Store Norske Energi's PV system in the world's northernmost location; Alpiq Energie France's solar power deal for Saint-Gobain; Soltec & TotalEnergies' solar plant cleared in Spain; Storage for SUSI's Italian solar platform; Trina Bags German Design Award.
Off-grid facility in Svalbard: Norwegian government owned energy company Store Norske Energi is operating what it calls is the northernmost solar park in the world at 78° north in Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago. The region is known to experience midnight sun for 4 months straight. Store Norske has built the solar power plant as a ground-mounted system and a rooftop system for and on Isfjord Radio. Dependent on diesel power generation solely so far, the project is now equipped with solar power, battery bank and thermal storage as well. The company expects solar panels to help the station bring down the use of fossil fuels by 70%. Store Norske says the project installation was challenging with harsh weather conditions and the need to cause least possible disruption to wildlife and tourism. The solar project was energized in September 2023. Its success will inspire more such hybrid solar projects for off-grid locations, it added.
Saint-Gobain's French solar PPA: Solar glass and construction materials company Saint-Gobain has signed a 14-year renewable energy supply agreement in France for over 500 GWh solar power. The contract with Alpiq Energie France will enable 11 Saint-Gobain plants to be powered by 100% solar electricity. Saint-Gobain said this is its 3rd power purchase agreement (PPA) in France.
200 MW cleared in Spain: TotalEnergies and Soltec developed 200 MW solar park in Spain has secured the administrative construction authorization in the Murcia region. Equipped with 337,174 bifacial solar PV modules and 5,341 SF7 Soltec trackers, the Luminora Solar Dos PV Project is now scheduled to enter construction in 2024. The €100 million project will remain in operation for 30 years.
Solar platform to also explore storage: Switzerland-based private fund manager SUSI Partners has expanded the use of its Italian solar PV platform ReFeel New Energy (RNE) to build utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). Set up in early 2022 within SUSI's Energy Transition Fund (SETF), RNE has over 750 MW of BESS capacity under development at present, out of which 200 MW is awaiting final authorization to enter construction. As for solar, the company says it has more than 375 MW under development.
German award for Trina: Trina Solar of China has announced winning the 2024 German Design Award for its Vertex S n-type dual-glass rooftop solar module series in the award's Excellent Product Design Category. Trina said the award is a recognition of the entire concept of its Black Aesthetics range which Vertex S+ is a part of. This module is based on the 210 mm rectangular silicon wafer or 210R with n-type i-TOPCon advanced technology.