Solar has taken a back seat this year in the first scheduled Brazil solar auction, The event has been cancelled and will not occur until December. Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has announced only hydroelectric energy projects can be submitted to its 1st Reserve Energy Auction, which has also been delayed and rescheduled from […]
Brazil Cancels 2016 First Solar Auction, Delaying Second Read More 👉
David Noble, now the outgoing chairman of the Nevada Public Utilities Commission, in his address at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) meeting, elaborated about the ongoing Nevada net metering battle, “…just as a caution for commissioners around this table about who you’re dealing with and what’s going on.” As reported by UtilityDIVE, Noble told
Nevada PUC Chair Noble Speaks On Nevada Rooftop Solar Net Metering Ruling Read More 👉
When in Indonesia, add a government decree to the formula for boosting solar energy, and all things begin to look more attractive to clean electricity developers and investors. Until now, the solar market of Southeast Asia has been tepid, at best. But a new decree from Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is set
Indonesia Solar Market Will Accelerate After Government Decree Read More 👉
In notable solar news, Portugal has authorized the processing of licenses for solar projects which total more than 2,000 megawatts (2 gigawatts) of potential power. Specifically, 180 MW of solar projects have presently been authorized under the existing market system in the nation’s southern region, and an additional 68 licenses for solar projects are being processed, which
Portugal Processes Licenses For 2 GW Of Solar Electricity, Sans Subsidies Read More 👉
Palestine has licensed its first solar power plant in West Bank. According to pv-tech and Saur Energy International, the 5.7MW solar PV project represents the first utility-scale solar electricity project to get a license in Palestine. The Palestine Energy Ministry has granted licensing and permits for its first large-scale solar power plant near the city of
Solar First: Palestine Licenses West Bank Solar Power Plant Read More 👉
Originally published on CleanTechnica. First of all, let’s get this straight — I don’t think anyone is purely against the people who pull coal out of the ground, the people looking for steady jobs and decent income, or the people who try to help people from losing their jobs. But we are against burning coal
Coal Power’s Decline, & Associated Politics Read More 👉
Chile has aggressively moved forward on an electricity transmission law which benefits solar, as well as other sources of energy. Following the Chilean Congress’s passage of a major electricity transmission law, experts contend this will help the development of both renewable and non-renewable energy projects in the country. Under the adopted policy, a new national
Chile Passes Electricity Transmission Law Benefitting Solar Read More 👉
Nigeria is in the midst of enhancing its support for solar-powered electricity, having signed the nation’s first power purchase agreement. According to pv-tech, the government-owned energy overseer, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), has signed the country’s first-ever solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with more than ten project developers, totaling 975MW of utility-scale solar. “Nigerian Bulk
Nigeria Inks First Solar PPA Read More 👉
France recently issued new tenders for solar energy, targeting an increase its installed PV capacity by 20 GW in 2023. The French environment and energy minister Segolene Royal announced the introduction of a number of new solar tenders in France for the development of various PV applications. This means France may triple its solar PV
France Issues Solar Tenders To Produce 20 GW By 2023 Read More 👉
A letter signed by 34 European solar and renewable energy organizations has called on the EU to immediately remove trade measures which exist against imports of Chinese PV modules and cells. As reported by pv-magazine, these European solar and renewable energy organizations, led by SolarPower Europe, have requested the EU to take prompt action. “Representing the formalization
European Renewable Organizations Call For Removing Trade Measures Against Chinese PV Read More 👉
For the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, June was a month of changes for the future of renewable electricity and solar gardens in this state. Here is why: At June’s end, PV-Tech reported the Colorado PUC reversed an earlier decision it had rendered by approving the deployment of community solar gardens. The regulatory agency granted reconsideration of a
Colorado PUC Reverses Earlier Decision & Approves Community Solar Gardens Read More 👉
Pacific Gas & Electric has announced its Diablo Canyon nuclear plant will close. CleanTechnica reports the electricity provider for northern California has reached a deal with environmental and labor groups to close the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant and replace it with renewable energy + greater energy efficiency + energy storage. On June 21, PG&E provided this perspective: “Reflecting California’s changing energy landscape, PG&E
PG&E Will Close Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant, Using Renewables Instead Read More 👉
German off-grid solar provider Mobisol has now installed over 50,000 systems in East Africa. The company estimates a quarter of a million people now receive sustainable electricity from its solar solutions, which is an incredible landmark in a growing markets of Tanzania and Rwanda, defined once as having little access to the electric grid. “Mobisol
