Chinese PV Industry Brief: Another 50 GW solar module factory in sight
Meanwhile, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) has confirmed that newly installed PV capacity for this year should be around 40 GW.
Scaling up solid-state batteries
U.S. battery developer Solid Power has begun pilot production of lithium metal all solid-state batteries at its Colorado facility. The company says it has also sent out prototype battery cells for independent evaluation, and expects to begin formal testing to qualify its batteries for integration into electric vehicles by early 2022.
Another week, another wave of solar PPAs
Unsubsidized solar keeps moving forward in Germany, the US, Egypt, Italy, the Philippines, France and South Africa.
European Commission proposes minimum sustainability thresholds for batteries
The world’s second largest battery market is mulling strict regulation of what type of products can be sold within it. The bloc wants to tighten rules on using hazardous materials and would encourage circular economy approaches. The scope of the commission’s proposal would also affect the design of devices, with phones, laptops and other portable gadgets without removable batteries set to be prohibited.
Italy’s 2050 decarbonization plan needs 6 GW of new PV capacity annually
A recent forum held by Italian trade body Italia Solare has shown that Italy needs to streamline its large scale PV sector if it wants to reach its energy and decarbonization targets.
Chinese polysilicon makers driving industry’s second great consolidation
The 275,000 metric tons of annual polysilicon production facilities pushed out of the industry by the expansion of big Chinese producers is more than double the capacity lost in the last great poly market shake-out, between 2010 and 2013.
African Development Bank opens $50-60m pot for off-grid solar Covid recovery
The development lender has established a Covid-19 Off-Grid Recovery Platform with impact investors from the Netherlands, U.S. and U.K., to offer affordable loans to off-grid solar companies operating in Africa.
Offshore floating PV may reach maturity in 2030
According to a report from DNV GL, the North Sea may host around 100 MW of floating solar capacity by 2030, and 500 MW by 2035. The LCOE of offshore PV systems is currently estimated at around €354/MWh but in the future it should be close to that of ground-mounted solar parks.
Ecuador concludes 200 MW PV tender with final price of $0.06935/kWh
Solarpack was the winner of Ecuador’s latest tender, launched in July 2019, for the 200 MW El Aromo solar project. The facility will sell electricity to state-owned Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador SA under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
McDonald’s adds 420 MW of solar, pushing renewables capacity past 1 GW
The fast-food giant has signed three new virtual power purchase agreements for two wind farms and a solar project. The 750 MW of new capacity follows the company’s decision to deploy 380 MW of renewables last year.
