Jenny Chase predicts up to 194 GW of solar this year
Falling module prices will help PV post another record year after an estimated 132 GW was installed worldwide in 2020, according to an energy transition investment trends report published by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Shoals Technologies announces IPO
Tennessee-based Shoals Technologies has balance-of-systems solutions deployed on more than 20 GW of solar energy systems throughout the world.
Tesla launches solar inverter
The EV manufacturer with big solar ambitions has finally leveraged its expertise in power electronics technology and launched a solar inverter.
Total, Hanwha Group to build 1.6 GW of solar, storage in US market
French energy giant Total called the 50:50 joint venture a “first significant step” into the U.S. utility-scale solar market.
Peeking into 2021: Green bonds to reach US$500 billion per year, solar on track to outrank oil and gas
Global management consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has issued a general economic prediction for 2021. Aside from some general notes on GDP recovery post-Covid, the analysts’ notes were heavily focussed on climate and energy finance and policy.
Average PPA prices rose in US market in 2020
For the first time since LevelTen Energy began tracking the U.S. market, solar power purchase agreement offer prices rose in 2020, with fourth-quarter prices 11.5% higher than a year earlier.
EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment opens manufacturing options, dodges forced-labor issues
The European Commission has finalized its long-anticipated investment agreement with China. While some renewable energy businesses might benefit from improved investment security, IP protection and access to legal remedies in China, the Commission did not address the issue of Uyghur forced labor in China. As a majority block in the European Parliament had previously demanded from the Commisison to develop a firm policy to end forced labor in China, there is reason for doubt that the agreement as it stands will be adopted by the EU Parliament.
Seawater aqueous battery based on alloy of zinc and manganese
Scientists in the United States developed a new anode for aqueous batteries. A working battery utilizing this anode, with seawater as an electrolyte, demonstrated impressive energy density, and remained stable after 1,000 hours of high current cycling. The group is already discussing the potential of their approach in large-scale manufacturing.
Innovative PPA debuts in US solar sector
Proxy generation power purchase agreements, which were first used with wind projects, manage weather-related risks by settling energy transfers based on a proxy generation index, rather than on actual metered generation. Operational risk shifts from buyer to seller.
SunPower to close module factory in Oregon in June
The US module maker plans to start shutting down production in Hillsboro in March. Around 170 employees are affected by the closure. At the same time, however, Sunpower is examining other options for continued operation.
