‘Low-cost renewable hydrogen may already be in reach’
If the three record-busting low solar price tariffs recorded in the Middle East in the past 18 months are to be believed, renewables-powered hydrogen in prime sites in the region could already compete with gas-plus-CCS production, according to IRENA. Has the Gulf discovered the new petrol?
US government bans products from four Xinjiang-based solar manufacturers
The four manufacturers are Hoshine Silicon, Daqo, East Hope, and GCL New Energy Material.
Trina announces first shipments of 670 W Vertex modules
The panels will be used for the first 100 MW phase of a 1 GW solar park under construction in in Dachaidan, Qinghai, western China.
Overdue subsidy payments force Chinese solar developer to sell off prized LED business
Shunfeng International wants shareholders to wave through the sale of a business unit which offered a rare positive update in its last set of annual accounts. The parent wants to accept an offer for the operation from a company controlled by one of the directors of the seller.
Germany commits another €238m for clean power and energy efficiency in Bangladesh
The cheap loan package agreed at the weekend is part of a wider €340 million development deal and extends Germany’s record of promoting the energy transition of the South Asian nation.
New perovskite material for 23.5%-efficient solar cell
Researchers in Japan have found a new way to fabricate one of the most promising perovskite materials for PV application — the α-formamidinium lead iodide known as α-FAPbI3. With a pre-synthesized version of this material, they were able to produce a cell with a power conversion efficiency of 23.5% and a lifespan of more than 2,000 hours.
India added 1 GW of solar during Covid-hit April and May
The nation installed 1 GW of solar power capacity and 0.2 GW wind during the pandemic-hit first two months of the current fiscal year. The cumulative addition was double that of the same period during the previous year
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Cumulative PV capacity tops 260 GW
Furthermore, Aikosolar is seeking funds to build two solar cell factories totaling 16.5 GW, and China Huaneng Group (CHN) wants to deploy a 2 GW plant including agrivoltaics, floating PV and solar facilities built on fishponds.
Fortum to sell off 500 MW of India solar assets to Actis
The Finnish utility, which works primarily on a build-operate-transfer model in India, has signed an agreement to divest its 250 MW solar plant in Karnataka and 250 MW in Rajasthan to UK investor Actis. The transaction is valued at approximately €280 million and will enable Fortum to invest in building new projects.
Rockefeller and Ikea foundations pledge $1bn for small scale renewables
With ‘shovel-ready’ projects across India, Africa and Latin America in line for a mix of grants, cheap loans, equity investment and financial guarantees from this year, the two bodies hope to trigger $20 billion in total funding and bring reliable power to a billion people.
