Risen to build 5 GW module line in Zhejiang Province, China
Chinese PV cell and module manufacturer, Risen Energy announced yesterday that it has started the construction of a new module factory in Zhejiang province in eastern China. The factory is set to have a total capacity of 5 GW.
BMW, Tesla open factories in China, driving EV market in spite of trade-dispute
In the wake of the U.S.-China trade dispute, the Chinese government has loosened its policy on ownership caps for factory sites for foreign car brands. Previously, car companies could only retain 50% of the ownership of a factory and had to set up a joint venture with a Chinese partner. By setting up shop in China, Tesla can avoid import duties on its cars, to cater to a broader customer base.
Spain covers 45.8% of H1 2018 electricity demand with renewables
Spain’s electricity grid operator, Red Eléctrica de España (REE) has announced that the country’s mainland covered almost half of its electricity demand in the first half of 2018 with renewable energies alone.
US researchers achieve breakthrough for graphene-based solar cells
A team of scientists at the University of Kansas has developed a method to boost the lifetime of excited electrons in graphene, a development which the team alleges could lead to the development of highly efficient, ultrathin solar cells.
Germany: Renewables beat coal for the first time
According to numbers released by German association BDEW, in the first half of the 2018, renewables contributed 36.3% to gross electricity generation, while PV increased its share to 7.3%. Furthermore, the association said that the market-driven, phased exit from coal-fired power generation is already in full swing.
Italy’s Eni abandons race to buy RTR
Despite recent efforts to boost its solar energy business, the Italian oil giant has decided not to acquire RTR’s 343 MW solar plant portfolio.
Switzerland close to hitting 2 GW solar mark
According to new numbers provided by Swissolar, Switzerland’s solar market saw a 9% drop in new PV installations in 2017. Demand for PV installations up to 30 kW, however, remained strong.
US proposes 10% tariffs on inverters, AC modules, non-lithium batteries from China
As the trade war escalates, PV inverters, solar panels with attached microinverters and battery storage products other than those which utilize lithium-ion chemistry, may be the latest victims.
LatAm PV markets see increasing use of green bonds
Colombia’s Celsia is issuing green bonds worth US$145 million to finance its large solar PV project pipeline, while U.K.-based Faro Energy is resorting to clean energy bonds to fund its distributed generation (DG) solar projects across Brazil.
Setting the stage for solar + storage
As more states adopt ambitious renewable power and storage targets, hopes increase for continued market opportunities beyond the ITC. In the mid-term, the overall market opportunity is clear. At IHS Markit, we project 73 GW of solar PV systems will be installed in the United States from 2018 to 2022.
