Chinese PV Industry Brief: China’s cumulative PV capacity tops 660 GW
China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) says the nation installed more than 47 GW of solar in the first three months of this year.
European Parliament approves law to ban products made with forced labor
The provisions cover all products and do not target specific companies or industries. They will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union tomorrow. EU member countries will have three years to enforce them.
IRENA’s 14th assembly underscores role of geopolitics, urgent need for action
The 14th assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) last week in Abu Dhabi underscored the centrality of geopolitics and security in the current global energy landscape. The gathering also called for greater action to achieve the COP28 target of tripling renewables deployment by 2030.
France announces new FIT rates for PV systems up to 500 kW
France’s new feed-in tariffs (FITs) for the period from May to July 2024 range from €0.1735 ($0.1850)/kWh for installations below 3 kW to €0.1141/kWh for arrays ranging in size from 100 kW to 500 kW.
Low solar module prices affecting secondhand market
Stefan Wippich, the CEO and co-founder of Germany’s SecondSol platform, recently spoke with pv magazine about the development of the used PV module market. Wippich noted national differences and argued that it will be important to set rules for the trading of secondhand products.
PV Cycle Belgium claims 404 tons of recycled solar panels in Q1
PV Cycle Belgium says it collected and processed 404 tons of solar panels for recycling during the first quarter of this year. It notes that the number of solar panels it has collected over the last five years has more than quadrupled.
Maxeon sues REC, Hanwha Qcells for alleged TOPCon patent infringement
Maxeon has filed two different lawsuits in the United States against Hanwha Qcells and REC over claims that the two manufacturers used an unspecified tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cell technology.
Renewables hit record levels in Australia as electricity demand rises
A new report by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) shows the nation’s clean energy transition is gathering pace with renewables, including large-scale and rooftop solar.
Winter air pollution weighing on solar generation in India
Solargis says that Indian solar operators have experienced below-average PV panel performance due to air pollution in each of the past five winters. Northern India experienced the worst air quality in decades this January, with data showing a 30% to 50% dip in solar irradiance due to high aerosol levels.
High interest rates challenge global shift to renewables
A new report from Wood Mackenzie examines how the global shift to higher interest rates to combat inflation is squeezing the energy transition.
