The policy environment for solar PV in Europe needs to be balanced between the interests of developers and other industry parties, according to speakers at today’s Large Scale Solar Europe conference in Lisbon.
Researchers in Spain have developed a statistical model aimed at reducing uncertainties in the estimation of albedo, the measure of radiation reflected from the ground that is an essential factor in the performance of bifacial PV modules.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved requests made by utilities in the state to allow solar and storage facilities to use Limited Generation Profiles (LGPs) to connect to the state’s grid without paying for grid infrastructure upgrades.
In 2023, installed solar capacity in Europe increased by 39% (66GW). The world’s first PV industry member of the Fortune global 500, Tongwei Solar is committed to providing clients with the highest quality, most reliable products on the market. In 2022, the company shipped 3GW, or 14% of the residential market, to Europe, where almost one in seven households deploying PV modules was equipped with its Terra series product and, in late 2023, it took the significant step of launching its new G12R TNC series module.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) will commit US$475 million in funding for five clean energy projects at current and former mine sites across the US, which include three new solar projects.
The Solar Energy Manufacturers for America (SEMA) Coalition has published a report into the US’ reliance on Chinese-made modules, calling for a “strengthening [of] the domestic supply chain to produce solar components”.
During 2023, Chinese-owned PV companies supplied just over half of all PV modules shipped into the US market during the year, with more than 98% of these Chinese-owned modules manufactured in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Energy has launched two tenders to add 1,425MW of renewable power generation to the grid and 350MW of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects.
The global target of reaching 11TW of renewable generation capacity by 2030 is feasible, but according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), actions such as modernising and expanding infrastructure, scaling up financing, and strengthening international collaborations are required to overcome structural barriers to global energy transition.
As was common last year in the global solar sector, 2023 proved to be a record-breaking year for Belgium’s solar industry. According to the Belgian energy association, Energie Commune, the country installed 1.8GW of new solar capacity last year, breaking the record for annual installations set in 2022 with 1.3GW of capacity and pushing the country’s total operating solar portfolio to 9.9GW.
Polish transmission system operator (TSO) Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE) is planning to invest PLN64 billion (US$16 billion) in new transmission lines by 2034.
Major Chinese solar manufacturer LONGi is reportedly cutting about 30% of its workforce as it adapts to growing overcapacity in the solar sector.
