Solar

Vivint Solar And Renovate America Combine To Boost Rooftop Solar Access

Americas, Energy, Head Lines, Policy, Solar

Vivint Solar and Renovate America, the leading provider of residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, are collaborating to expand access to rooftop solar for homeowners. By offering Renovate America’s HERO program as its PACE financing option, Vivint is enabling more homeowners to install solar systems. They can use HERO financing for Solar systems and pay for them over time through their local property taxes. Payments are made at a fixed interest rate for terms of 5 to 20 years, and the interest on the payments may be tax deductible.

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Swedish Nano Film Technology Improves Efficiency Of Solar Cells

Europe/Middle East/Africa, Solar, Technology

Sol Voltaics, the Swedish development company, has developed a nano film, which can increase the efficiency of solar cells. According to research, a solar cell coated with the nano film has proven to increase its production by 50 percent or more. Lars Samuelsson, Professor of Solid State Physics at Lund University, who led the research behind the company, said: “This is fantastic progress. Standard solar cells with an efficiency of 16-17 percent can be boosted up to 27 percent. Yet the cost of the finished solar cells is no more than 10-15 percent.”

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Efficiency Breakthrough In Conversion Of Solar Heat Into Usable Light

Americas, Efficiency, Head Lines, Solar

Since 1961, the Shockley-Queisser Limit has represented an absolute theoretical limit in identifying the efficiency of traditional solar cells in the conversion of energy. A single-layer cell made of silicon, used in the vast majority of today’s solar panels, has an upper limit of about 32 percent. Studies under way to identify whether multiple layers of cells lead to increased overall efficiency by a method known as solar thermophotovoltaics (STPV). In principle, this method of pairing conventional solar cells with added layers of high-tech materials would lead to doubling the theoretical limit of efficiency and double the power from panels.

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Colbún, Total And SunPower Agreement Highlights Clean Energy Growth In Chile

Americas, Carbon, Energy, Head Lines, Solar

Colbún S.A. recently announced the award of 15-year power purchase agreement to Total and SunPower for 500-gigawatt hours (GWh) of photovoltaic solar energy per year and the construction of a 164MW solar power plant. The award was selected from 13 competitive tender bids and submission of more than 20 power purchase agreement alternatives. Colbún is the second largest energy generation company in Chile and owns 23 power stations in its Central Interconnected System (SIC) and one in Peru (SEIN, through which it delivers 3,852MW of the installed capacity.

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Solar Plant Becomes Better Priced Option Than Coal-Fired Plant In Dubai

Carbon, Europe/Middle East/Africa, Region, Solar

At a time of plummeting costs of solar, renewable energy will account for 40% of global electricity output capacity by 2030. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), it will almost double today’s capacity. Profitability of the cheaper projects has come under increased scrutiny during this time of plunging costs, along with the bankruptcy of the largest global clean energy developer, SunEdison. Nevertheless, Renewable Energy projects, with Solar, in particular, are surging and their growth continues to be attractive for investors.

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Africa Sets 300GW by 2030 Clean Energy Target

Biomass, Energy, Europe/Middle East/Africa, Geothermal, Hydro, Policy, Solar, Wind

Africa has launched the African Renewable Energy Initiative which aims to produce 300 gigawatts of clean energy for the continent by 2030.

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Dramatic Entry In Solar Sector From Hong Kong-Listed CLP; Invests $1Bn In India

Asia Pacific, Deals & Finance, Head Lines, Region, Solar

One of India’s largest foreign investors in its power sector, CLP India Pvt. Ltd is to enter the solar energy sector to grow its renewables share. The company is planning a $1Bn investment for 1GW of solar power capacity during the next 3-5 years. India has a 2022 target of 100GW of solar power and 60GW of wind power, thus the country needs as much as US $200Bn. As a result, global investors, clean energy companies, and pension funds are flocking to India.

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Chile Emerges As The Clean Energy ‘Tiger’ Of Latin America

Americas, Biomass, Deals & Finance, Solar

Chile now plays host to the largest PV plants in Latin America. According to a CIFES report, the first quarter of the year saw an increase of around 254MW in solar, in addition to 6MW wind and small hydro and biomass projects. With this, the country continues to hold its position as the largest solar market in Latin America. While 10% of Chile’s power demand is now successfully met through renewable energy, their current volume is set to double under mandates set by new legislation, setting a new objective of 20% renewable energy in 2025, as well as further targets during the preceding years.

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Stunning Growth of Clean Energy In Mexico

Americas, Biomass, Deals & Finance, Solar, Wind

The recent state power auction in Mexico awarded 5.38 million megawatt-hours of energy to renewable energies; solar won 74 percent and wind won the remaining 26 percent. Solar in Mexico will now grow by an astonishing 521 percent in 2016, far exceeding projections made only months earlier. With the concentration of project developers in the country now matching the strategic objectives of its government, Mexico has the resources to become a strong and internationally significant clean energy hub.

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Indian Railways Commences Trial For Its First Solar Panel-Powered Train

Asia Pacific, Carbon, Head Lines, Region, Solar

India has moved one step closer to the goal of using purely solar-powered trains in the near future. The Indian train system is the fourth largest in the world and Indians are heavily dependent on the railways. Due to the large population, more and more trains are being utilised to keep up with the ever-increasing demand, which means more electricity. Studies show that trains using solar power can reduce diesel consumption; bring down CO2 emissions and additionally, solar and further alternative sources of energy can save on expenditure significantly .

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