European demand for solar power decreased by 21 percent in 2016
European demand for solar power decreased by over 21 percent to 6.7 GW in 2016, according to the market research conducted by SolarPower Europe. At the same time, global solar installations grew by around 50 percent to an all-time record number of 76.2 GW. “The European solar industry is ready to take a larger share […]
Upsolar to supply Turkish Hilvan solar plant with PV modules
International company Upsolar won a contract to supply Hilvan solar plant in Turkey with PV panels. The plant will have 23.6 MW installed power and will annually make enough energy to meet the needs of 17,500 households in the region, said Upsolar in a press release. Construction on the Hilvan Enerji plant will begin within […]
Small is not (always) beautiful: small hydro development in the Western Balkans
By Igor Vejnović, Hydropower Policy Officer, CEE Bankwatch Network It has long been recognized that the human and environmental costs of large dams are extremely high — just recently the failure of the overflow channels at the Oroville dam, California, almost triggered a tragedy. Across the Balkans, however, instead of coming up with genuinely new ideas, […]
Zorlu Energy to distribute First Solar’s PV modules in 26 countries
American solar panel manufacturer First Solar announced that it has entered into a collaborative sales agreement with Zorlu Holding, a Turkish business and industrial conglomerate. Zorlu Energy is to distribute First Solar’s high-performance thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules in 26 selected markets. The sales agreement is the latest of its kind to be signed by […]
VIDEO – Perspective: SEE region ready for energy efficiency improvements by Ankica Barbulov
Thanks to legislative framework in place and ESCO companies bringing to the region energy services expertise from more developed markets, South-east Europe is finally ready to improve its energy efficiency. The potential is huge, both in private and public sector, according to Ankica Barbulov, director of GGE ESCO in a video interview for Balkan Green […]
No new quotas for solar plants in BiH until 2020
Investors planning to build solar power plants in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will have to give up because there are no more available quotas before 2020. Data from the Operator for renewable energy sources and efficient cogeneration of FBiH show that new solar quotas will be available only as of 2020. However there will […]
IRENA: South East Europe has vast renewable energy potential of 740 GW
South East Europe has huge potential of renewable energy equal to about 740 GW, according to a new study from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report “Cost-Competitive Renewable Power Generation: Potential across South East Europe” was released at a high-level meeting preceding the opening of the seventh session of IRENA’s Assembly in Abu […]
Turkey to reach 1% solar power share by year’s end
Turkey aims to reach 2,000 megawatts (MW) in installed solar capacities during 2017, according to the head of the country’s renewable energy authority. Turkey has only recently entered the solar power market “game”, said Özgür Can, the general manager of the General Directorate of Renewable Energy (YEGM). “However it is an important and attractive market, […]
