IRENA: Energy transition will see geopolitical “winners and losers”
The International Renewable Energy Agency has plotted the potentially dramatic impacts of a global transition to renewable energy from fossil fuels. Today’s A New World report notes the transition requires international cooperation to manage disruption, as it will leave behind countries and industries that fail to adapt.
Astronergy will halt module production in Germany
The German subsidiary of the Chinese Chint Group will be restructured. The German site will in future focus on marketing and sales as well as areas such as customer care, logistics, customs clearance and other business-related services for European and global customers. More than 200 of the 230 employees will lose their jobs when production stops.
Hanergy tops list of top Chinese listed companies active in solar
The thin-film manufacturer, developer and maker of the Humbrella, HanTile and HanWall made 78th position in a ranking of China’s Top 500 companies, an improvement on last year’s 91st place, to lead the six solar-linked businesses on the list.
UK researchers say transport layers with low permittivity and doping make perovskite solar cells more stable
Scientists are seeking to push ion migration to areas of perovskite-based solar cells where more electric charge can be extracted.
Analysts expect stable prices along the PV value chain
Energy trend and PV Info Link assume little movement in prices for silicon, wafers, solar cells and modules in the coming weeks. The capacity adjustments of solar manufacturers, however, are set to continue.
Acciona closes its module factory in Portugal
The Spanish developer maintained manufacturing activities at the plant for 10 years with an average of more than 100 employees. The company previously managing the factory –Chinese manufacturer Jinko – had abandoned the project in September, after minimum import prices for Chinese PV products in the EU were cancelled.
Algeria launches tender for 50 MW of hybrid solar
At the end of December, the Algerian government issued a tender for off-grid gas/diesel and solar projects in non-interconnected areas in the south of the country.
Solar money is all flowing downstream – in the West at least
Mercom Capital’s latest report on financial activity in the solar sector illustrates an increasing flow of capital towards downstream companies and PV projects – as well as a split between China and the rest of the world.
Astronergy’s German facility reportedly facing hard times
It has been reported short-time work at the module manufacturer’s Frankfurt (Oder) facility was halted at the start of the year because of below-subsistence wage levels. The company has not commented on rumors of a possible closure.
Another NY legal firm files class action against JA Solar
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLP claims JA Solar intended to relist on the Shenzhen exchange after merging with its holding company in July, but did not outline that intent when it asked U.S. shareholders to vote on the planned merger.
