According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) US residential solar installations are expected to increase by 21% in 2016, yet growth in 2017 is expected to be a tepid 0.3%.
The US Energy Department is planning to provide solar technology funding to the tune of US$107 million via the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE) SunShot Initiative.
GE Power Conversion is introducing Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology into its next-generation 1500V PV inverter product line, bringing increased power conversion efficiency to the PV industry. The LV5+ Solar Inverter is the first multi-MW, utility scale inverter based completely on SiC technology and has an efficiency rating of 99% weighted EU and is being showcased at Solar Power International 2016.
Independent power producer Etrion Corporation said it was evaluating the possible sale of its 60MW PV power plant portfolio in Italy to raise funds to expand project development in Japan.
Summer wildfires across the West Coast of the US have significantly impacted the output of solar PV projects in the region with smoke cover reducing irradiance levels, according to environmental and industrial measurement firm Vaisala.
Renewable energy firm BayWa r.e has partnered with US PV project developer, Geenex Solar to build 350MW of PV power plant projects across North Carolina and Virginia. BayWa r.e. will provide turn-key engineering, procurement, construction, financing and O&M services.
Renewables firm SunEdison currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings said in a SEC filing that it had received around 100 bids for parts and all assets of the company, yet the ‘sum of the parts’ equated to approximately US$1.25 billion to US$1.7 billion of potential total gross proceeds, far below incurred debts estimated at almost US$12 billion, excluding its two yieldco’s.
Sungrow Power Supply Co officially released the world’s first 1500V string inverter. The SG80HV has a power output of 80KW rated at 1500VDC. With a 2.5MW PV power block design and the ability to lift the maximum efficiency to 99%.
SunLink Corporation has expanded its portfolio of photovoltaic project solutions with the launch of the ‘TechTrack Distributed’ single axis tracker. TechTrack Distributed introduces ‘dynamic design,’ providing site flexibility and reductions in total project costs. TechTrack Distributed is the second single-axis tracker in the company’s TechTrack product line, joining the internationally deployed TechTrack Centralized. The new system is being showcased at Solar Power International 2016.
