In the first half of 2019, solar, wind and other renewable sources accounted for 44 percent of the electricity consumed in Germany, marking a record high. Preliminary calculations by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the German Federal Association of Energy and Water Management (BDEW) yielded this figure. Renewables had accounted for 39 percent of electricity consumption in the first half of 2018.

Energy Taiwan is jointly organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and SEMI. The event will take place from October 16-18, 2019 at the Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1. The exhibition will feature four major energy themes, PV Taiwan, Wind Energy Taiwan, HFC Taiwan, and Smart Storage Taiwan. It is expected to attract more than 10,000 domestic and foreign buyers of related industries. Over 15 seminars will be organized during the exhibition. Energy Taiwan is the most important trading platform for renewable energy.

Sulzer Schmid, a Swiss company pioneering UAV technology for rotor blade inspections, and WKA, the leading blade inspection and repair service provider, have been enlisted by Vestas to conduct a massive and challenging drone-based blade inspection campaign in Scandinavia, on a staggering 1,250 wind turbines in less than 12 weeks.

The storage specialist ADS-TEC will be presenting its new storage series in hall B1, booth 230 for the first time at “electrical energy storage” (ees) within the framework of “The smarter E Europe / Intersolar Europe 2019”. The scalable series is particularly flexible with regard in terms of capacity and performance. In addition to an indoor solution, the portfolio from this medium power range is also supplemented by an outdoor version. The integrated emergency power function makes the storage system suitable for a variety of storage applications.

Many governments around the world are pushing for more renewable energy, a big percentage coming from solar. Taiwan manufacturers are seizing every opportunity to introduce high-quality and innovative products. Intersolar is the leading solar exhibition and will be held this year in Munich, Germany from May 15-17, 2019. Taiwan Solar Pavilion will be comprised of 13 Taiwanese companies that offer a one-stop total solution to solar needs.

The biggest solar district heating system in Germany will begin construction shortly. Arcon-Sunmark is responsible for building the turnkey project on behalf of Stadtwerke Ludwigsburg-Kornwestheim. The solar heating system will be operational by the end of 2019.

Year 2018 was another consecutive year of dynamic development of photovoltaics in Poland – particularly in the field of micro-plants, whose number exceeded 27k, with total power of more than 160 MWp. This is an impressive result. Information gathered by Stowarzyszenie Branży Fotowoltaicznej Polska PV (SBF Polska PV, PV Poland Society for Photovoltaics), in cooperation with the Globenergia editors, shows the dynamics of photovoltaic industry development in all fields.

Developers commissioned a little over 45GW of onshore wind turbines globally in 2018 compared with 47GW a year earlier. Just four manufacturers accounted for more than half, or 57%, of the machines deployed: Denmark’s Vestas, China’s Goldwind, GE Renewable Energy of the U.S. and Spain’s Siemens Gamesa.

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has secured a new order in India from ReNew Power, India’s largest renewable energy Independent Power Producer (IPP). The scope includes the supply of 270 units of the SG 2.1-122 wind turbines, with a total capacity of 567 MW, to two wind power facilities.

Following WindEnergy Hamburg, the industry is now looking expectantly towards Husum, where Husum Wind, the leading national wind trade fair will be held from 10 to 13 September 2019.