• March 04, 2024

The Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE) has released its operating rules for the energy community following the publication of the final rule on January 24. The new rules describe how project developers can receive rebate benefits provided by the Italian government for energy community construction under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNNR), while also explaining how these incentives can be increased at the same time as feed-in tariffs are approved to communities. The new rules also describe how photovoltaic systems deployed before December 15, 2021, will be included in the incentive program. The rules state that these photovoltaic systems can account for up to 30 percent of the energy community's total power generation. The GSE will launch the Developer Incentive Application Platform on April 8.

• February 26, 2024

Saharan dust carried by Atlantic winds sweeps across Europe over the Iberian Peninsula. This has led to a decrease in irradiance, particularly in Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany. Saharan dust carried by Atlantic winds drifted over Europe late last week, reducing daily irradiance by 25 percent as dust in the atmosphere scatters, absorbs and reflects sunlight. Prevailing westerly winds on February 14 carried dust from the Iberian Peninsula to Germany on February 16. Peak irradiance losses were as high as 30% in the affected areas at noon, with large areas of northern Europe, especially the Netherlands, and daily irradiance losses of 15-25% in Germany on 15-16 February. On February 14, a high pressure system over North Africa and a low pressure system in the Norwegian Sea in the low to mid-level atmosphere directed westerly winds across the African continent, carrying Saharan dust from west to east across Europe. Dust in the atmosphere reduces irradiance by scattering sunlight as it passes through the atmosphere, appearing as haze to observers on the ground, and reducing the irradiance received by the surface. Dust can also deposit and contaminate panels, which can affect solar power generation, even after the dust is removed from the atmosphere, reducing the efficiency of power generation. Asset operators in affected areas may find that these pollution impacts result in reduced power generation.

• February 22, 2024

According to the latest monthly report from Camesa, the operator of Argentina's state-owned electricity market, as of the end of December 2023, the cumulative installed capacity of photovoltaic power in the country has reached 1366 megawatts. Camesa also revealed that the country will add approximately 262 megawatts of solar power generation in 2023. The developer added a new photovoltaic power generation capacity of 33 megawatts in 2022, compared to approximately 300 megawatts in 2021. As of the end of December 2023, the installed capacity of photovoltaic systems accounts for approximately 3.1% of the total power generation in the country.

• February 19, 2024

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, has announced the launch of a residential rooftop solar scheme to provide free electricity. "From substantial subsidies issued directly into the people's bank accounts to substantially concessional bank loans, the central government will ensure that the people do not bear any cost burden," Mr Modi said. "All stakeholders will be integrated into one national online portal." The scheme provides subsidy of INR 30,000 / kW up to 2 kW and subsidy of INR 18,000 / kW for additional capacity up to 3 kW. The total subsidy for systems over 3 kW is capped at INR 78,000.

• February 01, 2024

LevelTen Energy has released its quarterly PPA pricing index for North America and released full-year data through 2023. The company operates a PPA marketplace with more than 900 project developers, energy consultants and distributors, as well as some of the world's largest buyers of clean energy. The report noted that the P25 price of the PPA increased by 3% in the fourth quarter and 15% for the full year 2023. The P25 pricing represents the 25th percent price offered by the developer in the contract, rather than the PPA price for the final transaction. LevelTen reports that the regional picture for the U.S. solar market is mixed. P25 prices at CAISO, a regional grid operator in California, rose 15 percent, while other markets saw declines.

• January 29, 2024

Vegetaek, a French urban greening solution design company, has developed a "bio solar" roof for photovoltaic systems. This solution is compatible with existing or newly built green roofs, improving the thermal efficiency of the building and complying with France's 2021 climate and resilience standards, which require 30% of the roof area to be covered with green plants or solar energy. According to Adivet's data, this solution is aimed at developers and building owners, combining green roofs with photovoltaic panels to increase the efficiency of the panels by 12%. Vegetaek stated that the only limitation is the roof's ability to withstand the weight of the device.

• January 23, 2024

A new 875 MW solar project in California is equipped with nearly 2 million solar panels that can provide more than 3 GWh of energy storage. This is the largest solar + storage project in the United States. The project is a true renewable energy giant that spans 4,600 acres and consists of 1.9 million American-made First Solar panels. It has 875 MWdc solar power capacity and nearly 3.3 GWh of energy storage capacity. It has 1.3GW interconnection capacity. The California grid expects to receive enough electricity from the project to power about 238,000 homes. It is estimated that 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions can be saved each year. The energy storage is composed of LG Chem, Samsung and BYD batteries. This engineering feat required 98 miles of medium-voltage wire, more than 361 miles of DC wire, and 120,720 batteries.

• January 18, 2024

The Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) has built a 480MW solar power plant in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile - the region with the highest levels of solar radiation in the world. According to the head of human resources and industrial relations of the Chile Renewable Energy Company of PowerChina, the new facility is the largest solar farm in Chile. The new power station covers 435 hectares and is built with 882,720 solar panels supplied by an undisclosed manufacturer. The project is connected to the national power system through a 9.6km transmission line at the Miraje substation. In June 2022, Generadora Metropolitana, a joint venture formed by Chile's electricity company AME and France's Electricity Group (EDF), began construction of the photovoltaic plant. At the end of 2021, they revealed that they had secured $980 million in financing, part of which would be invested in building solar power stations.

• January 15, 2024

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says about 45 gigawatts of solar projects larger than 1 megawatt (AC) will be installed in 2024, while Wood Mackenzie estimates 8 GW of small solar projects. The agency said it expects that to increase to about 53 GW by 2025. EIA also said it expects utility-scale solar to account for 6 percent of total electricity generation in 2024 and 7 percent in 2025. This is in the context of a projected increase of 3% in total electricity generation in 2024 and maintained in 2025. It will remain unchanged in 2025. Small-scale solar power is expected to account for 2% of total power generation by 2024, increasing to 2.3% by 2025. This means that solar power will account for 8% of total electricity consumption in 2024 and 9.3% in 2025. By 2025, solar power will reach about 65 GW, and by 2026, solar power will account for nearly 11 percent of all electricity generation.