As China shuttered industries during its coronavirus lockdown in January and February, every form of energy production dropped from prior-year performance but one. Solar was up 12 percent. “In terms of varieties, thermal power and hydropower declined significantly, nuclear power and wind power declined slightly,” reported China’s National Bureau of Statistics, “and solar power generation grew steadily.” […]

The first nation to implement a COVID-19 lockdown, China, has experienced an unprecedented power demand drop during the first two months of the year as a result of the stagnation of industrial and commercial activities. Amidst this demand squeeze, renewables have emerged as a winner in the increasing competition among different power generation resources. Electricity […]

Patrick Pleul | picture alliance | Getty Images Wind power may have enjoyed a strong year in 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic is casting a shadow over the sector that could impact growth in the years ahead.  More than 60 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy capacity was installed last year, a 19% increase compared to […]

Terry Eggers | The Image Bank | Getty Images Last year saw wind generation in the U.S. overtake hydroelectric generation for the first time, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Released Wednesday, the figures from the EIA’s “Electric Power Monthly” report show that yearly wind generation hit a little over 300 […]

Offshore windfarms and onshore projects in US and China fuel one of strongest years on record The world’s wind power capacity grew by almost a fifth in 2019 after a year of record growth for offshore windfarms and a boom in onshore projects in the US and China. The Global Wind Energy Council found that wind power […]

Report raises fresh doubt about viability of Australia’s thermal coal export industry Building new wind and solar plants will soon be cheaper in every major market across the globe than running existing coal-fired power stations, according to a new report that raises fresh doubt about the medium-term viability of Australia’s $26bn thermal coal export industry. […]

Energy board says renewables growth will cut electricity prices, but warns extreme weather and ageing coal plants a threat to energy security  The ‘uniquely Australian’ abundance of rooftop solar is expected to account for 10% of national power generation by 2030. Photograph: Raoul Wegat/AAP Retail electricity prices are tipped to fall by 7.1% by 2022 […]

A massive wind farm, Idaho’s largest, could break ground in the Magic Valley in 2022. The final size and cost for the Lava Ridge Wind Project isn’t yet known, but the wind farm could be up to 1,000 megawatts with a price tag in the $1 billion range. At 1,000 MW and with hundreds of […]

The newly commissioned facility in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China produced the first Hi-MO 4 module on 16 March 2020. Image: LONGi Solar ‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Solar has started volume production at its latest 5GW highly automated module assembly plant to produce its HI-MO 1 modules using large area 166mm x 166mm […]

PV inverter maker Sungrow, which also delivers complete energy storage systems, including in a JV with Samsung SDI, is working on the initial 100MW battery system deployment. Image: Andy Colthorpe / Solar Media. A 100MW UK energy storage site being developed in England by Penso Power looks set to get a 50MW expansion. The initial […]

Spanish utility Iberdrola plans to link a 100 MW/20 MWh solar-plus-storage plant to hydrogen production in Puertollano, in southern Spain. The project will require an investment of up to €150 million euros and will be one of the largest installations of its kind in Europe. A PV plant owned and operated by Iberdrola in Mexico. […]

German-Spanish OEM to supply SG4.5-145 turbines for 113MW development on Vietnam’s southern-central coast Turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa will supply 25 of its SG4.5-145 machines for Vietnam’s l Hoa Thang 1.2 wind project, in a deal that will be the OEM’s biggest-yet in the Southeast Asian country. “As market scale and financing are helping to unlock […]

One of the world’s largest producers of renewable diesel has delayed crucial work at one of its refineries due to the coronavirus outbreak. Neste Porvoo has announced that the implementation of the major turnaround of the Porvoo refinery as originally planned was being halted and delayed. The Government of Finland has declared a state of […]