Chinese PV Industry Brief: January-May Installations Hit 79.15 GW
China‘s cumulative installed PV capacity reached 690 GW at the end of May, according to recent numbers released by the country’s National Energy Administration (NEA).
China Modules Prices Trend Lower on Weak Demand, Oversupply
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
The Hydrogen Stream: PV-Wind Hybrids Cut LCOH by 70%
Portuguese and Italian researchers have shown that the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) is lower onshore and that PV-wind configurations reduce the LCOH up to 70%, while Lhyfe says it has started collaborating on a hydrogen storage project.
United Kingdom Closes in on 16 GW Installed Solar Capacity
The latest government installation figures reveal a slower start to the year for the United Kingdom, with small-scale installations accounting for the majority of additions. As the UK General Election approaches, there are calls from industry for the next government to act quickly on the issues hindering capacity expansion.
Freight Costs Edge Toward Pandemic Levels, Hitting Solar Module Costs
Freight costs, which represent around 4% of a solar module’s total costs, are increasing on trade lines between the Far East and the US West Coast, Northern Europe, and Mediterranean region.
US Startup Uses Agricultural Waste To Produce Low-Cost, Safe Batteries
US-based start-up SorbiForce uses no toxic products or metals in production of its batteries. It claims its systems are cheaper and safer than lithium-ion batteries and have near zero end-of-life waste.
Switzerland’s Solar Installations Hit 602 MW in January-April
Switzerland installed 602 MW of solar in the first four months of the year, bringing its total installed PV capacity to around 6.8 GW by the end of April.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: NEA Moves Forward With Curtailment Plan
China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) says that utilization rates of solar and wind projects in specific provinces must not fall below 90%.
Australian Miner Energizes 95 MW Offgrid Wind-Solar-Storage Plant
Australian miner Liontown Resources has flicked the switch on one of the largest off-grid renewable energy hybrid power stations in Australia.
California Is Now a Batteries-Based Rooftop Solar Market
About 60% of energy customers in California have included battery energy storage with their rooftop solar installations. However, a “sustained downturn” is expected for the market.
U.S. Commercial Real Estate To Host VPP-Connected Flywheels and Batteries
US-based technology provider Torus has agreed to supply nearly 26 MWh of energy storage for Gardner Group’s commercial real estate portfolio. The project will integrate battery and flywheel energy storage systems (BESS, FESS) with Torus’ proprietary energy management platform.
Hive Energy Secures Grid Connection Permit for 215.6 MW of Solar Projects in Serbia
UK’s Hive Energy said the projects will feature battery energy storage systems that equate to 10% of the overall solar capacity.
Australia Targets 20% Market Share With Domestic Solar Module Manufacturing
Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the federal government’s AUD 1 billion ($662.2 million) Solar Sunshot initiative could lead to domestic production covering 20% of the nation’s PV panel needs by the end of the decade.
Renewables Must Triple by 2030 To Hit Net-Zero by 2050, Says BloombergNEF
BloombergNEF says in a new report that solar and wind must drive most emissions cuts before 2030 to stay on track for net-zero by 2050. Its net-zero scenario targets a combined solar and wind capacity of 31 TW by 2050.
US, Canada Ramp up Solar Glass Plans
With PV module capacity ramping up, glass suppliers have been investing in new solar glass production capacity. As in India and China, new facilities are popping up in North America, with unique twists to ensure competitiveness, such as using recycled material.