Asia

Tongwei Co. pushes ahead with ambitious expansion plans while Chinese solar sector braces for inevitable consolidation and price wars. The 28 billion yuan ($3.9 billion) factory in Inner Mongolia promises 500,000 tons of industrial silicon and 400,000 tons of polysilicon annually.

SOFAR's new 300 MW utility project in China's Tengger Desert is expected to generate 540M kWh annually and save 160,000 tons of SCE. Over 1,300 inverters and the I-V scanning and SSLD feature for efficient and safe operation reflect the company's commitment towards global carbon neutrality. By 2022, SOFAR aims to increase production capacity to 10 GW for inverters and 1 GWh for batteries.

The US is reportedly considering raising tariffs on Chinese goods, including EVs and solar products, to limit reliance and protect the US green industry. With Biden in office, officials are debating tariffs and looking to review them early in 2021. Potential targets include EV battery packs and consumer products, though the impact on the yuan and Chinese markets may be limited.

Gurin Energy Pte Ltd announces construction of 500-MW/2-GWh BESS in Japan, the largest of its kind in Asia. Set for completion in 2026, this JPY 91 billion project will help Japan meet its renewable energy goals & add 10GW of storage capacity by 2030.

Peak Energy and Topinfra form JV to develop 500 MW of solar and battery storage capacity in South Korea, with initial investment of 70 MW. Funds from Peak Energy will fuel ambitious pipeline of projects within the country.

The new monolithic tandem solar cell developed by Chonnam National University achieved 23% efficiency and a 2.1V open-circuit voltage. Fusing all-inorganic halide perovskites and other materials, it promises to revolutionize artificial photosynthesis and agri-voltaic applications.

Aisin Corp, a Japanese automotive parts supplier, has partnered with Greenalia to reserve 50 MW of energy from Texas' Misae II solar project. Greenalia will generate 130 GWh of electricity annually for Aisin's North American unit, 18% of the project's capacity. Misae II is expected to be operational by late 2025 and could expand up to 695 MWdc.

The Sri Lankan government has approved a 700-MW floating solar park with 1.5 GWh battery storage, providing 1,100 GWh of renewable energy annually and investing USD 1.72 billion. An environmental milestone, this project will revolutionize the energy sector of Kilinochchi.

Daqo New Energy Corp. unveils USD 2.1bn investment plan in Xinjiang, China for a industrial park to produce silicon-based materials. The ambitious project includes two phases of development with a total of 300,000 tonnes of polysilicon and 2.2 million pieces of silicon seed rod.

BCPG is selling its entire solar portfolio in Japan to Danish investor Obton, comprising 104MW of operational plants and 13MW of projects, valued at THB 10.38 billion. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.

Sembcorp wins 117 MWp solar PV tender from Singapore's government, furthering its commitment to green energy with 25GW of renewable capacity by 2028.

Rays Power Infra signs MOU with Uttarakhand to build 500-MW solar park, meeting state's power demands and expanding presence into Asia, Middle East, and North Africa. Make the switch to clean energy with this experienced solar plant builder.

Trina Solar enters the industrial energy storage sector in Japan, partnering with Narashinrinsigen to supply 30MWh of storage capacity from 2024. Trina Storage’s Elementa 2 boasts zero battery degradation in the first year of operation. With over 100 global partners and projects exceeding 10 GWh, this collaboration will contribute significantly to the global energy transition.

China is dramatically changing its power system to boost battery profits and reduce solar payments. 20 provinces and regions have adopted electricity rate regimes that will likely affect solar's economic outlook. With improved economics, China is expected to triple energy storage installations this year. Meanwhile, Australia is pressing China to remove trade impediments concerning live lobster and red meat.

Researchers in China have developed a graphite putty for use in perovskite solar devices - malleable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable with impressive efficiencies of up to 20.29%.