Norway

DNV is spearheading two joint industry projects that aim to develop reference standards for the design, development, and operation of floating PV systems. Such standards are still largely lacking, potentially leading to delays and obstacles in permitting and authorization.

Indra Overland, the head of the Center for Energy Research at the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs, tells pv magazine how the Ukraine war is irreversibly changing the global energy landscape, making massive renewables deployment a certainty. But labor issues, equipment shortages, and reliance on Chinese manufacturing remain obstacles.

REC Silicon ASA got a boost by Hanwha Solutions’ investment and is now looking to restart Moses Lake facility, along with eyeing opportunities in battery materials.

At least a dozen energy transition startups are getting their start during the pandemic holiday season.

Yotta Energy just won seed funding to install batteries under solar modules — in an architecture analogous to microinverters and optimizers.

The Norwegian hydropower business wants to pay $152 milllion for the London-based clean energy developer which claims to have brought to life 1.2 GWp of project capacity in seven countries since 2013.

Also in the brief: Scatec Solar to buy state-owned hydropower firm SN Power in a $1.17 billion deal, Panasonic Solar and Service Finance Company rolled out a new home energy storage financing program.

The EU-funded Nextbase project aims to manufacture heterojunction, interdigitated back-contact solar modules for less than €0.275/W. Solar panels featuring the Nextbase cell tech are expected to have a conversion efficiency of 23.2%, according to the European Commission.

Also in the brief: largest operational battery in the U.S., more futile carbon capture and more landfill solar

The testing lab is on its own again after a management buyout, and Jenya Meydbray is returning as CEO. PVEL will still collaborate with DNV GL on its annual module scorecard.