Solar investment slid on the back of cheaper modules and China setback
The world again saw more than $300 billion of clean energy investment in 2018, according to BloombergNEF, and although wind narrowed the gap on solar, plunging module prices skewed the figures as PV capacity additions rose 10 GW.
TrendForce forecasts 111 GW of new solar this year
The Taiwanese market research company said the effects of the 5/31 policy shift in China were less severe than expected, and in 2018 the global solar market grew 4.9%, with approximately 103 GW of new additions. This year, the solar demand is forecast to rise another 7.7%.
American utility PG&E set to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company, founded 114 years ago, is filing for bankruptcy and may be broken up by regulators. None of which is good news for solar project owners holding contracts with the utility.
US will see more than 8 GW of solar come online this year
With 4.3 GW of utility-scale solar and 3.9 of distributed generation predicted, the figures collated from federal sources don’t take account of the huge capacity of solar projects waiting in the interconnection queues of seven grid operators.
Clustering-based computation used to measure PV module degradation
The method could be an effective tool to measure the performance of solar modules, according to research, due to its ability to speed up the inspection process, preventing further damage and hastening repairs.
Solar money is all flowing downstream – in the West at least
Mercom Capital’s latest report on financial activity in the solar sector illustrates an increasing flow of capital towards downstream companies and PV projects – as well as a split between China and the rest of the world.
New products contribute to another record year for sustainable finance
BloombergNEF figures show financial vehicles linked to environmental and/or social benefits amounted to $247bn worldwide in 2018. The US led the way, almost entirely because state-backed mortgage provider Fannie Mae issued $19.8bn worth of green home loans.
Another NY legal firm files class action against JA Solar
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLP claims JA Solar intended to relist on the Shenzhen exchange after merging with its holding company in July, but did not outline that intent when it asked U.S. shareholders to vote on the planned merger.
PV Evolution Labs to go it alone again outside DNV GL
The PV panel testing company has left the fold four years after being acquired by DNV GL. Insiders have stressed the move should not be problematic as PVEL was allowed a degree of independence after it was acquired.
Law firm says JA Solar’s Nasdaq stockholders were left out of pocket by ‘backdoor listing’ in Shenzhen
A New York-based legal practice is preparing a class action lawsuit against the Shanghai-based manufacturer after it delisted from the NY exchange in July and then reappeared on its Chinese counterpart.
