Massive HECO solicitation will bring 900 MW of renewables to Hawaii
In an effort to replace two aging power plants, Hawaiian Electric Industries has launched a roughly 900 MW procurement, the largest in the utility’s history, across the islands of Oahu, Maui and Hawaii.
Every panel for itself! How to make a solar farm yield 20-25% more power
CQSola, the startup company of Australian energy innovators Ian and Tony Schirmer, will soon begin manufacturing a DC optimiser that promises to solve many of the inherent problems of solar farming, increase energy output, and drive greater insights into large-scale solar energy production.
John Laing puts new investment in Australian renewables projects on hold
John Laing Group has reported losses in Australia of some $121 million — said to be due to transmission factors on three of its renewable-energy projects — leading the company to write down the value of those projects and suspend new investment in Australian renewable generation.
AEMO’s 2019 ESOO Report forecasts a summer punctuated by ‘tail risk’ outages
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has today released its 2019 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO), a forecast of the supply and demand conditions across the National Electricity Market (NEM) as the country moves toward the 2019-20 summer. AEMO warned that a dearth of short and longer-term investment in dispatchable resources and transmission will ensure real-world impacts this summer.
The Chinese solar market is changing shape
Two reports have described how the world’s largest renewable energy market is moving towards maturity. According to the Brookings Institution, the Chinese clean energy market could become more open to Western investors and tech. A report by Fitch claims projects are moving back to inland provinces from coastal regions.
Shell’s ERM Power takeover bid could shift Australia’s energy landscape
Energy giant Shell has launched a takeover bid of Australian gas-only electricity retailer ERM Power as part of its strategy to transition to electricity and its ambition to become the biggest generator in the world. Wood Mackenzie analysis suggests Shell is expanding into other global power markets.
Canadian Solar continues to expand operations and maintenance fleet
The Chinese-Canadian solar giant’s Operations & Maintenance (O&M) portfolio in Australia is now over 875 MWp after the company announced it had sealed deals with three solar PV plants coming in at a combined capacity of 300 MWp.
200 MW Avonlie Solar Farm receives NSW development approval
British developer RES Group receive development approval for 200 MW Avonlie Solar Farm in NSW’s Riverina. The project could have the ability to generate close to 80,000 homes with solar energy.
University of Adelaide breaks ground on Roseworthy Campus solar farm
The University of Adelaide has begun construction on its new 1.2 MW solar farm which will be used to supply the Roseworthy Campus with clean energy and provide a practical source of study in the fields of solar PV, energy storage and solar site management.
Take a break on the solar bench – but not for too long
Engie has raised eyebrows with the installation of several solar benches in Biarritz, southwestern France, as a local official has asked citizens to avoid sitting on them for long periods of time in order to keep their energy yield up. But the authorities over in Cannes are clearly impressed, as the municipal government in the French Riviera resort town has also revealed plans to buy more of the PV benches, which are designed by Croatian startup Include.
