Just after analysts had said India’s solar quality control standards lacked clarity and investment in testing labs, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has brought forward the enforcement date in an attempt to ensure that quality control benefits the industry as soon as possible.
Indian power minster R.K. Singh has urged the Indian solar industry to look abroad and set up projects in member countries of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Indian power minister R.K. Singh has chaired a meeting with battery-based energy storage manufacturers calling on them to set up manufacturing units in India.
State-run utility Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii, to measure and study the ability of Thailand's grid to integrate renewable energy.
The Authority for Electricity Regulation Oman (AER) has initiated its plan to install rooftop PV on more than 30% of Omani rooftops by contracting UK-based firm PassivSystems to consult on the first phase.
As previously reported there was a significant slowdown in global solar PV manufacturing capacity expansion announcements in the third quarter of 2017, which we highlighted was hardly surprising due to significant level of expansions plans announced in the first half of the year. However, despite increased concerns over the potential imposition of restrictive trade practices in the US and India in the fourth quarter of 2017, there was a significant rebound over the previous quarter, leading to the highest recorded gigawatts of new expansion announcements.
Speakers at Energy Storage Europe were confident, despite a few reservations, that Germany’s new government which grants Chancellor Angela Merkel a fourth term in office will be good for the environment and for renewable energy.
