Chinese PV Industry Brief: Slightly lower polysilicon prices and another 20 GW of PV wafer capacity
According to the China Nonferrous Metals Association, polysilicon prices declined by around 1.4% last week. In other news, Gaoce announced another 20 GW PV wafer factory and Hareon Solar filed for bankruptcy.
The Hydrogen Stream: New tech to reduce weight, costs of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
U.S.-based Hyzon Motors has developed a new onboard hydrogen storage system technology capable of reducing the weight and manufacturing cost of commercial vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Meanwhile, India’s largest oil provider has announced its first green hydrogen project and the Dutch government has awarded a subsidy contract to an offshore green hydrogen demonstrator.
Sineng opens 10 GW PV inverter factory in China’s Ningxia province
With this new factory, the annual production capacity of the Chinese PV inverter maker has reached 23 GW.
World’s largest rooftop PV plant powering Chinese industrial park
The 120 MW PV facility was grid-connected in late 2020 is located at an industrial park in China’s Shandong province. Sungrow supplied its string inverters for the project.
Australia’s first lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility attracts additional funding
Australia’s first lithium-ion battery manufacturer, Energy Renaissance, has received a grant to develop its pilot manufacturing facility in the Hunter region.
Japan revises 2030 targets, plans to double renewables
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has released a draft energy plan with ambitious revisions to the nation’s previous energy and emissions targets. The proposed plan will sees a doubling of renewables compared to the previous target, and significant cuts to coal and gas, much of which it buys from Australia.
Australian Vandium to fast-track manufacture of flow batteries
Western Australian company Australian Vanadium Limited has been awarded $3.69 million in federal government funding to fast-track manufacturing of large-scale vanadium redox flow battery systems that can be used to support rooftop solar PV or in off-grid settings such as mining, agriculture and remote communities.
Net zero could be 630-plus gigawatt annual opportunity for solar
Analyst BloombergNEF has gazed into its crystal ball and predicted three routes to a net zero world. The ‘green’ scenario fleshed out in its latest New Energy Outlook is bound to appeal far more to the solar industry than the alternative, nuclear or fossil-fuel-powered outcomes.
‘Polysilicon shortage will continue through 2021’
The latest global PV industry outlook published by trade group SolarPower Europe, has indicated tight supply of the solar panel raw material is expected to persist this year but the trade body said it would be unlikely to drive further price rises.
Proposed 500 MW pumped storage project secures California state funding
A proposed 500 MW long-duration energy storage project in San Diego County has started a multi-year process to win federal and state approval. If built, it won’t enter into service before 2030.
