Istanbul’s energy paradox: shortages but no embrace of PV
Turkey’s largest city, with a population about 14 million people, could face an acute electricity shortage, confirms the Turkish energy minister. However, paradoxically, Turkey’s energy ministry has not made plans for a solar rollout. Instead, it continues to rely on coal.
Intersolar North America: SmartFlower unfurls its dual-axis tracker
The Austrian firm launches its 4kWh-equivalent standalone solar system at the exhibition.
UK awards £40 million in funding to boost EVs
The U.K. government has awarded £40 million to four British cities to support the spread of electrical and low-emission vehicles. Supported projects include car-charging street lighting and zones offering free parking and traffic priority to plug-in and low-emission cars. The initiative is seen as another step towards the smart energy revolution.
Jordan’s rooftop PV sector thriving
Jordan leads Arab world in utility-scale solar PV installations with many large solar farms expected to go online in 2015. Residential and commercial rooftop sectors are also kick-starting the thriving solar sector.
Italian net metering expanded up to 500 kW
Italy has raised the upper limit for net metering in the country from 200 kW to 500 kW per installation. The measure is set to boost the commercial rooftop PV sector.
World’s largest solar boat charts course for ancient Greece
Solar boat MS Turanor PlanetSolar has become a research vessel for archaeological expeditions in Greece. The catamaran completed a round-the-world trip in 2012 powered only by sun.
Israel’s Parliament installs rooftop PV, applies net-metering innovation
The Parliament building has announced a tender for a 400 kW rooftop installation that will make it the greenest government HQ in the world.
Portugal adds only 1.1 MW of solar in four months
Portugal added only 1.1 MW of solar PV in the first four months of 2013. The Mediterranean country is on track for EU renewables targets, but thanks to wind and hydro.
Portugal: Renewables supply 70% of power in Q1
Seventy percent of Portugal’s power generation came from renewable energies, mainly hydroelectric power and wind energy, in Q1 2013, according to the country’s grid operator, Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN). Despite this record, photovoltaic energy still fails to have significant presence in the energy mix.
Greece reveals 724.162 MW of licensed “Fast Track” PV projects
Notis Mitarakis, the Greek Deputy Minister of Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks has revealed a list of five photovoltaic projects that have been granted “fast track” status by the state. Once completed, these projects will have a total capacity of 724.162 MW.
