After originally being cool to Suniva’s petition to the U.S. International Trade Commission for protection from its Chinese competitors, SolarWorld has reversed its stance and joined the complaint as a co-petitioner.
AnnouncementHuawei’s GCTC
Huawei’s GCTC
The forthcoming pv magazine special – to be published at Intersolar Europe – explores the latest technological advances, solar solutions and services offered by Huawei. Over the next few days, pv magazine will publish content from this special edition, beginning with a look at Huawei’s Global Compliance and Testing Center (GCTC).
Announcement
pv magazine is attending Intersolar Europe in Munich (May 31 – June 2)
Come and say hi at booth #A1.330 and join us for a drink at our booth party on May 31 starting from 6pm!
Don’t forget to register for our two side events:
- Future PV (June 1, 12 pm – 2 pm)
- 5th Quality Roundtable (June 1, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Both of them are FREE of charge.
Markets & Policy
More solar and hydro brings California gas use to five-year low
As renewable energy breaks new output records in California, both the need for and availability of gas in California have both declined.
Manufacturing
Armenia’s first module factory expected to start production by the end of June
Modules manufactured at the facility will be sold under the brand Solaron. The facility will be owned and operated by local company Profpanel LLC.
Markets & Policy
Trump budget guts solar research at NREL and Berkeley (14 essential documents embedded)
The president’s federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018 includes the expected cuts to renewable energy within the DOE’s walls, but the cuts to prominent national labs – including the elimination of energy-storage research funding at both – could have unforeseen long-term effects on the industry.
Technology
Russian researchers develop process for crystalline perovskite film
A research team at Lomonosov Moscow State University has developed a new process to obtain organic/inorganic crystalline perovskite films for solar cells. The team says that the process allows for the development of compositions with optimal stability, and that it’s discovery could give fresh impetus to the research into perovskite solar cells.
Markets & Policy
TEP to buy solar power at under 3 cents per kWh
The Arizona utility has signed a 20-year contract to buy electricity from a 100 MW plant at this new record low price.
Installations
Indonesia’s 1.2 MW community-owned off-grid PV: model for the future?
A 1.2 MW hybrid plant is currently under development in a remote area of Indonesia aiming to provide 24-hours access to electricity for about 400 households in three villages. The project will be owned by the local community, offering a model for the development of solar PV in the country.
Manufacturing
Video: industrial LID ‘fix’ for multi PERC drawing closer
PERC application in monocrystalline cells has proven its capability to produce high efficiency cells. Further cost reductions could be achieved with multi PERC, but problems with Light Induced Degradation (LID) has stood in the way of its industry adoption. However, researchers and equipment suppliers are drawing in on an industrial solution.
Markets & Policy
Featured
Building a solar civilization
Interview: Jeremy Leggett, British social entrepreneur, writer, campaigner and founder of Solarcentury and SolarAid, tells pv magazine how a solar civilazation can be an effective buck-stop against the populist forces that seek to undermine and discredit the transformative power of renewable technologies It is solar, in all its forms, that is bringing the fight against malign forces, he says.
Steady Q1 for JA Solar as revenue, shipments increase slightly YOY
The Tier-1 Chinese solar company saw its profit slip both sequentially and year-over-year, however, as lower average selling prices continued to fall. Company will seek opportunities to streamline operations moving forward.
...Financing agreed for Sweihan mega project in Abu Dhabi
Chinese module manufacturer JinkoSolar announced the completion of financial negotiations for the 1.17 GW solar project to be built in Abu Dhabi. The project will be financed with $870 million and is expected to begin commercial operation in April 2019.
...Renewable energy employs 9.8m people globally – IRENA
Report by the International Renewable Energy Agency shows large increase in number of people employed in renewable energy sectors, led by solar PV, which accounts for 3.1 million jobs.
...Installations
Featured
Solar power from the exclusion zone
Chernobyl mega project: Stuck in a conflict with Russia and highly dependent on fossil fuels as well as nuclear power, Ukraine strives for energy self-sufficiency. More than three decades after the catastrophic Chernobyl meltdown, the nuclear wasteland is now set to pave the way for a solar future that could still hold risks.
