LG plans to develop next-generation EV batteries
3M and South Korean LG Chem have signed a patent deal for the continued development of NCM (nickel, cobalt, manganese) lithium-ion batteries. LG Chem hopes to develop improved electric car batteries with the acquired patent knowledge.
US: Installed prices continue rapid descent
For the fifth consecutive year, distributed PV system prices fell in the U.S. This time round, solar “soft” costs have contributed largely to the price reductions. Due to variability in factors, there is also no single price that characterizes the U.S. market.
Australia announces tame 2030 emissions reduction target of 26%
The goal, based on 2005 levels of carbon emissions, will be taken to the United Nations climate change meeting in Paris in December; climate campaigners call the target ‘pathetically low’.
India: Madhya Pradesh sells PV power at lowest Indian price
The central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is now officially the state with the lowest solar power tariff at INR5.051 (US$0.08) per kWh. Companies that have bid for the projects are willing to sell solar power back to the utilities for this low price over 20 years.
Hawaii, Scotland present energy storage approaches for Australia
Energy storage is on course to see a boom similar to that in the solar market; Australia aims to tap this potential to facilitate the further roll out of renewables. A new study has identified key investment areas, and barriers, to storage implementation. An overview of the global storage market sees Hawaii and Scotland presenting viable approaches to implementation, although California and Germany are said to have the most “thorough” storage programs.
Ingeteam receives EUR 55M EIB grant for renewables R&D
The Spain-based inverter manufacturer will use the funds from the European Investment Bank to develop its research, development and innovation activities at the company’s Spanish facilities.
Indian solar to hit 75 GW by 2022, says report
Analysis by Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis suggests the country will fall short of its ambitious goal of 100 GW by that date, despite $50 billion grid upgrade and raft of installations.
Heatwave causes prices to soar in Poland's coal-dominated grid
The current high summer temperatures in Europe have had an adverse effect on the Polish power grid. Planned and unplanned outages kept 7.1 GW offline on Monday. The government had to cut its supply to industries for the first time in three decades.
Chinese market driving growing JA Solar shipments
JA Solar has reported growing shipments in Q2 2015 on the back of strong demand from China and growing market share in emerging markets of India and the Americas. The vertically integrated Chinese PV manufacturer shipped 790.8 MW of PV products, including wafers, cells and modules, in the quarter, an increases of 16% Y/Y and 16% Q/Q.
India: RenewSys starts cell, module manufacturing with Solar Semiconductor acquisition
Via its acquisition of Solar Semiconductor Pvt Ltd, Indian encapsulant and backsheet manufacturer and supplier, RenewSys has entered the OEM solar cell and module manufacturing business.
