Solar ... In the news

Coastalwatch

Great to see Agrivoltaics featuring so prominently in the tendering process in France. Admittedly for the sunnier south, but presumably there could also be benefits should the practise be exercised over here!

Agrivoltaics prevail in France’s tender for innovative PV technologies

The results of France's third tender for solar projects featuring innovative technology were published yesterday by the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE).

The regulator allocated 146.2 MW of PV capacity across 47 projects in the procurement exercise. The final average price was €0.0815/kWh.

“The results of this call for tenders confirm the interest of the public authorities in agrivoltaics as a flagship solution for the adaptation of agriculture to climate change, and contribute to the development of a sector of excellence in France,” said Antoine Nogier, president and founder of Sun’Agri. “But this result is also a translation of the urgency to implement now solutions that improve agriculture and make it more resilient.”

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/01/05/agrivoltaics-prevail-in-frances-tender-for-innovative-pv-technologies/

Kate2066

Hi i was just wondering if u could help I had solar panels fitted in 2014 and they have stopped working iim still paying for them is there anyway I could claim or it fixed 

Solarchaser

Kate2066 said:

Hi i was just wondering if u could help I had solar panels fitted in 2014 and they have stopped working iim still paying for them is there anyway I could claim or it fixed 

Hi Kate, you would need to contact the company that installed them.

Most likely it will be your inverter thats went faulty,  so if the installer is no longer in business I'd suggest contacting the inverter manufacturer with the inverter serial number and see if they can help

Coastalwatch

Not before time it would seem. While the returns are unlikely to match those of traditional cultivation techniques, but we shall surely need to make the best use of every available acre going forward.

Retrofitting solar parks for agrivoltaics

Enel Green Power, the renewable energy unit of multinational energy group Enel, has launched a series of agrivoltaic pilot projects at nine demonstration sites in Europe, including two in Greece, five in Spain, and two in Italy.

“Our initial approach to agrivoltaics is based on the idea of utilizing existing and operational solar parks,” Giovanni Tula, Enel Green Power's head of sustainability, told pv magazine. “We are trying to understand if different kinds of agricultural activities can be integrated in an efficient way into plants that have been active in the power generation business for several years.”

“We are planning to develop a concept that doesn't affect the existing power generation without altering the plant design and, at the same time, which enables a profitable crop business,” Tula explained. “We are not simply adding some agricultural activity on the edge of a plant to make it appear greener.”

“We will test crops that do not grow too much and we will also see how these crops can alter the albedo in bifacial plants,” Tula said. “We want to plant herbs, flowers, or plants that can act as catalysts for biodiversity, but we also want to test courgettes, broccoli, aubergines, asparagus, legumes, and even animal fodder.”

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/03/16/retrofitting-solar-parks-for-agrivoltaics/

Coastalwatch

It would seem that Covid failed to dent the rising installation figures of Solar in the states. So I wonder what 2021 might hold in store for even further growth!

Forgive the link at the bottom stating Australia, it puzzled me at first but I think they're definitle referring to the US!

U.S. solar industry comes ‘roaring back,’ breaks multiple records in 2020

The U.S. Solar Market Insight 2020 Year-in-Review report, released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, found that the industry installed a record 19.2 GW of capacity last year. That was a 43% increase from 2019 and bested the market’s previous annual record of 15.1 GW set in 2016.

California, Texas, and Florida were the top three states for annual solar capacity additions for the second straight year. In 2020, 27 states installed over 100 MW of new solar capacity, a record.

For the second year in a row, solar led all technologies in new U.S. electric-generating capacity added, accounting for 43% in 2020.

https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2021/03/19/u-s-solar-industry-comes-roaring-back-breaks-multiple-records-in-2020/?utm_source=pv+magazine+USA&utm_campaign=b948f2550c-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_80e0d17bb8-b948f2550c-159341337

Coastalwatch

Energy from waste in more ways than one!

Veolia looks to double renewable capacity as it celebrates completion of Warwickshire solar site

Resource management company Veolia is set to double its renewable electricity capacity, deploying solar panels across restored landfill sites.

This includes up to 60MWe of solar, which will work together with biomass and biogas to give the company a total of 134MWe of carbon neutral power.

