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sfce 11/19
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LDK Solar collapses into bankruptcy in China
Nov 18, 2015 | PV - Tech
By Mark Osborne
...A web of LDK Solar subsidiary companies in China that had indirect investment from the likes of major China-based renewables enterprises such as Shunfeng, which had previously acquired bankrupt Suntech, once the largest PV module manufacturer in the world are impacted by the developments. -
Overview: the state-of-the-art research in photovoltaics in Australia
Nov 18, 2015 | Sun & Wind Energy
By Vidur Raj
...These institutes have close collaborations with their industrial partners that include some major solar cells market players such as Trina Solar, BT Imaging, Suntech, etc. -
New report shares details about the global photovoltaic solar panel market
Nov 19, 2015 | WhaTech
...Sharp, First Solar, Trina Solar, Suntech, and Ascent Solar Technologies are among the companies anticipated to benefit from the build out of solar energy. These are the companies positioned to leverage solar energy market growth. -
Suniva OPTimus solar panels to power installs at two California almond farms
Nov 18, 2015 | Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel
Suniva Inc. will soon power two Bushnell family farms in California’s central valley. -
Enel bets hard on renewable energy
Nov 19, 2015 | Financial Times
By James Politi
Enel, the Italian utility, is doubling down on renewable energy after clinching a long-awaited deal to buy out minority shareholders in its publicly listed green power unit. -
EU Publishes Post-2020 Renewables Consultation
Nov 19, 2015 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Stephen Gardner
The European Commission Nov. 18 said it would prepare during 2016 a draft European Union directive setting out a post-2020 renewable energy strategy for the 28-country bloc. -
UK to phase out all coal plants by 2025
Nov 18, 2015 | PV Magazine
Energy Minister Amber Rudd delivers speech calling for an end to 'outdated' energy source, with natural gas and nuclear power to be ramped up to plug the power gap. -
Intersolar India: Government to restore 30% rooftop subsidy after slow start
Nov 18, 2015 | PV - Tech
By Tom Kenning
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is to increase subsidies for rooftop solar from 15% to 30% in the next week, although this will not be the case for commercial and industrial rooftop. -
India's rooftop PV capacity to hits 525 MW, says Bridge to India
Nov 18, 2015 | PV Magazine
By Ian Clover
Consultancy firm says landmark was reached in October, adding as much solar capacity in the past 12 months as the three years that preceded it; next 12 months will see slight slowdown, with 455 MW installed. -
China Sets Up Pilot to Better Account for Resources
Nov 19, 2015 | BNA Daily Environment Report
China is launching a pilot program to gather accurate data on land and water resources to evaluate environmental and development impacts and promote sustainable development nationwide, the State Council said Nov. 17. -
China Cuts Gas Price for Industrial Users to Boost Demand
Nov 19, 2015 |
China cut natural gas prices for business and industrial users as the world's second-largest economy seeks to boost use of the fuel in its energy mix and reduce pollution. -
Tongwei Group Plans World's Biggest Solar-Cell Plant
Nov 19, 2015 | Bloomberg
Tongwei Group Co. is planning to build the world's largest plant to make solar cells in China's southwestern province of Sichuan at a possible cost of about $1 billion. -
China Eyes Charging Network for 5M Electric Cars by 2020
Nov 19, 2015 | Bloomberg
China plans to add more than 4.8 million single-vehicle charging points in the next five years to accommodate 5 million electric cars in an effort to curb automobile emissions. -
Questions asked of EU-China anti-dumping measures as two more manufacturers are removed
Nov 18, 2015 | PV - Tech
By Andy Colthorpe
Fresh questions have been raised over measures to prevent “dumping” of cheap solar products from China into the EU, following the news that two more Chinese exporters have been removed from the undertaking. -
SunPower's Solar Farms for Apple in China to Quadruple Power
Nov 19, 2015 | Bloomberg
By Chris Martin and Mark Chediak
SunPower Corp. agreed to build three solar farms in China’s Inner Mongolia region with a capacity of 170 megawatts for Apple Inc., a sale that will more than quadruple the technology company’s commitments to pollution-free power in the country.
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LDK Solar collapses into bankruptcy in China
Nov 18, 2015 | PV - Tech
By Mark Osborne
China-based polysilicon and PV module manufacturer LDK Solar has been forced into bankruptcy proceedings in China soon after it had exited bankruptcy proceedings of its parent holding company that was once listed in the US.
A web of LDK Solar subsidiary companies in China that had indirect investment from the likes of major China-based renewables enterprises such as Shunfeng, which had previously acquired bankrupt Suntech, once the largest PV module manufacturer in the world are impacted by the developments.
