in July in order to help the development of […]
Turkey has announced a new solar tender to be launched by the end of the year. Initial information gives some clues as to what this tender might include. The country’s energy minister Berat Albayrak recently stated Turkey plans to launch new tenders for coal and solar power capacity by the end of the year. He spoke […]
In a press announcement, GRID Alternatives Colorado, an affiliate of the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer, today announced its support for a comprehensive utility settlement being considered by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) this week to address significant state energy policy issues and increase access to solar power for Colorado’s most underserved communities. Under the […]
NTPC, the largest utility in India, has invited bids for the development of 250MW of solar capacity in the Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka. PVTech reports the utility will split this clean electricity capacity will be split into five blocks of 50MW projects. The tender is for the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packing and forwarding, […]
The National Energy Administration (NEA) of China has published its draft version of proposed 2017 feed-in tariff (FiT) levels for ground mount and distributed generation PV power plants. The lowered tariffs represent significant cuts to both sectors and overall curtailment of installations. According to PVTech, the Asia Europe Clean Energy (Solar) Advisory (AECEA) has estimated […]
According to Energy Business Review, Mexico has selected 23 bidders for the development of $4 billion worth of photovoltaic solar, wind and other clean energy projects. This selection came as a result of the second round of its power auction. National Energy Control Center (CENACE) of Mexico organized the second long-term energy auction for the wholesale […]
Independent global testing and certification body UL (Underwriters Laboratory) has acquired renewable energy engineering services and support firm, AWS Truepower for an unspecified sum. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) announced its AWS Truepower acquisition will strengthen its full lifecycle solutions. “There is strong alignment between the two brands,” said Jeffrey Smidt, vice president & general manager for UL Energy […]
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has awarded 450MW of solar capacity in the state of Maharashtra, with the lowest collective set of bids involving viability gap funding (VGF) to date. The low bids add emphasis to significant solar electricity activities occurring within this nation’s borders. A total of two foreign firms won significant capacity in […]
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has issued aggressive targets for New York City electricity storage and solar capacity, totaling 100MWh of storage by 2020 and 1GW of solar capacity by 2030. Tracking the development of NYC solar capacity PVTech reports the city will issue permits for more than 3,000 solar panel installations this […]
A tender for 1GW of capacity in Inner Mongolia shows China’s lowest ever bids for solar electricity, according to a report from Reuters. Reuters cited news outlet China Business News in its report that fifty solar developers and manufacturers had bid as low as CBY0.52/kWh (US$0.078) in this government-backed auction. Reuters added this price point comes […]
Urban solar farms are now being explored in South Africa under a grant awarded by the US Trade and Development Agency. The grant has been has awarded to SolarReserve South Africa Limited to advance its “Urban Solar Farms” initiative in South Africa. This is a study concerning large metropolitan municipalities intended to provide a framework for […]
UtilityDIVE has reported local mayors and nuclear energy supporters now represent parties challenging Pacific Gas & Electric’s plan to close the 2,240 MW Diablo Canyon nuclear plant and replace it with a combination of renewables and efficiency. Presently, six mayors of cities in San Luis Obispo County, where the plant is located, filed with regulators last […]
For those measuring the bid price index of recent solar electricity bids, add Abu Dhabi as the new low price leader. PV Tech reports this current bid — 2.42¢/kWh for the planned 350 MW solar plant in Sweihan, in the United Arab Emirates — ranks 17% lower than the tariff awarded to Solarpack in Chile in […]
Originally published on CleanTechnica Solar shingles are now gaining increasing traction in the renewable energy landscape. They are architecturally distinctive, more so than traditional rooftop photovoltaic panels. Solar shingles provide an integrated building product providing both roofing security and solar electricity in one package. As PV Magazine’s Charles W. Thurston has stated, “The nascent field of […]
Another fossil fuel pipeline project — the Dakota Access pipeline — is being held to a considerable level of environmental scrutiny. Leading national and local environmental, tribal, and landowners’ rights organizations have submitted a letter on to President Obama voicing concern about the Army Corps of Engineers’ approval of some of the permits for the […]
Plan on solar-powered electricity in Indonesia to grow markedly in the next few years using FiTs. As reported by SolarServer, the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources (ESDM) has issued a Government Decree to provide support mechanisms for utility-scale solar photovoltaic systems, exhibition and management services. The driving support mechanism will be the solar FIT priced […]
A new law will now provide Massachusetts with the third US energy storage mandate. Look for storage legislation to gain favor in the upcoming years. “Irrespective of the eventual target, Massachusetts could become the first non-West Coast state to set forth a storage goal,” said Ravi Manghani, director of energy storage at GTM Research. “It […]
This August Germany’s Federal Network Agency has arranged the fifth solar auction, allocating 130 MW of green electricity to 25 bids. The Federal Network Agency offered 125 MW for its fifth solar auction yet it was oversubscribed by 62 bids for a total of 311 MW tendered, reported PV Magazine. Of the bidding action, 25 projects […]
Under the aegis of its Renewable City Strategy, the city of Vancouver has committed to generate 100% of its energy from renewable sources before 2050. In implementing this renewable energy goal, International Wastewater Systems (IWS) has announced a series of wastewater heat recovery projects will be installed in Vancouver. The installations will be launched in partnership with […]
Write the words ‘Nevada’ and ‘net-metering’ together and you will soon discover a first-rate oxymoron. To the dismay of many rooftop solar enthusiasts and litigants, the Nevada Supreme Court last Thursday rejected a ballot proposal backed by state solar advocates which sought to restore retail rate net metering. The Court ruling stated the language was misleading […]
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last Thursday approved a June 6 application from Apple’s energy subsidiary to sell electricity in six regional power markets around the country at market rates. “Based on your representations, Apple Energy meets the criteria for a Category 1 seller in all regions and is so designated,” Steve Rodgers, director […]
Originally published on CleanTechnica In an era of producing multiple forms of renewable electricity, the transmission of this high-voltage energy is becoming increasingly important. Anbaric often uses high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology, heralded as one of the “advanced transmission technologies” in the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which provided for the development of a stronger energy […]
In spite of recent news from the government of Portugal stating solar subsidies are not needed to advance industry growth, José Manuel Medeiros Pinto, general secretary of the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN) responded, saying solar cannot work without financial support in current market conditions. Following Portugal approving 180MW of unsubsidized solar PV production, Pinto sees subsidized […]
The New York Public Service Commission voted Monday on a 50% clean energy standard. Officials say this will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030, ensuring the state’s power mix is diverse and can attract billions in clean energy investments. New York’s Clean Energy Standard mandates the state obtains half its power from renewable sources […]