AFP: Morocco Postpones Opening of Huge Solar Plant Without Explanation
Morocco postponed without explanation the inauguration of Noor-1, a solar power plant due to open Sunday in Ouarzazate, part of what will eventually be the world's largest solar power production facility.
When asked by AFP, the communications agency that organized the inauguration on behalf of Moroccan solar energy agency Masen gave no reasons for the last-minute delay.
With an electricity production capacity of 160 megawatts, Noor-1 is supposed to allow Morocco to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Reuters: Spain's Abengoa Signs Accord With Creditors for Emergency Loan
Spanish thermal solar power and engineering firm Abengoa signed an agreement with its creditor banks on Thursday for a 106-million-euro ($116.1 million) credit line to help avert what would be Spain's biggest-ever bankruptcy.
The loan will be used for general corporate necessities, Abengoa said in a statement to the stock market regulator. It is using some shares held in the affiliate Abengoa Yield as collateral, it said.
The banks also agreed to free up a further 7 million euros related to a previous loan, backed by the Abengoa Yield shares, a source familiar with the matter said.
EV Obsession: Over 75,000 EVs Registered in Europe in 2015
More than 75,000 electric vehicles were registered in the European market in 2015, according to the most recent figures from Avere France. The top 4 markets in Europe for the year -- Norway, France, the U.K., and Germany -- accounted for roughly 75% of all registrations/sales for the year.
Given that these figures are for the first 11 months of the year, and don’t include the month of December, the final figures for 2015 will end up notably higher. Altogether, though, January through November 2015 already saw 76,301 electric-vehicle registrations. This represents a 48.5% increase over 2014.
Solar Power Portal: North Star Solar to Test Solar-Plus-Storage Systems in London Boroughs
North Star Solar is set to deliver a new solar battery storage pilot scheme in four London boroughs as it tests four battery combinations across 40 council homes.
The company began testing solar battery storage and LED lighting combinations and approached Camden Council with proposals that would see social housing occupants save money on their energy bills. The project was then able to secure a grant of £160,000 from National Energy Action, while Camden council attracted three other London boroughs to the scheme.
Reuters: Porsche Plant Workers Agree to Less Pay to Produce Electric Car
Porsche workers have agreed to concessions worth several hundred million euros to secure production of an all-electric sports car at the manufacturer's biggest plant, a spokesman for the company said.
The Volkswagen-owned manufacturer said earlier this month it would spend about 1 billion euros ($1.10 billion) at its base in Zuffenhausen and create more than 1,000 jobs there to build the battery-powered "Mission E" model.