IHS Markit raises 2017 global installations forecast
Industry analyst IHS Markit has raised its forecast for global installations in 2017 to 90 GW, representing 14% growth on the previous year’s figures. Continuing demand in China after the June 30th FIT cut is cited as the main driver for the increased expectation.
Tallahassee to move from hydro to solar
The decision to shutter the 11-MW C.H. Corn Hydroelectric Station by the city’s municipal utility comes down to cost and reliability – something the city believes it can get more effectively from solar than water.
North Carolina bill would revise PURPA procurement rules if signed by governor
House Bill 589, which overhauls the regulations surrounding utility procurement from independent power producers, passed in the wee hours this morning and heads to Gov. Roy Cooper for his signature.
Elettronica Santerno secures 27 MW inverter order in Nevada
The Italian inverter maker will supply its devices for a large-scale PV project under development in Nevada.
Parcel delivery giant UPS announces 25% clean energy target by 2025
Global firm commits to cut emissions from ground fleet by 12% by same date, and targets one in four of all vehicle purchases to be electric or hybrid by 2020.
Trump now says SOLAR will pay for the Mexican wall
First it was Mexico. Then it was the U.S. taxpayer (reimbursed by Mexico). Now President Trump says he’s going to cover the wall in solar panels – generating energy and paying for itself.
Texas researchers develop new method for solar desalination
A team of researchers from Rice University in Houston, Texas has developed a new method for using solar power to desalinate sea water. Part of a federally funded research effort into water treatment , the team has developed a system utilizing a combination of membrane distillation and nanophotonics to turn salt water into fresh drinking water.
New alloy could pave the way for new CPV designs
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new semiconductor alloy that can capture near-infrared light in the leading edge of the visible light spectrum. This could be a major step forward in the development of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) technology.
BNEF: Coal to fade as cost of renewables falls even faster
The latest long-term forecast from analysts Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) predicts solar energy costs to drop a further 66% by 2040, and onshore wind by 47%. Given these predictions, BNEF expect that renewables will undercut the majority of fossil based generation by 2030, even in India and China.
Deloitte says millennials are driving solar expansion
According to Deloitte’s annual “Resources 2017 Study – Energy Management: Sustainability & Progress,” grid parity, driven by technological advances and plunging prices, has allowed consumers and businesses to choose clean energy over more traditional fossil-fuel options, with increasing solar use being most consumers’ top priority.
