Longi signs $600 million module supply deal with US customer
Longi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd has signed a significant sales contract for the shipment of solar PV modules to an unidentified customer in the U.S.
REC Silicon hit by falling demand in Q2
Norway headquartered polysilicon producer, REC Silicon posted a loss of US$9.6 million for the second quarter of 2018, amid reduced production and increasing inventory. The company’s Solar Materials segment was responsible for much of these losses, with decreased demand and ongoing trade wars cited as the cause.
Renewable energy brings California emissions below 1990 levels
The U.S. state’s latest report shows that it has beat its 2020 target for emissions reductions four years early, mostly thanks to more renewable energy.
JA Solar exits NASDAQ exchange
Chinese module giant JA Solar has announced the completion of a merger that makes it the latest in a line of solar manufacturers to voluntarily de-list from a major stock exchange.
BNEF: Micro-grids could ‘leapfrog’ the grids for universal power supply
UN delegates are meeting in New York to negotiate further realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. One of the goals is to ‘Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.’ And Bloomberg NEF argues that thanks to new technology this goal is more feasible than ever, and that delegates should focus on building financial and regulatory frameworks to enable large scale micro-grid development.
Pennsylvania lays out a plan for 11 GW of solar by 2030
The state’s environmental department has participated in a study which calls for the state to increase installed solar 36-fold, to reach 10% of all generation by 2030.
Sonnen hits almost €10 million in PV storage sales in June
The German PV home storage provider delivered around 1,500 solar batteries globally last month. At around 75%, most systems went to Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
US: Mixed impact of proposed Section 301 tariffs on inverter makers
GTM Research says the 10% tariffs that the Trump Administration is calling for are “significant”, and some companies and sectors will be affected more than others.
BMW, Tesla open factories in China, driving EV market in spite of trade-dispute
In the wake of the U.S.-China trade dispute, the Chinese government has loosened its policy on ownership caps for factory sites for foreign car brands. Previously, car companies could only retain 50% of the ownership of a factory and had to set up a joint venture with a Chinese partner. By setting up shop in China, Tesla can avoid import duties on its cars, to cater to a broader customer base.
US researchers achieve breakthrough for graphene-based solar cells
A team of scientists at the University of Kansas has developed a method to boost the lifetime of excited electrons in graphene, a development which the team alleges could lead to the development of highly efficient, ultrathin solar cells.
