China Commissions World’s Largest Solar Plant

China has announced that the largest floating photovoltaic (PV) facility on earth has finally been completed and connected to the local power grid.

Long reviled for its carbon emission record, this is the Chinese government’s latest achievement in its ongoing effort to lead the world in the diection of renewable energy adoption.

Located in the city of Huainan in the Anhui province, the 40-megawatt facility was created by PV inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply Co, Digitrend.com reports.

Ironically, the floating grid itself was constructed over a flooded former coal-mining region.

This is just the first of many solar energy operations popping up around China. In 2016, the country unveiled a similar 20MW floating facility in the same area.

China is also home to the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, a massive 10-square-mile, land-based facility touted as the largest solar power plant on earth.

This transition to solar is in large part due to the rapidly plummeting cost of the technology itself. By 2020, China could

By 2020, China could reduce prices offered to PV developers by more than a third with solar power plants projected to rival coal facilities within a decade.

The nation has also announced plans to increase its use of non-fissile fuel energy sources by 20 percent.

An annual report released by NASA and NOAA determined that 2016 was the warmest year on record globally, marking the third year in a row in which a new record was set for global average surface temperatures.

That said, if we as a species hope to reverse this dire trend, initiatives like this and others will need to be adopted around the globe.

Germany Breaks A Solar Record — Gets 85% Of Electricity From Renewables

On April 30, Germany established a new national record for renewable energy use. Part of that day (during the long May 1 weekend), 85% of all the electricity consumed in Germany was being produced from renewables such as wind, solar, biomass, and hydroelectric power. Patrick Graichen of Agora Energiewende Initiative says a combination of breezy and sunny weather in the north and warm weather in the south saw Germany’s May 1 holiday weekend powered almost exclusively by renewable resources.

“Most of Germany’s coal-fired power stations were not even operating on Sunday, April 30th, with renewable sources accounting for 85 per cent of electricity across the country,” he said. “Nuclear power sources, which are planned to be completely phased out by 2022, were also severely reduced.”

Graichen says days like April 30 will become “completely normal” by 2030, as the federal government’s Energiewende, or energy revolution, begins to really reap the benefits of the investments made in renewable energy resources since 2010. German energy policies have been the subject of frequent attacks in the media, mostly from fossil fuel interests who would be only too happy to see it fail. However, chancellor Angela Merkel is a staunch supporter of the initiative and the German public is firmly behind it as well.

Just a few weeks ago, an energy auction for the rights to produce electricity from wind turbines off the coast of Germany startled most observers when it resulted in record low prices despite the fact that no energy subsidies were involved in the tender. Critics of renewables like to harp on the fact that many renewable energy projects are partially funded by government incentives, conveniently forgetting that those same governments have been giving away taxpayer money to fossil fuel companies for a century. This most recent auction gives the lie to assertions that renewables cannot survive without government assistance.

As it turns out, wind and solar energy are often cheaper than fossil fuels and nuclear energy these days, even ignoring the many negative effects fossil fuels create for society.

50mw of solar may be part of Nigeria’s grid in 6 months – Afrinergia MD

Mr. Bestman Uwadia, the Managing Director of Afrinergia, one of the 14 large scale solar power firms that are to generate up to 1125 megawatts (MW) of solar power for Nigeria’s national grid, has stated that finally signing a put and call option agreement (PCOA) with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) would now give his company the confidence to conclude and commission the solar plant located in Onyi, Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa, ThisDay reports.

Uwadia noted that the company could transmit the first ever solar power from its 50MW solar farm into Nigeria’s national grid in the next six months. He stated: “Our project was nominated to the AfDB PRG, we are with the AfDB. We have been on site in the last two and parts of the reasons why we do not have power today is because the documentation processes were not concluded.”

“The PPA was signed last year, the PCOA was supposed to be signed a month after the PPA was signed, and now it has taken over eight months because some of the delays are from documentations. In terms of our calender in power generation, as a company, we are still within our projections and soon in the next six months hopefully, you will begin to see power in the grid,” he added.

Kwara signs PPP contract with firm for solar farm tunnels

The governor of Nigeria’s Kwara state, Abdelfatah Ahmed, signed a public private partnership (PPP) contract with Riccofortezza Steven Energy Ltd for a first of its kind Solar Farm Tunnel to be built in Nigeria, Alternative Energy Africa reports.

The project is for four 120KW Solar Farm Tunnels to power a network of roads with 2,000 street lights on a 10 year build, operate, and transfer basis.

The project not only brings light to Kwara, but it enhances security in the state, brings jobs, and boosts business for the state. For Governor Ahmed this is the beginning of a Green State project.