On November 17, 2015, the Xinyu Intermediate Court was said to have declared the commencement of the bankruptcy restructuring, which will start on March 1, 2016.
"It is regrettable that we have come to this inevitable juncture on our onshore financial crossroads, despite the tremendous efforts we have made in order to make progress in our onshore financial restructuring subsequent to our successful offshore financial restructuring," commented Mr. Zhibin Liu, Chairman, President and CEO of LDK Solar. "Nevertheless, we respect our creditors' rights and interests; we respect our other stakeholders' rights and interests; and we respect the judicial intervention by the Xinyu Intermediate Court in its attempt to protect the rights and interests of our various stakeholders. We will cooperate with the court and will endeavor to achieve a reasonable and balanced result for LDK Solar and its stakeholders. As far as the LDK Solar management is concerned, we continue to be determined to work hard in the current and forthcoming economic environment, to meet our challenges ahead in our onshore restructuring, and to build our company up into a reputable player in the photovoltaic industry. In this regard, we appreciate the continued support of our wide-ranging stakeholders during our tortuous restructuring and rebuilding process."
Subsidiaries of LDK Solar in China that have been forced into bankruptcy by creditors include the following:
Jiangxi LDK Solar Hi-Tech Co., Ltd., LDK Solar Hi-Tech (Xinyu) Co., Ltd., Jiangxi LDK PV Silicon Technology Co., Ltd. and Jiangxi LDK Solar Polysilicon Co., Ltd.
The actions against LDK Solar were brought about by Xinyu City Chengdong Construction and Investment Corporation ("Xinyu Chengdong") and China National Grid (Jiangxi Province) Corporation Ganxi Power Branch ("Ganxi Power" and, together with Xinyu Chengdong.
Debts owed amounted to over US$44 million Rmb 281,581,675 and US$8.3 million to electricity charges due Ganxi Power.
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Overview: the state-of-the-art research in photovoltaics in Australia
Nov 18, 2015 | Sun & Wind Energy
By Vidur Raj
Australia has actively been involved in major solar cells based R&D projects for the past several years. Organizations that are actively involved in R&D of solar cells for commercial applications are UNSW, Monash University, the University of Melbourne, ANU, AUSIAPV, ACAP, CSIRO, the University of Queensland and Australian Photovoltaic Institute. These institutes have close collaborations with their industrial partners that include some major solar cells market players such as Trina Solar, BT Imaging, Suntech, etc.
Major areas of research include silicon-based solar cells, organic and earth-abundant inorganic thin film cells (CZTS), nanowire solar cells and other solar cell materials such as perovskite. Silicon-based solar cells hold almost 95 % of market share in the solar cells industry. Keeping that in mind, extensive research is going on to improve the efficiency of Si solar cells which is still ~15 - 20 % for crystalline industrial solar cells.
Under the leadership of Martin A. Green of UNSW(link is external), Australia holds the record of highest efficiency crystalline solar cells but still there is a large scope of improvement in Si-based solar cells which will make it more market friendly. Australian organizations are working extensively in the use of lower cost silicon feedstocks that can significantly reduce the cost of solar cells. ANU(link is external) and UNSW hold an international reputation for developing new hydrogenation approaches that are very relevant to this kind of research. Other areas of research in Si solar cells include improvement in efficiency of n-type Si-based rear contact solar cells, developing new methods for passivating the metal/semiconductor contacts which is important to realize high-efficiency solar cells, and Si-based tandem solar cells. According to solar cells efficiency table published in 2015, UNSW has already achieved an efficiency of 22.4 % and has envisioned further improving it to 24 % using rear contact solar cells technology.Crystalline Si: the limiting efficiency exceeds by 50 %
The majority of commercially available solar cells are based on p-type Si. Researchers’ team at ANU and UNSW are looking to improve the technology for n-type back-contact Si-based solar cells. It is the material used for record efficiency. But because of its high cost it still is not commercially available. It has reduced sensitivity to metallic impurities such as iron, and long diffusion lengths which makes it perfect for high-efficiency solar cells. Back contact solar cells lack front contact that leaves more area for absorption of light and as a result this significantly improves the solar cells efficiency. Recombination of carriers at metal-semiconductor contact is another problem which researchers are working on. Ideally, these selective contacts should permit the passage of one type of charge carrier while perfectly blocking the other type. The recombination at the contact between the metal and the n+ or p+ semiconductor is practically unavoidable with conventional technology, so researchers are investigating different ways through which passivation can be achieved.