East Africa Off-Grid Connections Growing With Mobisol Read More 👉
Applications to the 2016 micro-FiT program in Ontario are now being accepted. As reported by pv-magazine, the Canadian province of Ontario would launch version 4.0 of its micro-FiT program, even though installation levels are significantly lower than those last year. Ontario’s electricity authority announced that it would re-open its feed-in tariff program for solar PV
Ontario Now Accepting Micro-FiT Incentive Applications Read More 👉
According to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), the PV recycling industry may be worth as much as $15 billion by 2050. By weight, this PV recycling number is based on 78 million tons of decommissioned PV materials. This projected total represents a sizable industry in comparison to
Solar PV Recycling Market May Be $15 Billion Industry By 2050 Read More 👉
According to Bloomberg, Brazil has rejected requests from developers seeking more time to complete the country’s first large-scale solar farms. Brazil’s energy regulator Aneel reportedly sent a statement to a group of solar developers scheduled to completing solar farms by 2017, denying their request for extensions of as long as two years. Brazil economy blamed Financing
Extension Request For Brazil Solar Farm Development Hits Roadblock? Read More 👉
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) of Pakistan has published its proposed revisions to feed-in tariffs for solar electricity projects in two regions generating between 1-100MW of capacity. According to PVTECH, the notice of “Suo Moto proceedings” concerned the proposed new tariffs. (Suo moto generally refers to a situation wherein a judge acts without request
Solar auction bids in Zambia reached record low prices on Monday. According to pv-tech, this nation has set a new benchmark for low-cost solar electricity in Africa, posting a competitive auction under the ‘Scaling Solar’ program, which saw winning bids as low as 6.02 cents/kWh. Green and clean electricity is look highly price-competitive on a
Zambia Solar Auction Inks Record-Low 6.02¢ Price Benchmark Read More 👉
Originally published on Solar Love. These top 10 lists are a little peculiar sometimes because one might conclude that they are objective. However, while they can appear to be that way, they are usually more subjective, based in assessments conducted by particular websites or publications. Depending on which criteria are used, their results might not
The Top 10 US Solar Installers Are… Read More 👉
Con Edison and SunPower will team up to pilot a “virtual power plant” program by offering solar power systems with battery storage to more than 300 New York homeowners. In an announcement made this week, Con Edison, one of the United States’ largest investor-owned energy companies, will partner with SunPower, a world leading renewable energy
Con Edison & SunPower Team Up To Create New York “Virtual Power Plant” Read More 👉
Fighting energy poverty for some 1.3 billion people worldwide is a primary goal for many innovators, including the Liter of Light campaign. This open-sourced movement has launched a modest 30-day $27,000 Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign in oder to help provide ecologically sustainable illumination to people who have none. Liter of Light aims to provide ecologically sustainable and
Liter Of Light Campaign Targets Energy Poverty Read More 👉
Chile is reported to have an oversupply of solar electricity — so much it is said to be giving away free solar electricity. This is a problem many cloudier nations would be more than happy to trade for. Chile is now giving away solar energy for free, states a recent Bloomberg report. This may be
Chile Reports Excess Solar Electricity Read More 👉
As part of a broadened effort to boost renewable electricity in Greece, two pilot photovoltaic auctions have been announced by the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. In June, the country plans to publish a new policy framework supporting renewable electricity, with the aim of putting it into law by July. The two pilot
Greece Plans Two Pilot PV Auctions Read More 👉
In an agreement announced this week by Total and SunPower, Chile’s Metro de Santiago is ready to feature the world’s first metro to run on solar electricity. The clean energy public transit system became official when SunPower signed a power purchase agreement for the supply of 300 gigawatt hours of solar electricity annually to Metro
Metro de Santiago Boasts World’s First Solar-Powered Public Transit System Read More 👉
According to the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA), poor households in Asia and Africa saved some $3.4 billion based on the rapid uptake of solar lighting. GOGLA has released its Social Impact Report, which addresses a significant increase in solar lighting products in off-grid locales. The impact of having such lighting solutions available is viewed as “more
Off-Grid African & South Asian Lighting Boom Saves Poor Households $3.4 Billion Read More 👉
A new report shows how the combination of solar and storage could save residents of multifamily affordable rental housing thousands on electricity bills. According to the authors of Closing the California Clean Energy Divide, which explores how battery storage technology combined with residential solar PV could provide greater control to system owners, “significant electric bill
