/11^th July 2017, Sandra Henderson/, On their quest to better understand and thus be able to optimize perovskite solar cells, researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany have discovered in the perovskite layers strips of nanostructures with alternating directions of polarization that could serve as transport paths for charge carriers. “Perovskite solar cells are widely considered the shooting stars of modern photovoltaics,” says Dr Alexander Colsmann, head of KIT’s Organic Photovoltaics Group, adding that their underlying working principles are not yet well understood, however. Thus, the KIT team set out to investigate the material properties and working principles of organometal halide — or more specifically, methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) — perovskite thin-films.

/24^th July 2017, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM/, Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources of Armenia announced last week that 10 companies have been pre-qualified for a tender about 55 MW solar PV power plant located in the Masrik region of Gegharkunik province. The project cost is estimated to be between $40 to $60 million. The tender is being conducted by the Armenia Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund. Private developers or consortia can bid to design, finance, build, own and operate the 55 MW Masrik-1 Solar PV Power Plant. A special-purpose company to be owned 100% by the successful bidder will have to be incorporated in Armenia.

/21^st June 2016, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM/ Solar PV power is one of the fastest-growing sources of energy in the world, as demand grows for energy security and independence, driving governments to develop reliable renewable power sources. Green laws have been implemented across Asia between 2008 and 2015 and can dramatically change the power and energy market sizes in this region according to Asia Photovoltaic Market: Outlook 2016÷2025 released by the RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM, a global provider of cleantech research and analyses about emerging markets. Economic growth in Asia maintains a steady pace. Gross domestic product (GDP) in the region is forecast to expand by 5.3 % in 2016. Several Asian countries experience energy shortages and alternative energy sources are increasingly important to fulfil local energy demands. 

/8^th March 2017, IEA, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM/, China has experienced a marked increase in electricity demand over the past decade, requiring rapid and large investments in the power sector. This has provided an opportunity for streamlining system integration with the expansion of overall electricity infrastructure. However, this opportunity has not been fully realised and investments have predominantly been in coal-fired capacity. The dominance of coal in the power sector has translated into growing concerns over local air pollution and CO2 emissions. To address these issues, China is ramping up the deployment of renewable energy resources and putting in place measures to effectively limit increases in coal-fired capacity.

/18^th April 2017, FS UNEP, BNEF) According to a recent report of FS UNEP and BNEF In 2016, the advance of renewable energy slowed in one respect and speeded up in another. Investment in renewables excluding large hydro fell by 23% to $241.6 billion, but the amount of new capacity installed increased from 127.5GW in 2015 to a record 138.5GW in 2016. Together, the new renewable sources of wind, solar, biomass and waste, geothermal, small hydro and marine accounted for 55.3% of all the gigawatts of new power generation added worldwide last year. More solar gigawatts were added (75GW) than of any other technology for the first time. A major reason why installations increased even though dollars invested fell was a sharp reduction in capital costs for solar photovoltaics, onshore and offshore wind. On a less positive note, there were clear signs as 2016 went on of slowing activity in two key markets, China and Japan.

/29^th June 2017, IEA, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM,IRENA/, The share of renewables in overall power generation is rapidly increasing, both in developed and developing countries. Furthermore, many countries have ambitious targets to transform their power sector towards renewables. To achieve these objectives, the structure and operation of existing power grid infrastructures will need to be revisited as the share of renewable power generation increases. Renewable energy technologies can be divided into two categories: dispatchable (i.e.biomass, concentrated solar power with storage, geothermal power and hydro) and non-dispatchable, also known as Variable Renewable Energy or VRE (i.e.ocean power, solar photovoltaics and wind).

/14^th September 2016, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM/ The main priority of energy policy and strategy of Belarus according to Belarus Photovoltaic Market: Outlook 2016 ÷ 2025 released by the RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM, is to reduce dependence on energy imports and to improve the financial stability of the sector. For this reason, renewable energy and energy efficiency have been selected as priority sectors to implement the well balanced sustainable energy policy of the country. On 1^st March 2016, the government approved the “Comprehensive Development Plan for the Electricity Sector to 2025 and Beyond”, allowing the necessary changes in the regulatory and technical framework. The plan also includes allowances for network rehabilitation and development, as well as tariff subsidy phase-out. On 6^th April 2016, a new “Energy Efficiency and Energy Savings Plan for 2016-2020” came into force.

/25^th August 2016, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM/ Belarusian mobile operator Velcom informed about the opening of the largest solar PV power plant in the country till the moment. It is located Bragin in the southern part of Belarus. This solar PV power plant has 22 MWp capacity and covers an area of more than 41 ha and with 85,000 solar PV modules delivered by Chinese solar manufacturer Risen Energy Co Ltd. This solar project represents an excellent example of how the land contaminated by the Chernobyl accident can be used to generate clean power. Approximately €24 million ($ 26.4 million) have been invested in the project. The main priority of energy policy and strategy in Belarus according to CIS Countries Photovoltaic Market: Outlook 2016÷2025 released by the RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM, is to provide a reliable and sustainable energy supply for the national economy while reducing dependence on energy imports and improving the financial stability of the sector. Both renewable energy and energy efficiency have been identified as priorities to achieving these aims; however, most of the energy sector change will be due to a new planned nuclear power station, expected to become partially operational by 2020.

/13^th March 2017, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM, Ingeteam) One of the largest PV plants in Australia has been now inaugurated, namely the Moree Solar Farm, with a rated power of 56 MWac (70 MWp). This project has been the first utility-scale solar plant in the country to be equipped with a system that allows the PV panels to follow the path of the sun, from east to west. Moree Solar Farm uses a single-axis horizontal tracker that maximises the power output, making it possible to supply approximately 145 GWh of energy annually to around 24,000 Australian households. The plant’s output is connected to Essential Energy’s distribution network, allowing the solar farm to supply electricity into the grid and trade in the National Market. Although the power plant has been up and running for nearly one year, it had not celebrated its opening ceremony until now. The inauguration took place on Friday, 3rd March 2017 and brought together the main representatives of the companies and institutions involved in the project. Ben Franklin, Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy, and Amy Kean, Renewable Energy Advocate, attended as the main representatives of New South Wales’ government.

/26^th October 2017, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM/ The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) at the beginning of May 2017 has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Albania to help the country promote investment in solar PV power. Signed with the country’s Ministry of Energy and Industry, the MoU will enable the development of solar power projects through an auction system. The idea is to mobilize investment in Albania’s solar power so that the European country can reduce its dependence on energy imports and hydropower. This MoU aims to arrange and support the development of solar PV projects in Albania with a total capacity of between 50 MW and 100 MW through an auction-based system to apply the best international practices. The Albanian energy regulator (ERE) in August 2017 has set a regulated tariff €100 ($118.5)/MWh for PV projects with a capacity of up to 2 MW revealed Western Balkans Photovoltaic Market: Outlook 2016÷2025.