News

SolarEdge appoints acting CEO as Guy Sella’s health deteriorates
SolarEdge CEO and founder Guy Sella has taken a leave of absence to continue his battle with colon cancer.
Aug 22, 2019 // Solar, Asia, SolarEdge, Israel, Guy Sella, Zvi Lando, Nadav Zafrir, Uri Bechor
Take a break on the solar bench – but not for too long
Engie has raised eyebrows with the installation of several solar benches in Biarritz, southwestern France, as a local official has asked citizens to avoid sitting on them for long periods of time in order to keep their energy yield up. But the authorities over in Cannes are clearly impressed, as the municipal government in the French Riviera resort town has also revealed plans to buy more of the PV benches, which are designed by Croatian startup Include.
Aug 22, 2019 // Solar, France, Engie, pv modules, Europe, Guillaume Barucq, solar benches, Cannes
China electric utility attracts record low module price in 3 GW procurement
The state-owned State Power Investment Corp Ltd has received a bid of 25 cents per watt for monocrystalline panels in a tender to procure 3.04 GW of PV module capacity.
Aug 22, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, China, bifacial, Asia, mono perc, State Power Investment Corp
Indian university to operate solar microgrid pilots
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has issued an expression of interest to set up three solar-backed microgrid projects in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The deadline for submissions for prospective developers is Aug. 30.
Aug 22, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Storage, storage, India, Asia, Indian Institute of Technology, microgrid, Uttar Pradesh Power Corp. Ltd., Synergy Systems and Solutions
Solar to overtake wind in corporate renewable procurement
A new report by Wood Mackenzie and the American Wind Energy Association shows solar taking the favor of corporate renewable purchasers in 2021 and holding that crown to infinity and beyond.
Aug 22, 2019 // Solar, USA, Wood Mackenzie, American Wind Energy Association, North America, Target
Cell prices have tumbled again since early June
The latest figures show the solar policy vacuum, and related dearth of demand in China earlier this year accelerated price reductions for cell makers. Although prices are expected to rebound in line with renewed thirst for solar in China, cell makers such as Tongwei are feeling the pain.
Aug 22, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Markets & Finance News, China, monocrystalline, Asia, solar cell, prices, Tongwei Solar
Japanese scientists develop dye-sensitized cell with 10.7% efficiency
The improved performance was achieved by using a methylene bridged material, the molecular dye DfZnP-iPr.
Aug 22, 2019 // Technology, Japan, Asia, Kyoto University, dye-sensitized solar cell
IndianOil to invest $3.7bn in green energy projects
The fossil fuel giant announced the plan in its latest annual results. The company envisages rolling out electric vehicle chargers at its petrol and diesel stations.
Aug 22, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, Grids, India, Asia, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Sanjiv Singh
Singyes threatens to pursue winding up costs against Deutsche Bank
The heavily-indebted Chinese BIPV manufacturer has warned the petition issued by the German lender to recover a disputed $6.27 million debt could threaten the survival of the business as it would halt a planned bail-out by Beijing.
Aug 22, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Markets & Finance News, China, Hong Kong, Asia, Comtec Solar, Deutsche Bank, Water Development (HK) Holding Co Ltd
PV for cooking
Traditional solar cookers concentrate sunlight on mirrored surfaces and convert it into heat. But this summer, Sunspot unveiled Sunspot Solar Electric Cooking, a new cooker based on PV technology. The system relies on two PV modules, a lead-carbon battery, an inverter, and an induction cooktop.
Aug 21, 2019 // Technology, USA, North America, Sunspot Solar Electric Cooking system, Elsevier, International Solar Energy Society, David Renne
Atlas switches on second Brazilian solar project
Atlas Renewable Energy has switched on its second PV plant in Brazil, the 156MWp Juazeiro Solar Plant in the northeastern state of Bahia.
Aug 21, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Canadian Solar, PV plants, South america, Latin america, Brazil, Atlas Renewable Energy, Juazeiro Solar Plant, Jinko, GCL
Ares invests in US utility-scale solar player Heelstone Energy
US asset manager Ares Management Corporation announced on Monday that it has “made an investment” in US utility-scale solar investor Heelstone Energy.
Aug 21, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, USA, North America, Ares Management Corporation, Heelstone Energy
Subsidy-free shift to push China’s solar spotlight inland
China’s transition away from solar subsidies will redraw the industry’s expansion lines towards the country’s interior, experts have predicted.
Aug 21, 2019 // Solar, China, Asia, subsidy-free pv, subsidies, fitch solutions, feed-in tariffs
Walmart pins store fires on Tesla solar installs in new lawsuit
Walmart has linked a string of store fires in recent years to Tesla’s alleged mismanagement of solar panel installation and maintenance, taking Elon Musk’s outfit to court.
Aug 21, 2019 // Rooftop PV, USA, TESLA, Elon Musk, SolarCity, ssfusa, lawsuit, Walmart, North America, litigation
Sunnova reports more customers and dealers in Q2
US residential solar installer Sunnova reported a growing dealer network, more customers, new solar products and a larger geographical footprint in its first earnings release since going public.
Aug 21, 2019 // Residential, Markets & Finance News, USA, Sunrun, Sunnova, ssfusa, installer, residential, North America