News

Big news as Zhonghuan Semiconductor unveils 12-inch super wafer
The manufacturer says its Kwafoo product improves efficiency and, if used in the optimal p-type PERC type of panel, could boast a module output of 610 W.
Aug 17, 2019 // Manufacturing News, China, LONGi, PERC, Kwafoo, Zhonghuan Semiconductor, wafer, Tianjin, half-cut solar cells
Global warming will hit solar panel performance
MIT researchers say climate change could reduce the yield of solar modules. Analysis based on the warming scenarios outlined by the IPCC predicts in some areas the annual energy output of PV systems may fall by up to 50 kWh per kilowatt installed.
Aug 17, 2019 // Technology, USA, solar modules, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, warming
Algerian diesel-solar tender concludes with lowest bid of 11 cents
State-owned gas and power provider Sonegalz intends to develop five hybrid projects in off-grid areas in the south of the country. The highest bid came in at the equivalent of $0.13/kWh.
Aug 16, 2019 // Plants, Sonegalz, hybrid solar generation, Moloud Bakli, Algerie, Animer Energie Spa
China Power’s Hong Kong business on track for return to China
The High Court has approved plans for the Chinese state-owned power company to reassume control of its Hong Kong-listed solar project development business.
Aug 16, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Solar, China, Hong Kong, polysilicon, High Court, China Power Clean Energy Development Co Ltd, GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd, Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon Technology Development Co Ltd
Exciting excitons
A research team from Columbia University has designed organic molecules that can produce excitons with a longer lifecycle than inorganic equivalents. The excitons have the potential to amplify the amount of electricity generated by the photons a solar cell absorbs.
Aug 16, 2019 // Technology, USA, PV panels, Columbia University, organic molecules, inorganic, Luis Campos
Commercial solar at grid parity in China but a hard line is needed on soft costs
Deploying commercial and industrial PV in China without subsidy is already profitable in some areas, according to a new study, but prohibitive soft costs and cheap electricity are the main barriers for such installations in areas where grid parity remains out of reach.
Aug 16, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Residential, Grids, Tariffs, China, PV module, solar rooftops, subsidy
Nanowire mesh offers better cell performance and lower costs
A new method of creating an ordered mesh of nanowires, developed by scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the United States, could lead to the creation of more efficient transparent electrode layers in solar cells – and the elimination of a rare material from the manufacturing process.
Aug 16, 2019 // Technology, USA, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Anna Hiszpanski, Nanowire, Yong Han
Thinktank says India must prioritize a vertically integrated solar supply chain
To develop cost-competitive solar modules the nation must adopt a phased program and set up 15 GW of silicon-ingot-to-solar-module manufacturing capacity by 2024, according to The Energy and Resources Institute.
Aug 16, 2019 // Manufacturing News, India, solar modules, silicon-ingot-to-solar-module, The Energy and Resources Institute
UK energy company loses license over unpaid renewables obligations
URE Energy repeatedly missed deadlines to settle a £209,000 bill after it failed to source enough of the electricity it supplied two years ago from renewable generation.
Aug 16, 2019 // Plants, UK, Ofgem, URE Energy, ROCs, license, Eversmart Energy, Solarplicity
UPC/AC Renewables invest in 550 MW of pumped hydro and solar in Australia
AC Renewables, the energy arm of Philippines’ Ayala Corp, and Australia’s UPC Renewables have agreed to buy 51% in a 250 MW pumped hydro project and a neighboring 300 MW solar project, both located in South Australia.
Aug 16, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, Storage, storage, Australia, AC Renewables, UPC Renewables, pumped hydro project, Bridle Track Solar Farm, Rise Renewables, PHES plant, Anton Rohner, Brer Adams
The tide is changing for ground-mounted PV in Ireland
Ireland appears ready to embrace PV after years of failed announcements. Globaldata predicts the EU member state will deploy around 1.3 GW of solar by 2030, with renewables potentially meeting 65% of electricity demand. Furthermore, Irish Water has announced it wants to deploy solar at its water treatment plants.
Aug 16, 2019 // Plants, Ireland, rooftop, Irish Water, water treatment plants, Nenagh Wastewater Treatment Plant, Newcastle West Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saliis Limited, Globaldata, Arkapal Sil, PV microgeneration
Lithium-ion batteries still set for US tariffs on September 1
The energy storage market is set to be the latest affected by Trump’s trade war as lithium-ion batteries were excluded from the group of Chinese imports for which the U.S. president announced tariffs would be delayed until December 15.
Aug 16, 2019 // Storage, Tariffs, Policy, USA, storage, TESLA, China, Trump, lithium-ion, Energy Storage Association, Nevada Gigafactory
Yingli to supply 110MW of solar panels to Solaria trio
Yingli’s European subsidiary has supplied Spanish solar developer Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente with PV panels for three plants with a combined 110MW of capacity.
Aug 16, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Spain, PV plant, solaria, castilla y leon, yingli
Sunnova partners with PetersenDean Roofing ahead of California residential solar mandate
US solar and battery storage service giant Sunnova is partnering with roofing and solar contractor PetersenDean Roofing & Solar to help Californians prepare for the state’s new residential solar law.
Aug 16, 2019 // Plants, Residential, Storage, California, USA, storage, Sunnova, PetersenDean Roofing & Solar
Canadian Solar taking module capacity to over 12GW in 2019
Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member, Canadian Solar plans to increase module assembly capacity to 12,220MW in 2019, an increase of 1,000MW on strong demand.
Aug 16, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Markets & Finance News, Canada, Canadian Solar, PV plants, pv modules, c-si manufacturing, North America