Energy Transition Posts

4 ideas for an efficient use of your solar energy

4 ideas for an efficient use of your solar energy

Once you have invested in PV installations, you might be wondering how to use your solar energy most efficiently. We have collected four ideas to help you get the most out of it.

Europe reaches historic milestone with 100 GW of solar power

Europe reaches historic milestone with 100 GW of solar power

Solar power has come a long way in order to spark Europe’s plans of a sustainable energy transition. Within the last ten years, state subsidies have helped renewable energies – foremost solar power – to flourish. 

Nigeria, a future major solar energy producer?

Nigeria, a future major solar energy producer?

By far the most populous country of Africa (with 177 million inhabitants in 2014), and consequently the first GDP of the continent, Nigeria is a member of the OPEP and has a large amount of oil resources, which represents the major part of its economy. The rest of the GDP is mainly divided between the agriculture sector and artisanal production. The electrification rate of the country is rather low: in 2012, only 55.6% of the population had access to electricity. The lack of infrastructure affects mainly the rural and poor populations. To overcome the inexistence and the low reliability of the electricity distribution in several areas of the country, the rural populations invest in diesel generators, which are expensive and polluting.

Solar energy improves people’s access to electricity in Kenya

Solar energy improves people’s access to electricity in Kenya

In order to reach its objectives of developing its electricity generation from renewable resources, the Kenyan Energy Ministry has established in 2008 a Feed-in-Tariff policy, subsidising renewables-based electricity production.

Space-based PV plants: the next big step for photovoltaics

Space-based PV plants: the next big step for photovoltaics

Building solar power plants in space will be possible in the not-so-far future according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Indeed, JAXA has announced that they have achieved a major technical breakthrough, which would eventually make the construction of space-based solar power plants possible. Concretely, the JAXA team has succeeded in converting and transferring electricity using microwaves for a distance of 55 meters.