Unavoidable Auger recombination in silicon makes it difficult to obtain efficiency over 25 %, but with stacking cells on Si significant improvement in efficiency can be achieved due to Silicon’s near ideal bandgap for this role and to a reduction in the significance of Auger effects as generation is split between multiple devices. In this kind of solar cell, a Si wafer is used as a template for the deposition of thin, high quality, wide-bandgap crystalline cells on its top surface, much the same way as an antireflection coating layer is deposited in commercial solar cells. Through this kind of structure not only the Auger effects can be reduced, but also a broad range of absorption of the solar spectrum can be achieved. For three cells stacked on silicon, the limiting efficiency exceeds by 50 %. There is lattice mismatch between Si and III-V materials, which makes the deposition of III-V over Si a difficult task to achieve. Most of the research in this field is going on to reduce the fabrication and processing steps, which is a major limiting factor for commercial application of these kinds of solar cells.Low-cost alternatives
Dye-Sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) devices are the low-cost alternatives for Si-based solar cells. Although efficiencies as high as 10 – 12 % have been reported by labs, still large area deposition of materials and the development of non-volatile and non-corrosive electrolytes for DSSCs are a few big challenges for the solar cells industry. Australian institutions are actively involved in the development of environmentally suitable components and processing steps for third generation PV-concepts of OPV and DSSCs. University Melbourne, University. Queensland, Monash, and UNSW are major contributors to this project. Organic heterojunction solar cells are a specific kind of OPV where a heterojunction between organic and inorganic material (sometime nanomaterials) is investigated to realize high-efficiency of these kinds of solar cells.
As a part of this project, researchers are studying light trapping, design of carrier buffer layer and optimization of active layer. Ternary organic solar cell structures are also being explored. So much of research in the field of organic solar cells is because of its’ easy availability, easy processing steps, and very low processing cost when compared any other commercial solar. Still a lot of work needs to be done in this field to improve its stability further which is another major concern about this kind of solar cells.Thin film cell with 10.5 % efficiency
The Amorphous Si is relatively very cheap when compared to crystalline Si. So many of the research groups are working closely to improve further the large area cell (> 1cm2) efficiency by using laser annealing and tandem junction. UNSW invented the thin film silicon on glass (CSG) technology that holds the record efficiency worldwide of 10.5 % for any thin film silicon device (higher than any amorphous or microcrystalline device, despite the much larger developmental efforts with these technologies).
Earth-abundant thin film cells (CZTS) is another promising group of materials which can replace high cost Si-based solar cells. A lot of work is going on to enhance the capabilities of fabricating CZTS absorber. In addition to modification in processing steps, the growth of CZTS based cells on cheap substrates such as stainless steel and soda-lime glass (extremely cheap) is under R&D. Certainly a lot of work is to be done in this field to realize good efficiency solar cells but with time we can expect this efficiency to touch 7 - 8 % and eventually comparable to DSSCs and thin-film solar cells.Latest trends: nanomaterials and perovskite
Nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention among the scientific community because of its striking physical and electrical properties such as light trapping, reduced size, low cost, etc. ANU, Australia, holds international reputation in growth and application of III-V nanowires/nanorods. Currently, III-V materials are not widely used because of its high processing and manufacturing cost but research in the field of nanowires based solar cell can significantly reduce the cost and efficiency of solar cells. InP and GaAs are mainly the materials of interest because of their ideal bandgap for solar cells application.
For decades Silicon-based solar cells have ruled the PV industry, but a different crystalline material, perovskite, has recently attracted considerable attention due to the advantages of high performance, low cost, easy solution-processability, light weight, and flexibility. The intrinsic properties of perovskites – such as their broad absorption spectrum, fast charge separation, long transport distance of electrons and holes, long carrier separation lifetime – make them very promising materials for solid-state solar cells. Recently, the Australian government has provided almost 4.50 lacs of funding to ARENA(link is external) to deliver a ‘commercialization roadmap’ for perovskite-based solar cells. Australian solar technology developer Dyesol perovskite solar technology has claimed to bag a project for the installation of a 600 MW plant in Turkey. But, still there are issues such as reproducibility and long-term stability that need to be addressed before they can be used on large scale for solar cells fabrication.
Overall it’s just about the time that more efficient technologies will replace Si-based solar cells. The author based on his analysis expects that within a span of 5 years we will be able to see a great increment in percentage market share of alternative solar cells (non-Si solar cells) which is currently less than 7 - 8 %.
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New report shares details about the global photovoltaic solar panel market
Nov 19, 2015 | WhaTech
Large solar farms are more popular initially, but solar is anticipated to be built out on commercial roof tops in increased quantity. The electricity generated will be fed to local substations and distributed to homes from there.
The electricity generated will be used for both stationary power and to charge electric vehicles. Photovoltaics PV market growth depends on volume production to achieve economies of scale.
