Japanese government must be more unified in pursuit of PV goals — report
The Japanese government is steadily working toward the release of the country’s fifth strategic energy plan, but it needs to work with the private sector more effectively to promote the deployment of solar over the coming decades, according to a new report.
Netherlands to replace net metering with new scheme for residential, commercial PV
Under the new scheme, set to come into force in 2020, homeowners and small businesses investing in solar and other renewables can expect a payback period of around seven years. They will also be exempt from paying energy taxes and the ODE (Opslag Duurzame Energie), a levy on power consumers that finances the country’s renewable energy programs, for self-consumed electricity,
Mexico eliminates 15% customs duties on solar module imports
Mexico’s Federal Court of Fiscal and Administrative Justice has accepted an appeal lodged by the Mexican solar association, Asolmex, to remove the 15% customs duties applied to imports of solar PV modules.
The weekend read: Signs of life
European markets: Growth in solar installations returned to European shores in 2017, with some of the usual suspects posting big numbers, and several new players awakening to the possibilities of PV. Here, pv magazine provides an overview of the latest movements on the continent.
Is SoftBank’s $100 billion investment in Indian solar realistic?
While news of Japan’s SoftBank announcing up to USD 60-100 billion investment in India’s solar PV power generation is creating ripples across the industry circles, industry analysts feel that the committment sounds unrealistic in view of India’s current PV market status and future needs.
India saw more utility-scale PV tenders in Q1 2018 than in entire 2017 – Bridge To India
India saw the issuance of 13 new utility-scale solar PV tenders totaling 11,945 MW in the quarter ending March 31, 2018, which is 68% more than in the entire of 2017. However, tender capacity for rooftop solar PV (greater than 1 MW in size) was down 50%, at 102 MW.
US could slap additional 25% tariffs on Chinese cells, modules
The new round of IT-related tariffs could make it more expensive for any manufacturers planning to import cells from China for module production in the United States.
Momentum builds for perovskite tandems, 25%+ efficiency achieved
Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Oxford PV have presented a new record perovskite tandem solar cell, with a 25.2% conversion efficiency, independently verified by Fraunhofer ISE. Bernd Stannowski, from HZB presented the results this week at the World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-7) in Hawaii.
Schletter to be acquired by investors, closing financial recovery
With the acquisition by Golden Square Capital, the Germany-based PV company can finalize the plans to improve its financial status. Providing a two-digit million figure, the investor ensures that product and business development units can improve their activity in the future. Yet, cutting jobs in Germany is inevitable.
Solaria unveils 1.3 GW, €600mn Spanish PV pipeline
Solaria Energía y Medio Ambiente, S. A. has announced a global solar PV project pipeline of 2.3 GW, 1.3 GW of which will be deployed in Spain. Construction work is set to begin this year.
