Household solar holds key to climate-neutral Japan
Rooftops will have to supply a third of the 524 GW of solar generation capacity needed by 2045 to reach a zero-carbon economy by mid century, according to an academic paper. The researchers also suggested green hydrogen should not play a central role in the nation’s energy transition.
Canadian Solar acquires German off-grid specialist
Berlin-based start-up Solarworx specializes in the supply of modular, off-grid, solar-plus-storage solutions.
Auditor of Chinese solar company resigns
Paris-headquartered Mazars has walked away from Comtec Solar, citing ‘professional risk associated with the audit’ of the figures for the former solar manufacturer, which is now focusing on PV project income, energy storage and EVs.
GCL prepares the decks to announce thumping losses
The board’s explanation for an anticipated $900 million hit in 2020, following a profit a year earlier? ‘The figures for 2019 were deceptive.’
Canary Islands allocates 255 MW of PV through rebate scheme
The Solcan scheme had a budget of €20 million. Most of the assigned PV capacity will be located in the islands of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.
Development lender announces 30 MW Burkina Faso solar project
The monocrystalline facility, planned near the town of Pâ by Swiss-owned developer Urbasolar following a tender, will help the government towards its target of reaching 200 MW of solar capacity this year.
Solar-led renewable energy system could free up 10% of Caribbean nation’s GDP
A mix of solar and wind power can help Antigua and Barbuda to an almost-90% renewable energy system, and green hydrogen could then show the path to hitting the national ambition of 100% green power by 2030, and net zero by 2050.
Why human rights protection is pushing up PV module prices
The solar industry typically sees itself as being supportive of the environment, humanity, and human rights. Even large Chinese PV manufacturers publish statements to this effect, particularly if they are listed on Western stock exchanges. But what do human rights have to do with the solar industry? What connections exist, asks Martin Schachinger of pvXchange, and how are they important to the future success of the European PV market?
Korean poly maker’s figures dragged down by idled production lines
The Covid-19 pandemic helped ensure chemicals business OCI could not put its idled polysilicon lines in Gunsan back into use last year, as had been hoped, prompting another hefty assets impairment which weighed on the group even as it expects supply of the raw material to be kept tight by rising demand.
Guggenheim Solar Index: Headwinds, or a healthy correction?
In the month of February, the solar industry witnessed a decline, writes Jesse Pichel of ROTH Capital Partners. Increasing prices throughout the supply chain and forced labor concerns from China spelled headwinds for the solar industry, but the decline can also be viewed as a healthy correction, following historic highs in January.