Solar energy market driving forces relate to the opportunity to harness a cheap, long lasting, powerful energy source. Solar energy can be used to create electricity in huge quantity.
Solar panels are mounted in a weatherproof frame, are mounted in areas with direct exposure to the sun to generate electricity from sunlight.
Solar power systems are comprised of solar modules, related power electronics, and other components. Solar panels are used in residential, commercial and industrial applications.
Solar compositions of arrays that comprise electric utility grids appear to be the wave of the future.
The demand for solar energy is dependent on a lower prices for solar and higher prices for petroleum. A combination of economies of scale being realized in the manufacturing along with increases in the current prices for petroleum will drive solar energy adoption.
The overall solar market has attained enough critical mass to boost competitive technologies of thin film and monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and multicrystalline silicon based systems.
First Solar, the market leader, in commercial systems is participating in the solar markets at a level of $1.9 billion of a total 2009 market of $19.6 billion for 2009. First Solar is well positioned to gain significant market share over the next five years.
First Solar basically does monolithic integration on glass, making things on the module level.
First Solar PV modules are thin film PV modules. The achievement of reaching 1GW of modules in installations bodes well for the entire industry, bringing credibility to the solar energy effort.
To support the growing demand, First Solar continues to push the limits on volume manufacturing. First Solar is integrating each production step.
Sharp, the market leader, has achieved remarkable penetration of residential markets. Mass production of tandem?type thin?film solar cells means two types of cells are offered—crystalline types suitable for colder temperatures at high latitudes, and thinfilm types better suited to warmer regions.
Sharp is a unique manufacturer in that they offer both types.
Key market transitions are being made relative to smart grid, the increasing centrality of the local power substation, and implementation of the smart grid as a distribution center for electricity generated by solar power.
Solar energy is being adopted because the petroleum reserves are facing depletion. Solar offers plentiful, cheap energy source with panels that have a 25 year life and payback within 10 years.
The payback is within 8 months if the solar electricity generated is used to charge an electric vehicle.
Thin film batteries and new utility level electricity storage are evolving. Thin film batteries are expected to power electric vehicles and sit on the ground outside homes and apartment buildings to store the electricity generated by solar.
Thin film batteries provide the bridge to offer electricity when the sun it not shining.
Thin film batteries fuel growth in solar markets. These markets are set to evolve even faster than anyone has thought.
Sharp, First Solar, Trina Solar, Suntech, and Ascent Solar Technologies are among the companies anticipated to benefit from the build out of solar energy. These are the companies positioned to leverage solar energy market growth.
These market participants continue to be very aggressive in both internal innovation commitments, as well as partnership and acquisition strategies.
According to Susan Eustis, President of WinterGreen Research, “Worldwide solar markets are poised to achieve significant growth as solar energy is widely adopted, creating economies of scale and funding new technology efficiencies. Manufacturing efficiencies are expected to create new uses and permit users to leverage existing ones.
Costs of solar panels are expected to decrease rapidly in response to the continuing economies of scale. Market strategies of the leaders Sharp First Solar, and Trina are compelling in their innovation and flexibility”.
Emerging markets depend on 100 successful trials and reference accounts. Solar energy has now surpassed that magic number and is poised for rapid growth.
The reference accounts are in place, the prices of the solar modules are decreasing at a faster pace than the industry had predicted, grid parity has been achieved in some places and is on track to be achieved everywhere.
Investment in solar energy is anticipated to continue. Participants will come and go, industry consolidation and high growth patterns will alternate until the nascent industry stabilizes, but solar energy is here to stay.
Solar energy is in place. It works, it is no longer a dream or a long shot, it is real. Read the study, look at the pictures of the large number of installations, this is an amazing market, emerging long after early efforts to bring these technologies to reality: Why is it here now? Solar energy is evolving because the price of gasoline in going to continue to climb.
Solar energy markets are big. At $19.6 billion in 2009 solar panels are anticipated to reach$125.5 billion by 2016. Market growth comes because the technology has caught the imagination of everyone, consumers, vendors, governments, politicians, oil producers, and the utility industry.
The technology works, its benefits have a positive ROI over the useful life of the panels, even a significant payback. Solar provides the cheap, clean, dependable energy source needed to drive industrial growth, available.
Report Methodology
This is the 437th report in a series of market research reports that provide forecasts in communications, telecommunications, the internet, computer, software, and telephone equipment. The project leaders take direct responsibility for writing and preparing each report.
They have significant experience preparing industry studies. Forecasts are based on primary research and proprietary data bases.
Forecasts reflect analysis of the market trends in the segment and related segments. Unit and dollar shipments are analyzed through consideration of dollar volume of each market participation in the segment.
