Asia

Taiwan-based analyst firm, WisolPro says the global capacity for PERC cells is rapidly increasing, with the technology likely to replace polycrystalline cells. HJT, thin film, and n-type PERT technologies are also on the rise.

By 2025, Taiwan aims to reach a cumulative installed solar PV capacity of 20 GW. However, by mid-2018, just 11.2% of this goal had been met. TrendForce analyst, Rhea Tsao, examines the situation and discusses what needs to be done to reach the target.

Following on from a partnership in 2017, Kostal and BYD are looking to further strengthen their ties under a new deal, which will see them provide storage solutions to the residential and commercial solar segments.

Canadian Solar Inc. says it has entered into agreements with Dr. Shawn Qu and several unidentified potential equity partners regarding the plans to take the manufacturer private. It has also sold 30 MW worth of PV plants to its infrastructure fund in Japan.

Today, Panda Green Energy Group Limited posted its results for the first half of the business year 2018. The company made itself a name when it started constructing Panda-shaped solar parks in 2017.

The New Climate Economy and OVO Energy, together with the Imperial College London, have published two independent reports pointing at the tremendous financial advantages resulting from clean tech transitions. Carbon pricing schemes could reap global sales of around US$2.8 billion, they say. Wide-spread use of storage, V2G, and electric heating could further save U.K. homes around $258 per year.

The parent company of Chinese solar module maker, Suntech saw its net loss almost quadruple in the first half of this year, while net revenue grew year-on-year by just 0.7%. Sales of solar products in the period reached around 1.9 GW, and the group’s total installed operational PV capacity reached 1.5 GW at the end of June.

Chinese glass and display device manufacturer, Irico saw total profit for the first half of 2018 increase more than 500% over the same period in 2017, thanks in part to increased revenue from its solar glass business. The company also confirmed that preliminary construction is underway on its 2 GW module factory in China’s Jiangsu Province.

Under the current scheme, rooftop PV remains far below its huge potential in the country. Regulatory, administrative and financial hurdles are preventing more electricity consumers from installing rooftop arrays, as well as the resistance of local utilities.

In the second quarter, India installed solar projects amounting to 52% less capacity quarter-over-quarter, due to uncertainties around trade cases, module price fluctuations and PPA renegotiations prompted by record low solar tender bids.