US: Trump proposes 72% cut to DOE’s clean energy research
U.S. President Donald J. Trump has asked Congress to take a machete to the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) renewable energy and energy efficiency programs to even lower levels than he proposed last year – cuts likely avoided because of Congressional incompetence.
NREL hits new milestone in reducing perovskite degradation
Scientists from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory have a created a perovskite solar cell, which retained 94% of its initial efficiency after 1,000 hours of constant operation under ambient air conditions.
Section 201 solar tariffs to be felt across market segments (w/chart)
GTM Research has issued new details, which show that distributed solar installations will also see a more than 10% decline from the base case through 2022.
Taiwanese cell giants plan US module factory
The newly minted merger of Neo Solar Power, Gintech and Solartech is planning a module factory, the second such factory to be announced by a large Asian PV maker since solar tariffs were finalized.
BREAKING: JinkoSolar confirms plans to invest $410 million in the US
In the first official confirmation of what pv magazine has been writing for two weeks, the Chinese manufacturer authorized its U.S. subsidiary to finalize plans for the investment.
Stem closes $80 million funding round
The energy storage company will receive the money from three different investors, including the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
Trump opens the door for specific products, nations to be excluded from tariffs
The U.S. President’s proclamation provides a path for specific products to apply for exemption from tariffs, which had been sought by both SunPower and the government of South Korea. Additionally, imports from a number of developing nations are exempt as long as import levels remain small.
GTM Research predicts 11% reduction in the US solar market from tariffs
President Trump’s tariff decision was not the worst-case scenario for the U.S. market, but GTM Research says it will still have effects, particularly in marginal and emerging regional markets.
Berkeley Lab researchers develop perovskite ‘smart window’ material
Scientists from the renowned U.S. Berkeley Laboratory have discovered a perovskite material, which can be used in photovoltaic glass applications, and can be switched between transparent and non-transparent without diminishing its electronic properties.
US solar tariff announcement elicits mixed feelings
SolarPower Europe and SAFE see a resulting contraction in the market, while EU ProSun is calling for the preferential treatment of EU solar manufacturers in the U.S. BNEF says a general window for negotiation of individual country agreements may be possible in the next few weeks.