Market share analysis includes conversations with key customers of products, industry segment leaders, marketing directors, distributors, leading market participants, and companies seeking to develop measurable market share. Over 200 in-depth interviews are conducted for each report with a broad range of key participants and opinion leaders in the market segment.
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Suniva OPTimus solar panels to power installs at two California almond farms
Nov 18, 2015 | Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel
Suniva Inc. will soon power two Bushnell family farms in California’s central valley.
Suniva’s OPTimus panels are being installed by Nuance Energy Group Inc. and its solar contracting division, AgWell Solar to bring 824 kW of solar energy to Bushnell Farms and Three and One Farms, both operated by the Bushnell family, an almond grower in Buttonwillow, California. The Bushnell family is one of many local area growers that has recently discovered how solar power will help them reap huge savings by harvesting energy from the sun, and that it can be done affordably, too. This decision to go solar comes at an ideal time for many California farmers, who have formally relied on PG&E’s AG-ICE rate plan set to expire on December 31, 2015.
“With the 10-year AG-ICE rate plan coming to an end, we realized we would need an alternative plan to avoid a significant rate increase imposed by PG&E,” said Julia Bushnell, owner of Bushnell Farms. “Our decision to go solar was an easy one – after doing the math, we determined that our solar installations would reduce our utility costs by seventy-one percent. We couldn’t pass it up.”
“Current PG&E AG-ICE customers are in for a world of hurt come Jan 1, 2016,” said Brian C. Boguess, president of Nuance Energy. “That’s because PG&E will place them on an AG5 rate schedule, which will almost double what they are currently paying. The rate change would cost the two Bushnell family Ag operations more than $136,000 in 2016. However, by going solar and converting to an AG4 rate plan, AgWell Solar will save the Bushnell family an estimated $208,000 next year.”
“It’s great to see California’s agriculture enterprises take advantage of solar energy,” said Matt Card, vice president of global sales and marketing of Suniva. “Harvesting solar energy is a very natural complement to agri-business, not only in California, but nation-wide, and our high-powered OPTimus modules, combined with Nuance Energy’s affordable, modular and portable Osprey PowerPlatform solar racking structures, are the perfect fit for someone seeking a high-quality, cost-effective solar solution.”
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Enel bets hard on renewable energy
Nov 19, 2015 | Financial Times
By James Politi
Enel, the Italian utility, is doubling down on renewable energy after clinching a long-awaited deal to buy out minority shareholders in its publicly listed green power unit.
The announcement about Enel Green Power came as the company lowered its earnings target for the next two years but stuck with its dividend forecast.
Enel has led the way among the largest European utilities in investing in renewable energy. The group has also led the corporate charge for a climate deal in Paris next month,
Under the agreement announced on Tuesday, investors in EGP, which has a market capitalisation of nearly €10bn, will receive Enel stock at an exchange ratio of 0.486 Enel shares for each EGP share.
Francesco Starace, Enel chief executive, said the agreement would allow green energy to “sit at the centre” of the company’s business model and allow more investment in EGP’s pipeline, which had been “exceeding” its capabilities as a standalone business.
He said the renewables business had evolved from being centred on government incentives more than a decade ago, to being based on cheap funding, but that was changing. “The third phase is of maturity and industrial growth,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.
The green power deal marks the latest stage in Enel’s transformation under Mr Starace, who took over last year. The utility is 25 per cent owned by the Italian state, but that stake will decline to 23.5 per cent after the EGP deal.
Mr Starace has been trying to cut costs and dispose of assets in slower growing European markets while shifting the company’s focus to emerging markets, particularly in Latin America.
His efforts have bumped up against what he describes as “headwinds” ranging from currency devaluations and the economic slowdown in Latin America to lower power prices and regulatory changes in Europe. He estimates they will collectively knock about €5bn off Enel’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation through 2019.
But Mr Starace insisted Enel’s strategy had been “robust enough to absorb and react to these kinds of headwinds”.
On Wednesday, Enel announced that it would increase its target for asset sales from €5bn to €6bn, including the looming disposal of its stake in a Slovakian power business. In addition, Enel will push about 14 per cent of its workforce, or 9,200 people, to take early retirement. Those departures will only be partially replaced by 4,500 new hires.
Enel said it was planning on a €2.7bn boost in capital expenditures in the coming years. The dividend policy announced last March shows a gradual increase in payouts in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the company’s ebitda targets for 2016 and 2017 were lowered only slightly, by €300m to €14.7bn next year and by €100m to €15.5bn the following year compared to the previous estimate.
Investors showed a cool reaction to Mr Starace’s plan. Deirdre Cooper, portfolio manager at Ecofin Ltd in London said she was “extremely disappointed” with the deal, which extended “the dismal track record of treatment of minority shareholders in renewable subsidiary buy-ins in Europe”.
