Germany

German project developer for renewable energies BayWa r.e. Renewable Energy GmbH has launched a new solar systems distribution business in Makati City, the Philippines.

A team of German scientists from HZB has performed a thorough research of methylammonium lead iodide structure. The crystal is among the most high-potential perovskites for solar cells. The researchers have discovered some properties, which are likely to help cope with the existing challenges and create cells that can boast both high efficiency and stability.

Shikun and Binui Renewable Energy will be the owner of the 120 MW Zeélim solar park in the south of Israel.

The Carl Zeiss Foundation has invested €4.5m in the R&D project by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. The KIT research team is going to invent whole new photovoltaic cells, which are supposed to provide all the benefits of organic, crystalline silicon and perovskite solar cells, such as printability, stability and ferroelectric properties.

Seoul-headquartered solar supplier Hanwha charges rivals in the United States, Germany and Australia with having violated its patent. In U.S., Jinko Solar – together with REC and Longi – have requested an intermediate review by USITC. Today, Jinko is expecting the judge to decide in its favor.

Research team from a few German institutes, together with South-China-based University of Technology, breaks a conversion efficiency record for organic photovoltaic modules. The 26 sq cm module consisting of 12 cells shows 12.6 per cent efficiency. The achievement is registered by Fraunhofer ISE.

Parent company FlixMobility plans to test hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Europe.

A new supplier from abroad enters Spain with an unsponsored photovoltaic project, debuting on a vigorous large-scale solar stage of an ever sunny South of Europe.

Insolvency proceedings started against Solibro, formerly one of the major thin-film PV suppliers in Germany. The creditors couldn’t invest the funds sufficient for the company’s restructuring. As a result, about 180 people will find themselves unemployed.

In September, PV systems with a total generation capacity of 287 MW were registered in the country. The feed-in tariff has fallen again for this quarter as a result of the new capacity additions.

This has been a breakthrough year for non-battery storage, with key advances in pumped hydro, power-to-gas, and thermal storage technologies. Many industry players are moving beyond pilot projects to contracted projects, which could lead to increased scale and lower costs.

Economic thinktank Carbon Tracker used financial modeling to determine the profitability of every coal power plant in the EU. On average, 79% of the facilities run at a loss, with Germany, Spain and Czechia among the states particularly exposed to the consequences – for coal investors and the public.

Enormous order intake is ensuring high production capacity utilization at the German PV equipment provider. The company said demand was particularly strong for high-efficiency solar cell production equipment in Asia. Thus far this year, however, that has not been reflected in the balance sheet.

Renewables contributed some 43% of electricity consumption in Germany in the first nine months of 2019 – a new record – however doubts remain over the country’s chances of meeting future targets.

PV InfoLink analyzed the key markets of China’s big module manufacturers, as well as product trends, based on export statistics. According to trade figures, the nation’s module exports totaled 34.2 GW in the first half of 2019, up by more than 90% from the corresponding period of 2018. In a nutshell, overseas demand has been strong in 2019.