Markets

Last year was said to be a benchmark for renewable energy, with renewables producing more power in Europe than nuclear for the first time. In yet another glittering solar industry report, SolarPower Europe further calculates cumulative solar capacity could reach 540 GW, globally, by 2020, with a record 40 GW installed in 2014. China is set to “frame global growth.”

The International Renewable Energy Agency’s Remap 2030 program calls for renewable penetration to reach 45% by 2030, but can only do so if battery storage market enjoys equally prodigious expansion.

The Chinese inverter supplier to release series of high-efficiency string and central inverters at this week’s Intersolar Europe Exhibition in Munich, Germany.

Principal Solar Inc. is set to go public this week on the Nasdaq capital market. It is looking to raise up to US$26 million by selling up to 2.8 million shares. It plans to become the “world’s first distributed solar utility” and has identified targets, including SolarCity and TerraForm Power, which it could either partner with, or acquire. The U.S. solar company will also develop up to 500 MW of PV projects in Texas.

pv magazine’s June edition touches down in Israel to assess the solar mood on the ground, heads to a farm in Germany to inspect a latest technique in LED flashing, and examines how the mining industry is turning to PV in its many hours of need.

Leaders of G7 countries back global greenhouse gas reductions by between 40-70% by 2050, with full decarbonization of global economy by end of century.

Turbulent times for Hanergy follow turbulent weather for Solar Impulse, but the tumult could not derail solar’s juggernaut, which enjoyed a series of positive news stories this week.

Canadian Solar, ET Solar and ReneSola are no longer exempt from punitive trade duties, having breached the terms under the minimum price agreement framework, which had negated their tariff exemptions. EU Prosun has said they are “just the tip of the iceberg” and that the investigation must be “immediately” extended.

Yingli Green Energy has today released its eagerly anticipated Q1 2015 earnings. With a net loss of US$58.6 million, the company is not exactly in the black. The results are, nevertheless, far from apocalyptic. It has also managed to pay off $193.5 million in medium terms notes and is confident it can settle another, similar, debt this October.

A survey by DNV GL of a range of participants in the MENA region’s solar markets has confirmed that Dubai and Jordan are considered the markets with the greatest short term potential. Looking beyond two years, Saudi Arabia is seen as having the highest potential, despite the slow movement in the market today.