“Not only has Enel not paid fair value to [Enel Green Power] shareholders, more importantly those shareholders have been given no choice but to accept this offer,” Ms Cooper said.
Enel shares traded at €4.11, down 2.5 per cent, at midday. Shares in Enel Green Power, which was floated in 2010, were also down, by 2.6 per cent to €1.96. Some minority investors in EGP have been worried that the Enel deal would undervalue the company because Enel is allowed to vote its 70 per cent stake in favour of the deal under Italian law.
But Mr Starace said they should not complain. “These guys made good returns. They can’t complain too much,” he said. “All in all it’s a fair treatment.”
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EU Publishes Post-2020 Renewables Consultation
Nov 19, 2015 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Stephen Gardner
The European Commission Nov. 18 said it would prepare during 2016 a draft European Union directive setting out a post-2020 renewable energy strategy for the 28-country bloc.
The directive would have to set out how the EU will meet a target for renewables to provide at least 27 percent of energy consumed by 2030, which EU leaders agreed to in October 2014 (207 DEN A-2, 10/27/14).
The commission called for input through Feb. 10, 2016, into preparation of the proposal.
The 27 percent share for renewables was agreed to because it was calculated as the minimum level necessary to ensure that the EU cuts its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The EU pledged the 40 percent emissions cut in preparation for the Paris climate summit that starts Nov. 30.
Currently, the EU has binding targets of a 20 percent emissions cut by 2020 compared to 1990, and for renewables to provide 20 percent of energy by 2020.
Enforcement Conundrum
European Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic at a briefing in Brussels Nov. 18 said the commission would publish in the fall of 2016 proposals to hit the 27 percent renewables target.
One of the main issues to be resolved in the proposal will be how to enforce the target.
The current European Union's renewables target for 2020 is broken down into targets per member state, but for 2030, EU leaders stipulated that the 27 percent objective should be binding at the EU level, but should not be split into national targets.
In the consultation paper calling for input into the post-2020 renewables strategy, the commission said a “new approach to target achievement therefore needs to be developed,” and there would have to be “sufficient transparency and reliability, predictability and stability to spur renewable energy investments.”
It would be necessary to “compare and monitor progress toward the renewables target,” while respecting member states' “flexibility” in terms of their “specific national circumstances, energy mixes and capacities to produce renewable energy,” the consultation paper said.
The European Wind Energy Association said in a statement Nov. 18 that EU countries should make “renewable energy commitments” by the end of 2017.
If these fell short of the 27 percent level, the commission should establish a renewable energy investment fund into which lagging countries would pay, the association said.
Energy Savings
Other issues the commission consultation paper raised were energy market design to accommodate renewables and decarbonization of heating and cooling systems, including those in households. The paper said heating and cooling represents about half of EU greenhouse gas emissions and remains “dominated by fossil fuels.”
The consultation paper said that the post-2020 renewables strategy should also encompass generation and storage of renewable energy by households, and greater use of electricity from renewable generation in transport.
Separately, the commission Nov. 18 published an assessment of the implementation of energy efficiency policies in the EU. The assessment estimated the bloc's 2014 primary energy consumption, or consumption including the energy used to generate energy, at 1,516 million metric tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe), down from 1,709 Mtoe in 2005.
The EU has a nonbinding objective of a 20 percent energy saving in 2020 compared to previously projected energy use. The target would be equivalent to a primary energy consumption level of 1,483 Mtoe.
Although current European Union primary energy consumption is equivalent to a 17.6 percent energy saving, the commission said it “remains optimistic” that a 20 percent saving could be achieved by 2020, “provided that existing EU legislation is fully implemented, efforts are accelerated, ambition level increased and the investment conditions improved.”
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UK to phase out all coal plants by 2025
Nov 18, 2015 | PV Magazine
Energy Minister Amber Rudd delivers speech calling for an end to 'outdated' energy source, with natural gas and nuclear power to be ramped up to plug the power gap.
The U.K. will phase out all of its remaining coal-fired power stations by 2025, Energy Minister Amber Rudd has confirmed today in a speech delivered at the Institution of Civil Engineers.
The ‘aging’, ‘dirty’ and ‘outdated’ power source will no longer form part of the U.K.’s energy mix within a decade, with plants unequipped with carbon-capture and storage technologies to be restricted from 2023 with an eventual complete phase-out by 2025.
Rudd remarked in her speech that "It cannot be satisfactory for an advanced economy like the U.K. to be relying on polluting, carbon-intensive 50-year-old coal-fired power stations."
