• October 07, 2023

TSE built a 2.9 MW agrivoltaic power plant in northern France equipped with sensors that trigger irrigation systems. The irrigation facility is reported to result in significant water savings. French agrivoltaic specialist TSE has built a 2.9 MW agrivoltaic power plant equipped with an irrigation system aimed at improving water management for a wide range of crops. The system is deployed in the city of Hauts-de-France Bruchy, covering an area of more than 3 hectares, and is expected to save nearly 30% of water. Sensors placed above the canopy enable the system to optimize irrigation by watering on demand and delivering the right amount of water. The system is equipped with trackers that rotate solar panels located at a height of 5 meters from east to west. According to TSE, the device creates localized and rotating shade areas on crop plots throughout the day, effectively mitigating temperature stress and water stress. The local agricultural chamber will also assess the impact of agrivoltaic installations and their irrigation systems on water resources. For non-irrigated crops, trials focus on the shading effect created by the agricultural canopy, addressing water stress and reducing transpiration. For irrigated crops, the trial will explore the potential for irrigation savings driven by photovoltaic systems and smart irrigation. The photovoltaic power plant operates under a 20-year PPA and supplies power to several local factories.

• September 25, 2023

China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) has signed a project development agreement with the Lao government to establish a renewable energy center in northern Laos. The center will cover wind, solar, hydro and energy storage capabilities. Its energy output will be integrated into existing transmission lines carrying power from Laos to China's Yunnan Province, as well as a planned 500kV transmission line connecting the two regions. The agreement builds on the memorandum of understanding signed between CGN and the Lao government in October 2022, further deepening Laos’ commitment to export electricity to China as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

• September 21, 2023

Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), revealed that India currently has 28 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity and 6 GW of battery capacity. The Indian government has launched the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) program and other policy measures to comprehensively promote the construction of a solar manufacturing ecosystem. The PLI plan will support the addition of more than 48 GW of photovoltaic manufacturing capacity and cover different integration areas such as polysilicon to modules, ingot-wafer to modules, and cells + modules. Currently, India has an annual solar photovoltaic module manufacturing capacity of 28 GW and a battery capacity of 6 GW. Bhalla said that many companies will continue to significantly increase production capacity on the basis of reaching the allocated capacity [PLI plan]. India aims to integrate 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power generation by 2030, including about 300 GW of solar power capacity. As of August 31, 2023, the country's installed solar capacity was 71.6 GW. Therefore, to achieve the 2030 target, India needs to add 30 to 40 GW of new solar power capacity every year.

• September 14, 2023

The Clean Energy Association (CEA) highlighted significant growth in solar module manufacturing by Chinese solar module manufacturers in its recently released second quarter PV supplier market intelligence report. Manufacturing capacity reached 405 GW in 2022 and is expected to grow by 114% to reach 866 GW by the end of 2023. This will be followed by a 21% surge in capacity in 2024, taking total global capacity to an impressive 1.043 terawatts. The terawatt era has arrived, but the world was caught off guard. As the industry explodes in size, solar and related professionals must prepare, adapt and deploy.

• September 11, 2023

Uniper announced plans to build two solar mounting system with a combined capacity of 317 MW near its energy conversion hub in Lower Saxony, Germany. Hydrogen production plant supplies power. The German energy company also revealed that the produced hydrogen will be stored in dedicated caves at the same site. “The project received development decision approval from the City of Elsfleth on August 18, 2023, officially marking the start of the city’s land use planning process,” the company said of the largest project proposed to be built in Elsfleth. “The necessary legal framework will be established for the project through the development of a development plan and amendments to the site plan.” Uniper said the 17 MW project will be built on the ash storage site of the coal-fired power station in Wilhelmshaven. It is expected to be integrated into the existing local grid infrastructure.

• September 07, 2023

The US and Indian governments have jointly launched a renewable energy Technology Action platform with an initial focus on green hydrogen, wind power, long-term energy storage and geothermal exploration. The US Department of Energy (DoE) and India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) have jointly launched the US-India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership. U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced RETAP during their meeting on June 22, a move that highlights growing cooperation on emerging technologies to accelerate the clean energy transition. RETAP was established to strengthen bilateral cooperation with an emphasis on technology-driven and time-bound outcomes, with the main objective of facilitating the deployment and diffusion of emerging renewable energy technologies. RETAP will initially focus on green clean hydrogen, wind, long-term energy storage, as well as exploring geothermal energy, ocean/tidal energy and other emerging technologies to be jointly identified in the future. DoE and MNRE have developed an initial work plan for the RETAP collaboration, guided by five themes: research and development; pilot and testing of innovative technologies; advanced training and skills development; policy and planning for renewable energy technologies and enabling technologies; and investment, incubation, and outreach programs.

• September 04, 2023

The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs of Germany has approved measures to simplify solar deployment, with the goal of reaching an installed capacity of 215 gigawatts by 2030. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck stated that the German government approved the draft "Solar Package Plan" bill this week to ensure the installation of 22 gigawatts per year by 2026. Sven Giegold, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said: "Companies, farmers, citizens, and municipal authorities will be more likely to invest in photovoltaic power generation The proposed legislative changes mainly simplify plug-in solar equipment, while covering all areas including roof and floor installation systems, as well as tenant electricity and community energy supply. Roof installation will be simplified, and the existing simplified grid connection program will be expanded to a maximum of 30 kW of photovoltaic systems. The direct marketing access for small photovoltaic systems will also be simplified, and the technical equipment requirements for systems below 25 kilowatts will also be relaxed. For medium-sized commercial power plants, a power plant certificate is only required when the power supply capacity is 270 kW or the installed capacity exceeds 500 kW. The new model in the draft also promotes solar energy supply within buildings and extends to residential tenants or commercial customers. The existing EEG subsidies for building photovoltaic systems will also cover outdoor areas.

• August 31, 2023

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea (MOTIE) decided to cooperate with Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO) and Jeonnam Development Corporation to build a data center complex in Haenam County, South Jeolla Province. The complex will primarily utilize photovoltaic power generation. Many local organizations and companies including Samsung C&T, LG CNS, NH Investment & Securities, Bosung Industrial, TGK, Korea DRD, and Deus Systems participated in the plan. The complex will house 25 data centers each with a capacity of 40 MW. The entire construction process will be carried out in phases, and at least five data centers are expected to be completed by 2027. A total of 10 trillion won ($7.53 billion) is required for the project. In addition, MOTIE did not disclose specific details of the solar aspects of the project, nor whether the project will receive public support.

• August 28, 2023

Indian renewable energy solutions developer Fourth Partner Energy Private Limited has secured a long-term loan of up to 1.2 billion rupees ($14.7 million) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to build and operate a 25 MW solar photovoltaic power plant. Located in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India, the facility is expected to generate approximately 50.7 GWh of electricity annually and will sell electricity directly to commercial and industrial users. India's progressive open renewable energy policy allows a group of consumers to purchase electricity directly from independent power producers (IPPs). Operation of the plant will avoid nearly 41,700 tons of CO2 emissions per year that would otherwise be generated by conventional fossil fuel plants. ADB has supported renewable energy development in India since 2007, when it financed the first set of wind power projects under the IPP model. It subsequently financed solar independent power plants by assisting projects under the National Solar Mission and various national policies. The fourth partner focuses on building and financing renewable energy projects for commercial and industrial consumers. It provides end-to-end capabilities including assessment, design, planning, procurement, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of critical solar, wind and battery storage infrastructure.