JinkoSolar signs 100 MW supply deal in China
The Chinese PV manufacturer has agreed to provide its Eagle series solar panels for undisclosed solar fishery projects being developed by Jing Bei New Energy. It did not disclose the terms of the deal.
...Japan’s solar shipments fall 5% in fiscal Q4 — JPEA
Deliveries of PV cells and modules hit 1.7 GW in the three months to the end of December, down from 1.8 GW in the July-September period, according to the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA).
...ARENA announces AUD $20m PV R&D funding round
In order to help reduce the future cost of solar PV, ARENA is set to launch its third competitive funding round for solar R&D.
...India’s Uttar Pradesh mulls additional 750 MW solar project at Bhadla
Government officials from the state of Uttar Pradesh have met with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy representatives to discuss development opportunity in Rajasthan, eyeing October 2018 commissioning date.
...Technology
Featured
Making DW multi a reality
2017 Technology Highlights award winner: Christian Buchner, VP Business Unit Photovoltaics for Schmid Group, speaks to pv magazine after picking up the 2017 Technology Highlights award.
Teamtechnik & research partners develop award winning lead-free PV system
A joint project conducted by the Carinthian Tech Research Center and the Austrian Institute of Technology, in conjunction with German equipment manufacturer teamtechnik has developed a lead-free PV system using glued ribbon technology.
...Penn State researchers develop low-cost solar cell
A research team at Penn State University has developed solar cells of up to 17% efficiency using a simplified concept requiring only one semiconductor material. Thanks to their potential for low-cost production, the researchers theorize that the cells could be used to provide power to energy poor communities the world over.
...ANU researchers develop light management technique inspired by butterfly wings
Researchers at Australia National University have developed a nanostructure technique to finely control the direction of light. The technique, says ANU, could be applied to tandem perovskite/silicon solar cells.
...NREL develops controllable quantum dot systems
Researchers at the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a new designer quantum dot system, which allows for greater control over optoelectronic properties of the materials.
...Manufacturing
Featured
Copper plating innovation
2017 Technology Highlights award winner: U.S.-based MacDermid Ehthone's Global Applications Manager Photovoltaics Bruce Lee sets out the Helios PoSi process and its market potential.
BREAKING: U.S. ITC moves ahead with Suniva investigation
The U.S. International Trade Commission decided late tonight to move forward under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 to investigate whether the bankrupt module maker deserves protection from its Chinese competitors.
...Schneider Electric and Neoen sign 750 MW solar framework agreement
Having collaborated on the 300 MW Cestas project, the two French firms team up again to deliver 1,500 v central inverter, transformer, monitoring and medium voltage switchgear solutions to solar projects across three continents.
...India: solar tax hike could increase power project prices, say industry heads
The 18% Goods and Services Tax rate for solar cells and modules could pose significant threat to around 10 GW of ongoing utility-scale solar projects, says Bridge to India.
...BREAKING: SolarWorld may close Oregon factory
The company has given WARN Act notices to all of its employees, and says that it is trying to determine the right size going forward.
...Keep up to date
pv magazine offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. Stay informed. Join our newsletter.
Press Releases
PV & storage Systems for residential – commercial projects
PV distributor Krannich Solar will once again be at this year’s Intersolar Europe in Munich, Germany, presenting a range of impressive solutions for the PV market based on the motto “PV & STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR RESIDENTIAL – COMMERCIAL – PROJECTS”. Visitors can see these for themselves with live demonstrations in Hall A3, Stand 480.
EXPO Solar 2017 – The best solar business platform that represents growing solar power in Asia
EXPO Solar 2017 (www. exposolar.
Risks and Opportunities for Photovoltaic Systems in the Caribbean
Risks and Opportunities for Photovoltaic Systems in the Caribbean: Large-scale PV Plants, Self-consumption and Microgrids with Energy Storage
Cooperation between BMZ and Victron
Energy Storage Systems and Multigrid Inverter form the perfect team for reducing electricity costs