However, with coal accounting for 28% of the U.K.’s energy mix, this is not the opportunity for renewable energy as it might have been, with Rudd stating earlier this week that the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) main priority is to ‘keep the lights on’ and end the ‘pursuit of green energy at all costs’.
Rudd has outlined that natural gas and nuclear power will be increased to plug the gap left by coal’s phasing out, and made no mention of renewables such as solar or wind power in her speech. "Gas is central to our energy secure future," she said. "In the next 10 years, it is imperative that we get new gas-fired power stations built."
The U.K.’s legally binding emission reduction target is 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, and Rudd said that one of the "greatest and most cost-effective contributions" the U.K. can make towards cutting emissions is to replace coal with gas. Natural gas is around 50% less polluting per MWh of power as coal, but is still a finite – albeit increasingly affordable – fossil fuel.
Rudd was also compelled to reiterate DECC’s belief that nuclear power is a safe and clean power source for Britain. The controversial Hinkley Point C nuclear plant was given the green-light last month during a state visit by Chinese premier Xi Jinping. China will build and operate the plant alongside French firm, EDF.
Criticism from clean quarters
While the decision to phase out coal has been welcomed by environmentalists, Rudd’s refusal to offer greater support or words of encouragement to renewables was roundly criticized."Switiching from coal to gas is like an alcoholic switching from two bottles of whisky a day to two bottles of port," said Friends of the Earth senior energy campaigner Simon Bullock.
Paul Barwell, the Solar Trade Association’s (STA) CEO, said that replacing fossil with fossil makes little sense, stressing: "Phasing out coal power is of course good news and was expected. However, it makes little sense to replace fossil coal only with fossil gas."
Barwell added that both solar and gas require government subsidy support of similar levels, but stated that solar has the "bonus of zero carbon emissions, future price certainty and no dependency on imports from unstable countries".
The U.K. government has recently scaled-back subsidies for solar power by as much as 87% in terms of the feed-in tariff (FIT), and has also ended the renewable obligation (RO) scheme for solar a year early. This withdrawal of support may leave the sector stranded in limbo, unable to maintain the growth that has seen solar rise from 0% of the U.K.’s energy mix to 2% in just five years.
"Solar could get to 5% by 2020 with very little extra support," Barwell said. "There is plenty of room to include solar alongside gas and nuclear in the coal phase out."
Solar’s popularity among the public has been well publicized in recent weeks as the industry has fought to compel the government to rethink its stance on renewables. "The level playing field the Energy Minister wants to see in energy is very welcome, and if implemented that should mean solar is squarely back in the game," Barwell added. "However, fossil fuel incentives currently distort the market."
The Renewable Energy Association (REA) said that the government’s "long-awaited policy reset" will fail to decarbonize the U.K.’s energy future in the most cost-effective way. A statement issued by the REA said that Rudd’s speech will do nothing to "reassure investors in the energy market and their confidence in the the government, and will do nothing to save industries such as solar, anaerobic digestion and biomass, which have been left reeling over successive damaging policy interventions."
James Court, the REA’s head of policy and external affairs, said that Rudd’s actions – through supporting higher cost technologies such as nuclear at the expense of renewables – will mean consumers will end up paying more on their energy bills.
"We need government intervention to build any new energy infrastructure the U.K. needs, but the announcements today will mean subsidizing too much fossil fuel, for too long," Court said.
Recent analysis of energy prices in the U.K. has found that solar PV can be competitively priced at £79 MWh, with gas coming in at between £65.72/MWh to build new generation. Solar costs are falling, and gas costs may rise.
"In the lead up to the crucial climate talks in Paris which Amber Rudd has stated she wants the UK to be leaders, but the rest of the world will see a country prepared to subsidise gas whilst simultaneously removing support to renewables," added REA chief executive Nina Skorupska.
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Intersolar India: Government to restore 30% rooftop subsidy after slow start
Nov 18, 2015 | PV - Tech
By Tom Kenning
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is to increase subsidies for rooftop solar from 15% to 30% in the next week, although this will not be the case for commercial and industrial rooftop.
In his keynote address at Intersolar India, which opened in Mumbai today, MNRE joint secretary Tarun Kapoor announced the return to a 30% subsidy for rooftop solar after the previous reduction to 15% caused stagnation in the market.
Kapoor said: “We plan to continue with the subsidy programme for sometime. We will be providing 30% subsidy for domestic, social sector, offices, and government, minus commercial and industrial.”
He added: “So far I won’t say that we’ve really succeeded in this area. We should have gone into 100s of megawatts by now.”
For the private sector and industrial rooftop solar, Kapoor said India is introducing a large programme of low-cost loans. He added that the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has come out with a 9.75% loan scheme, and he expects the State Bank of India to introduce a scheme with even lower interest rates.
