What’s in store for storage? $620bn
The rise of batteries will attract that headline figure in investment up to 2040, say analysts, as exponential growth in EV ownership, falling stationery system costs and the needs of the world’s grid-poor regions combine to boost lithium-ion technology.
Solar drags on Kyocera figures
The PV business of the Japanese corporation is again the villain, as the conglomerate’s Life and Environment Group posts the only first-half business loss among otherwise impressive figures. The solar division has issued a profit warning.
Moixa launches 35 MWh battery cluster in Japan
The smart battery storage supplier has launched a 35 MWh cluster in Japan. This could grow to over 100 MWh within a year, says Moixa.
Asian market to see 355 GW of solar over five years, despite policy challenges
Despite political hurdles in key markets including China, India and Japan, Asia remains highly active. This year, 59 GW of solar is expected to be installed and due to further system price declines, a phase-out of subsidy schemes can be offset.
Japanese utility KEPCO tests blockchain technology to determine value of surplus solar power
The power supplier is cooperating with the University of Tokyo, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and Unisys, testing how solar power can be traded between solar prosumers and electricity consumers, while conducting transactions using a blockchain platform.
Fluorinated electron-acceptor improves yield of organic thin film solar cells
A Japanese research team claims to have tailored an electron-accepting unit, which has been successfully used in an organic semiconductor applied in a solar cell device that showed high PV performance.
Toshiba announces new $144 million SCiB battery factory
Toshiba Corporation has announced it will invest JPY 16.2 billion (around US$144 million) in a second Japanese manufacturing facility for its SCiB rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Solar Frontier changes ownership
The CIS thin film solar module maker was taken over, together with its parent company Japan’s oil and gas group, Showa Shell Sekiyu, by Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu.
Japan’s NPC posts 35.3% revenue growth for fiscal 2018
The Japanese equipment provider said its machinery business for the PV industry accounted for almost all of its sales in the latest fiscal year. It expects an increase in both revenue and profits in current fiscal year.
Bankset Energy announces GW-scale plans for solar railways the world over
Bankset Energy Corporation has ambitious plans to install gigawatts of solar PV on railway sleepers across the globe. While the first installation took place in Switzerland, work is under way on projects in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China and Italy; and gearing up in Austria and Spain. pv magazine speaks to Bankset Group president, Patrick Buri.