Solar & Storage Could Save Thousands For Multifamily Affordable Rental Housing Read More 👉
The UK-based firm PolySolar recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its first solar photovoltaic system outfitted bus stop in the UK — a 2.8 kilowatt bus stop located in Canary Wharf, in London. The new solar photovoltaic (PV) bus stop — equipped with Polysolar’s transparent solar-PV glazing, which reportedly works well even in low-light —
Polysolar’s New Solar PV Bus Stop In Canary Wharf, London Is The First In The UK Read More 👉
Home Energy Africa, which specializes in the development and sales of renewable energy products for businesses, governments, and residential homes in Africa, has obtained a $705,000 grant from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for the development of a solar PV power generation project in Ghana. Projected to begin construction in 2017, ESI Africa
Home Energy Africa To Develop Solar In Ghana Read More 👉
Following a recent gubernatorial veto on a solar bill, the Portland Press Herald has reported large-scale solar generation projects are being reviewed or delayed because legislation to make them more financially viable is absent. Maine Governor Paul LePage’s decision to veto a solar bill, L.D. 1649, which would have increased the amount of solar-generated electricity in
Solar Project Uncertainty Reigns In Maine Following Gubernatorial Veto Read More 👉
Argentina has opened its first auction for the acquisition of renewable electricity. According to pv magazine, Argentina’s President, Mauricio Macri, has announced the opening of an auction for 1 gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy capacity. The auction targets adding a renewable portfolio into this nation’s energy mix by summer of 2017/2018, and with a deadline
Argentina Will Auction 1 GW Renewable Electricity Read More 👉
The Solar Foundation has announced that it has been selected by the US Department of Energy SunShot Initiative to lead a nationwide solar energy training program for former military members, Solar Ready Vets. Of note, the program will work with military bases and local training providers in order to prepare transitioning military personnel for careers in solar,
For those wanting to assemble additional renewable energy factoids, California and Arizona are leading the country in most solar panel installations, while California, Texas, and Colorado head up the list for which states offer the most in the way of monetary incentives. A new study by Modernize shows strong nationwide support for solar energy is taking place.
US Solar Panel Installations On The Rise Read More 👉
Planning for growing solar development in India has received a solid boost from the World Bank, following board approval of a $625 million loan to support India’s grid connected rooftop solar program to generate clean energy. According to The Economic Times, the board also approved a co-financing loan of $120 million and a $5 million grant
World Bank Targeting $625 Million Aid For India Solar Program Read More 👉
Following the failure of a bill to replace retail rate net metering with a market-based incentive system, an updated net metering policy in Maine remains to be determined. UtilityDIVE provided this extremely accurate headline: “With Maine solar bill dead, industry waits on regulators for net metering reforms” Yes, indeed! Everyone involved in the industry appears to
Maine’s Net Metering Ball In PUC’s Court Read More 👉
Renewable energy use broke a big record in Europe last weekend. It’s a pretty big deal when a small country like Sri Lanka, Iceland, or Tokelau generates all the power it needs from renewables. When Europe’s #1 economy—Germany, with the fourth largest gross domestic product in the world ($3.7 trillion, exceeded only by the US,
Renewable Energy Supplies 90% Of Total German Power On Sunday Read More 👉
The solar transition is well underway in the UK. Our sister site SolarLove has reported that solar energy generation surged by around 153% over the last year in the UK (2014–2015). So, without much ado, research about the effects of solar farms on biodiversity continues. The fertile news is that after a conclusive study of solar farms, the
Solar Farms Improve Local Biodiversity Read More 👉
Following the ongoing and sometimes bitter confrontation between solar advocates and utilities, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has approved a proposal from Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to boost investments in renewable energy and deploy two 10 MW (5 MWh) energy storage pilot projects. However, the issue of this utility owning the renewables it distributes remains undecided, pending further
After watching two rooftop solar installers pull up stakes in the state and being named in upcoming lawsuits, Paul Thomsen, head of the Nevada PUC, has defended the regulatory agency’s recent net metering decisions, stating he sees a solid future for clean energy growth. His involvement in debates like those which took place in Arizona and
Head Of Nevada PUC Sees ‘Bright Future’ For Rooftop Solar Read More 👉
The financially troubled international renewable energy pioneer Abengoa, which filed for bankruptcy protection last November, has been granted bankruptcy protection under Chapter 15. This protection has been provided, in spite of the objections of a group of insurance companies claiming the Spanish renewables company’s talks to restructure billions in debt was unfair to US creditors.
