Tesla dives deeper into energy storage, as solar slumps
Elon Musk’s company is seeing tremendous success with its EVs and global manufacturing, as well as dramatically scaling its energy storage deployment. However the Solar Roof is still not being widely deployed.
Mexico cancels fourth energy auction
After being “temporarily suspended” in early December, Mexico’s fourth long-term energy auction has been cancelled. The government said the action was taken in compliance with its legal framework and took into account technical, economic and energy planning considerations.
LG solar business affected by panel price falls as Kyocera reports poor results for PV sales
South Korean manufacturer LG said import tariffs and panel price depreciation led to lower profit for its B2B division. Japanese electronics company Kyocera saw the revenue of its Life & Environment Group fall by 26%, year-on-year, in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.
Hanergy announces plan for 1 GW manufacturing facility in Saudi
The thin-film manufacturer this week signed an agreement with a clothing brand to develop a $1 billion solar thin film industrial park. No details have emerged yet as to how it will be funded or where exactly it will be based.
FIT cuts and lower revenue may cause more bankruptcies in Japan
A Teikoku Databank report says as many as 95 solar companies went bankrupt last year – seven more than in 2017. The company warns the negative trend that began in 2016 may escalate as FIT reductions for large-scale solar come into effect.
Australian senate: Don’t leave us in the slow lane for EV uptake
Federal and state governments need to do a whole lot more to help the transition to electric vehicles, says the senate, after poll results indicated strong popular backing for the switch from fossil fuel transport.
Ukraine to hold first auctions for wind and solar next year
According to provisions approved in their first reading by the Ukrainian parliament, solar projects selected in future auctions will be awarded 20-year PPAs to encourage investors to steadily abandon the FIT scheme until it expires in 2030.
Taiwan’s URE inks 200-300 MW module supply MoU
United Renewable Energy was the result of a troublesome year for Taiwan’s solar manufacturing market. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Asia’s largest independent power producer – Vena Energy – for the supply of modules for projects in Taiwan’s strong development sector.
Spain unveils new provisions for self-consumption regulation
The Spanish government has proposed a Royal Decree with new self-consumption regulation which is expected to be approved in March or April. According to the new rules, power surpluses may be shared with other consumers or fed to the grid.
Bifacial 114 MW project in Brazil secures development bank financing
The plant, under development by Canadian Solar, has secured $80 million from Banco do Nordeste. The facility is scheduled to come online in mid-2020.