Power Africa adds 30,000 new solar connections in Nigeria – US Envoy

The U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, said in a statement in Abuja on Monday, that the U.S energy project known as “Power Africa’’ has added 30,000 new solar connections in Nigeria, Premium Times reports.

The U.S., through its Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), had in 2016 signed an agreement with Lumos, an off-grid electricity provider to enhance provision of solar electricity to homes and small businesses throughout Nigeria. Lumos was also a recipient of funding through OPIC and the Africa Clean Energy Finance initiative, a partner with the U.S. State Department.

The envoy, accompanied by the Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission, Michael Harvey, had during a visit to customers of Lumos in Abuja said, “the visit is a fact-finding assessment as USAID works with partners to grow the programme. With market intelligence provided by USAID and financing provided by OPIC, Lumos has added 30,000 new solar connections in Nigeria since the beginning of the partnership.”

NDPHC, Azuri Tech launch solar power project for rural areas

Azuri is delighted to announce a partnership with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to launch its PayGo Solar Home Systems in Nigeria, to deliver affordable, clean energy to 20,000 rural households living without electricity.

The Nigerian Government’s ambitious Renewable Energy Policy aims to increase energy production from renewable energy sources from 13% of total electricity generation in 2015, to 23% in 2025 and 36% in 2030. This includes the goal to increase the percentage contribution of solar energy in the total energy mix.

Despite success stories in East Africa, renewable energy has yet to be widely adopted in Nigeria as an alternative power solution. Off-grid communities in Nigeria have relied on kerosene lanterns or candles for their energy needs, with many unable to purchase solar power systems outright owing to the high costs. Solar Home Systems offer an affordable and environmentally friendly option.

Azuri’s PayGo Solar Home systems have the capacity to power four LED bulbs providing up to 8 hours of lighting, a radio and a USB port with charging cables for mobile phones. Customers pay the monthly top-up rate via mobile money for 36 months after which time the unit can be unlocked and the customer owns the unit. It is pertinent to mention that such customers will be provided with options to upgrade to a larger system in what Azuri describes as its energy escalator pathway.

NDPHC is a government-funded initiative formed to add new capacity to Nigeria’s electricity supply system. Azuri’s partnership with NDPHC highlights the Government’s efforts to support roll out of off-grid solar systems and its commitment to renewable technologies as a sustainable way to generate electricity for rural communities.

The deployment of 20,000 Azuri solar home systems is expected to create 500 direct jobs, including solar installer and agents (for a minimum of 24 months) and 5,000 indirect jobs. Small businesses will be able to stay open for longer hours after sunset, students can continue their studies in the evening and off grid families can charge phones or listen to radios in their own home.

Azuri has carried out successful pilots within several communities in Abuja, Kwara and Osun states, installing nearly 200 solar home systems. The positive feedback from customers who have been making monthly payments is an encouraging indication that Nigerians are willing to pay for a reliable, affordable and easy-to-use source of energy.

Following this launch, NDPHC through the project plans to start a phased rollout in northern Nigeria, followed by a nationwide deployment, targeting the 70m Nigerians living in off-grid communities with clean, sustainable and reliable solar home solutions.

Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said: “Nigeria is committed to improve accessibility to power, especially solar power for the people.”

“Let me state at this point that NDPHC is actively involved in the presidential initiative on rural solar home lighting systems where 20,000 units of solar home systems in under-served rural areas with no access to grid electricity supply is being implemented,” Managing Director of NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo said.

“Nigeria’s commitment to increasing its renewable energy mix marks an opportunity for a reliable solar alternative to address the challenges of energy access,” Azuri CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth said. “Azuri is delighted to be working with NDPHC and the Government of Nigeria for solar home systems to meet the immediate power requirements of rural communities.”

France officially opened the first solar power road in the world

The 1km road, made from electricity-generating panels runs through the village of Tourouvre-au-Perche, in Normandy. Developed by Colas over a five-year period, the road, called a ‘wattway’, will power all of the streetlights in the village, and expects to see 2,000 motorists per day. 

One of the issues with solar power is its expense. Marc Jedliczka, vice-president of Network for Energetic Transition, told Le Monde: "It’s without doubt a technical advance, but in order to develop renewables there are other priorities than a gadget of which we are certain that it’s very expensive than the fact it works".

Investing in solar panels depends on the amount of sunshine a country receives, meaning that building them in Spain, for example, might be more cost-effective than in the UK. 

According to Bloomberg, each square metre of the solar road costs €2,500 (£2,168) coming to a grand total of €5 million (£4.3 million) for its entirety. 

There are plans to build more wattways in Calgary, Canada and Georgia, USA.

If the panes prove successful, there are plans to roll them out globally.