The energy revolution is underway and is supported by the increasing development of renewable energy sources (RES). Indeed, in 2015, the use of green energy accounted for 134 GW of additional power capacity, more than 50% of the overall development. Solar and wind installations represented the majority of this new generation. These two energies are called variable. A phenomenon that affects RE operators and which
The 21st century is marked by a general awareness about environmental concerns. Facing these challenges, the EU has adopted ambitious targets for its member countries: achieve by 2020 the "3x20" climate plan, namely: - Increase to 20% the share of renewable energies (RE) in the energy mix - Reduce by 20% the C02 emissions compared to 1990 - Increase energy efficiency by 20% This new
Reunion Island, like most insular regions, is ruled by a carbon economy which is heavily dependent on oil, imported by sea. But in recent years, the energy transition has become the watchword of these non-interconnected areas. This results into an increasing implementation of renewable energy sources (RES) in these regions. In 2012, this island of the southwest Indian Ocean had a renewable electricity production capacity
Solar forecasts for energy trading have become vital, in particular with the arrival of direct marketing in France, and the gradual withdrawal of feed-in tariffs across Europe. The number of solar installations connected to electrical grids keeps on increasing around the world. A recent report from the American group Mercom Capital forecasts nearly 65GW of global solar installations for 2016. A growing injection of intermittent
In France, the law on energy transition for a green growth will put in place a new support scheme for renewable energy sources (RES) from the 1st of January 2016: direct marketing. Historical energy providers in France such as EDF (Electricité de France) must respect the public service missions given by the legislator. The development of renewable energies is one of them. It is
The deafening silence in the aisle of a photovoltaic plant contrasts with the bustle which reigns in a gas, oil or coal power plant. Failures and technical issues are silent, which empowers the data monitoring system: one must be able to detect any anomaly involving a loss of production to fix it. Disruptions might have different origins: a tree or a cable which shade
Since the 1960’s, the French nuclear industry has provided a real price-competitiveness to electricity, which favoured companies and households. However, this domination of nuclear energy is challenged by emerging energies : we will see how the problematic of production cost is determining in after-crisis France where economic pragmatism outweighed environmental issues. The underlying question is actually the following: are renewable energies and solar energy especially
France, host to the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21), took the lead regarding the measures to adopt in order to mitigate climate change and thus prevent and reduce our ecological footprint to spread further. Indeed, the French government set itself ambitious goals. “France must be exemplary”, according to the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, Ségolène Royal. In order to realize these
Reuniwatt places its skills in utilising satellite images in order to provide the most accurate solar irradiance forecasts. Its latest research in this field will be presented at the next EU PVSEC conference, the largest international Conference for Photovoltaic research, technologies and applications, which will take place in Hamburg, Germany, from 14-18 September. Assessing past PV productions Reuniwatt provides accurate irradiance data thanks to
In order to get the best out of solar energy, a good knowledge of the resource is essential. An accurate assessment of the solar resource is important for dimensioning solar plants – whether they are thermal, photovoltaic or concentration –. Reliable and trustworthy production forecasts during a plant’s operating phase are just as important. TSOs need them to properly handle the variable availability of the