Its most recent installation sits at Ling Hall in Warwickshire, and is made up of around 13,200 530W bifacial dual glass modules. These are linked to 22 string inverters, feeding into the grid through two 3MWA transformers.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/veolia_looks_to_double_renewable_capacity_as_it_celebrates_completion_of_wa

Coastalwatch

Not surprising that Solar would be the popular choice but more interesting is also the willingness of businesses to consider storage too. Looks like battery manufacturing will have to grow at quite a pace to keep up with EV and Storage needs. So for those us waiting for the right storage deal to be offered then, while manufacturing costs may still fall, will demand outstrip supply!

Solar the most popular choice for businesses looking to renewables for decarbonisation strategies

Solar is the most popular choice for businesses looking to invest in renewables as part of their decarbonisation strategies, according to a new report from npower Business Solutions (nBS).

Due to falling costs and the relative ease of installation, solar proved the most popular choice with 77% of those who have already invested and 66% of those who are planning to invest in on-site generation choosing solar. Businesses are also looking to install batteries and energy storage, nBS found, with numerous organisations looking to combine renewables like solar with storage to ensure a stable supply.

“It is clear more needs to be done to give businesses the confidence to invest, particularly after what has been a very challenging year,” finished Ainsworth. “Supporting them on their road to net zero will be crucial to the UK hitting its targets, so it is important that any forthcoming policies take this into account.”

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/solar_the_most_popular_choice_for_businesses_looking_to_renewables_for_deca

QrizB

From The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jun/28/solar-farm-proposals-for-east-of-england-more-than-double

Solar farm proposals for east of England more than double

The number of new solar farms planned for the east of England has more than doubled in recent months as farmers decide to swap crops for clean energy.

New solar farm applications for sites across Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex in the last five months have climbed to 840 megawatts, or the same as 2m household solar panels.

The solar boom is expected to yield more than double the solar energy capacity that came forward for the east of England in the same months last year, and would be enough to power the equivalent of 400,000 homes with clean energy.

Coastalwatch

I really had no idea of the scale of water treatment required at mine workings in order to arrest the pollution caused to water flows as a result of the extraction that had, or still is in some cases, taken place. Great to see the "coal board" adopting solar energy to assist with it's clean up operations and saving money also in doing so.

The second link I came across when trying to find more information on precisely what mine water schemes were all about.

Coal Authority eyes further solar sites as it hails the success of Bates installation

The Coal Authority has flagged the success of its solar power installations in helping to decarbonise its operations around the UK, as it looks to extend the rollout.

It’s Bates mine water treatment scheme near Blyth, Northumberland, for example, started operating on 1 March 2019. It is the non-departmental public body within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s seventh solar installation since rolling out the technology in 2016.

Since it started operating, the Bates installation has generated 1,370,000kWh of electricity. The cost of electricity to run the water treatment plant was in the region of £75,000 a year prior to the solar installation, and is now £21,000 said the Coal Authority, a reduction of 72%.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/coal_authority_eyes_further_solar_sites_as_it_hails_the_success_of_bates_in

https://mininginstitute.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/181122-Mining-Institute-Newcastle-Nov-2018-Watson.pdf

Coastalwatch

By coincidence we travelled into London this week and I couldn't help but witness all the wasted rooftops that really ought to have PV arrays installed upon them to assist with energy generation. Not only for the individual factories/households, but equally for the easiing of demand upon the grid and especially if battery storage of some form could accompany each.

Great to see such an initiative taking place, yet can't help but wonder if this shouldn't be happening nationwide backed up with government support/encouragement never mind an action plan for the entire country!

Mayor of London and Solar Energy UK launch project to grow capital’s solar sector

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Solar Energy UK have today launched a new solar skills project to develop the solar industry in the capital through job creation and education.

The project has five stated principles: develop a solar PV learner curriculum; establish introductory workshops for trainees; create a placement programme with London’s solar businesses; construct a solar training and careers hub; set up a grant scheme to support businesses in training activities.

“This programme will provide training and apprenticeships in solar technologies and help create more green jobs in the renewable energy sector,” said Shirley Rodrigues, deputy Mayor for environment and energy.”

Sadiq Khan is targeting 1GW of solar deployment in London by 2030. Solar Energy UK said London “has significant rooftop solar potential”, and tools such as the London Solar Opportunity Map have been set up to facilitate the deployment of PV projects in the capital.  

Rodrigues said the Mayor has “ambitious” plans for solar in London to reach his 2030 net zero target as part of his “Green New Deal mission for London’s recovery”.

“This project will help equip the next generation of skilled solar technicians and boost London’s hopes of delivering a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic,” Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett. 

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/mayor_of_london_and_solar_energy_uk_launch_project_to_grow_capitals_solar_s