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.
US proposes 10% tariffs on inverters, AC modules, non-lithium batteries from China
As the trade war escalates, PV inverters, solar panels with attached microinverters and battery storage products other than those which utilize lithium-ion chemistry, may be the latest victims.
Setting the stage for solar + storage
As more states adopt ambitious renewable power and storage targets, hopes increase for continued market opportunities beyond the ITC. In the mid-term, the overall market opportunity is clear. At IHS Markit, we project 73 GW of solar PV systems will be installed in the United States from 2018 to 2022.
China’s Chint investigates US solar manufacturing
The company is planning pilot U.S. inverter assembly in Texas, while it scouts for manufacturing locations in the U.S. Midwest.
Solar corporate funding rises 15% YoY with $5.3 billion in H1 2018 – Mercom
Despite the uncertainty caused by U.S. solar panel import tariffs, deteriorating trade relations between the U.S. and China, and the looming consequences of China’s PV policy change, the solar industry saw a 15% YoY increase in corporate funding in the first half of 2018, on the back of a Q2 rebound, finds the latest Mercom Capital report.
Global EV market growing sturdily despite trade dispute setbacks
EnergyTrend recognizes recent tariffs developments will hit the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Despite this, environmental regulations, as well as costs and technological advancement, will prevail and continue to drive EV sales globally.
New solar water-splitting cell demonstrates 19.3% efficiency, increasing longevity significantly
The cell uses a novel approach that increases its conversion efficiency and longevity at the same time. Researchers claim it is a new world record for this type of application and highlight its importance in storing renewable energy in hydrogen to compensate for output and demand fluctuations.
