Covid-19 weekly briefing: A cold wind for APAC renewables, respite for Indian developers and another salary cut for SunPower execs
The coronavirus epidemic continues to batter the global economy, including the solar industry, but falling demand during lockdowns has brought negative energy prices as well as helping drive record solar generation, amid less-polluted skies.
Beijing bail-out saved the day for Chinese solar developer
A rebranded Singyes Solar was able to stave off a debt default meltdown last year thanks to a $200 million cash injection from the state but the turnaround appears to have come at a hefty cost in longer-term borrowings and employees.
SunPower pauses its solar cell and module factories, reduces salaries and workweek
The solar efficiency leader remains on track to complete its planned split into two independently focused pure-play solar companies by the end of the second quarter.
Germany has 200,000 solar-plus-storage systems
EuPD Research estimates around 65,000 energy storage systems linked to rooftop PV were installed last year thanks to increasingly popular solar arrays and electric vehicles as well as rising electricity prices.
Renewables PPA signed in Spain despite Covid-19 disruption
Portuguese electric utility EDP will supply power to Dutch nutrition, health and sustainable lifestyle multinational Royal DSM. The agreement relates to 59 MW of solar and wind generation capacity.
Switching from ownership to leasing in times of Covid-19
Dutch solar distributor Enie is offering to buy rooftop PV systems from cash-strapped owners who will then receive a monthly leasing fee before regaining ownership of the hardware a decade on. The company will pay around 85% of the initial cost of the arrays but said it will not consider systems with ‘poor’ design or components.
Solar project gets under way at Polish coal site
Despite Covid-19 hampering development, construction and financing Polish energy giant Tauron will start constructing a 5 MW solar project on a former coal-fired power station site.
US module shipments down in January and February
While the volume of combined imports and exports slumped from almost 2 GW in December to 1.49 GW in January and 1.36 GW in February, the price per kilowatt rose dramatically in the second month of the year.
Covid-19 daily bulletin: Italian PV developers do their bit for the nation
Solar project owners responded to an appeal to donate a portion of their solar incentive payments to the public health authorities as another multinational body emphasized the importance of coronavirus fiscal stimulus packages having environmentally-friendly conditions attached.
Switzerland provides additional $47m for solar incentives
The government wants to see off a potential slump in the PV market as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The increase means CHF376 million worth of rebates will be available for solar systems.