Spain Energy Pioneer Abengoa Wins Fiscal Protection Via US Bankruptcy Court Read More 👉
Solar incentives are getting a long-sought-after boost in Ghana. According to PVTech, if all goes as planned, Ghana will soon update its solar feed-in-tariff (FiT) program with payment contracts which last for 20 years as opposed to the current 10-year length. Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, director of renewables and alternative energy at the Ministry of Power Ghana,
Ghana To Update Feed-In Tariff Incentives To Last 20-Year Life Read More 👉
Arizona solar advocates and lawmakers have negotiated a compromise, leading them to drop competing solar ballot initiatives to amend the state’s constitution. According UtilityDIVE and PV-Tech, this cease-fire allows both sides to reach a compromise which boosts solar while addressing the concerns of utilities. A ceasefire between SolarCity and Arizona Public Service Company has the two sides
Solar Cease-Fire: Arizona Solar Advocates And Lawmakers Drop Dueling Ballot Initiatives Read More 👉
Originally published on CleanTechnica.com Habitat for Humanity homes are a remarkable support to families. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E), the leading utility with rooftop solar in the nation, deserves more praise for new support for Habitat for Humanity. In a news release, the utility announced its $1 million commitment to the installation of rooftop solar on
PG&E Commits $1 Million To Solar-Powered Habitat For Humanity Homes Read More 👉
As international interest in renewable energy grows, I want to send thanks to SaveOnEnergy for providing this infographic about how solar panels work. How Solar Panels Work “Solar power is talked about a lot these days. Whether it’s a new solar panel installation on your neighbor’s roof or one of the growing numbers of solar
SaveOnEnergy Infographic: How Solar Panels Work Read More 👉
This month, GRID Alternatives launched its free national technical assistance and turnkey solar design/install service for multifamily affordable housing in California. This nonprofit solar installer announced it has expanded its multifamily solar program to now include free technical assistance nationally for affordable housing owners, developers, and operators. This technical assistance service, which was launched to coincide with
Citing a new study, wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources presently make up about 10% of US electricity supply, but transitioning to 100% clean energy is both necessary and feasible, states Environment New York. Environment New York (ENY) has released a new white paper, “We Have the Power: 100 Percent Renewable Energy for a Clean, Thriving
Study: Wind, Solar, And Other Clean Energy Could Supply All US Power Read More 👉
India has found support from an unlikely corner in its fight against the recent ruling by the World Trade Organisation that termed the domestic content requirement policy under the National Solar Mission as ‘inconsistent’ with international norms. Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change of China, while speaking at the 22nd BASIC Ministerial Meeting on
China Supports India’s Challenge To WTO Solar Ruling Read More 👉
Highly ambitious annual solar power capacity addition targets have been announced by the Indian Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. With a target to have an operational solar power capacity of 100 GW by March 2022, the Indian government has announced annual capacity addition targets for the next few years. The Ministry of New &
India Targets 48 GW Solar Power Capacity By March 2019 Read More 👉
Regardless of location, California state customers are soon expected to have more net metering equal access for rooftop solar. Assembly bill 2339 has passed the State Assembly Utilities & Commerce Committee by a 10-2 vote and now awaits final ratification from the Assembly floor. Essentially, this measure aims to even out the net metering policies
Net Metering Equal Access Bill 2339 Passes California Committee Read More 👉