He said: “With easy availability of credit, we expect the industrial and commercial sector will also grow.”
However, he admitted that there is an issue with rooftop connectivity with India’s infamously debt-laden distribution companies (Discoms), which Kapoor claimed are more comfortable with ground-mount solar PV because they directly handle and sell the power in these cases.
Kapoor added: “[Discoms] probably still don’t like too much self-consumption in the country, but I think gradually that will change and we will see higher growth in roof-mounted.”
He said prices for ground-mount have also come down more quickly than for rooftop. However, in the next two-to-three months India will commission another two or three hundred megawatts of rooftop and Kapoor expects 1GW to be installed next year.
He said: “I expect growth to be much faster. We expect states and Discoms to play a major role and to push this sector.”
The government of India is also launching rooftop pilots through the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), which will tender another 250MW of rooftop “very shortly” having recently tendered 50MW, said Kapoor.
Bridge to India consultant Mudit Jain, also speaking to PV Tech at Intersolar India today, said the previous 15% rooftop subsidy was not workable as it was not lowering the costs for the consumer.
He said: “If you are getting any kind of subsidy it should be in the higher range.”
He added that the subsidy was not necessary for the industrial and commercial sectors, as rooftop solar in these areas has already reached grid parity.
Bridge to India also released its 'India Solar Rooftop Map 2016' at Intersolar India, claiming that total installed capacity of rooftop as of 31 October 2015 was 525MW, and estimating that 455MW will be added in the next 12 months. The consultancy firm also projects that 6.5GW of rooftop will be installed in India by 2020.
Residential rooftop solar has still not reached grid parity in any state, but in the state of Maharashtra for example where the cost of energy is very high, rooftop solar is approaching parity.
The states of Tamil Nadu (76MW) and Maharashtra (52MW) lead the way in installed capacity.
Earlier this week a report from international consultancy KPMG predicted a boom in rooftop solar in India could play a significant role in propelling the country towards its 2022 solar target of 100GW.
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India's rooftop PV capacity to hits 525 MW, says Bridge to India
Nov 18, 2015 | PV Magazine
By Ian Clover
Consultancy firm says landmark was reached in October, adding as much solar capacity in the past 12 months as the three years that preceded it; next 12 months will see slight slowdown, with 455 MW installed.
Indian cleantech market analysts Bridge to India have calculated that 525 MW of rooftop solar PV capacity has been added in the country so far this year, with the sector growing more in the past 12 months than it did in the previous three years.
However, as government subsidies begin to tail off, ushering in a more consumer-driven business model, the pace of installations will fall somewhat, with the next 12 months set to see around 455 MW of new rooftop PV capacity added.
The market overall is expected to grow at a sustained CAGR of 50% until 2020, reaching cumulative capacity of 6.5 GW by that date. Leading the way nationally are the states of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, where high consumer awareness and favorable commercial tariffs have supported the growth of the sector.
Grid parity for rooftop commercial solar has already been reached in 19 Indian states, the analysts claim, while 17 states can claim grid parity in the industrial rooftop segment. Residential grid parity is still some way off for all states, but the gap is reducing substantially.
As tariffs are reduced, some parts of India are displaying signs that rooftop solar is moving towards a point of being independently viable without government assistance, with 23 states now introducing net metering, which will further aid the growth of rooftop PV across India.
In terms of market share, Germany’s SMA and Taiwan’s Delta own 41% of the market share for inverters across the Indian rooftop segment, Bridge to India’s report also revealed.
India’s capacity additions in this space come at a time when the government has tabled a new policy for the sector, and one that is likely to accelerate the withdrawal of capital subsidies for rooftop solar.
"Going forward," said Bridge to India managing director Vinay Rustagi, "we expect tremendous growth opportunities in the rooftop solar market in India in the next few years, for both existing and new companies, fuelled mainly by reducing solar costs, increasing grid tariffs, increased customer awareness, robust policy support and on-ground implementation of net metering across all states."
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China Sets Up Pilot to Better Account for Resources
Nov 19, 2015 | BNA Daily Environment Report
China is launching a pilot program to gather accurate data on land and water resources to evaluate environmental and development impacts and promote sustainable development nationwide, the State Council said Nov. 17. Detailed data will be gathered on the amount and quality of farmland, forests, grassland and other land areas, and on the volume and quality of surface water and groundwater. The information will determine “ecological red line” policies for restricting future development, the government said. The pilot phase will run through July 2016, with data gathered in Hulunbeier, a city in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Huzhou in Zhejiang province, Loudi, Hunan province, Chishui in Guizhou province, and Yan'an in Shaanxi province. A second phase of data gathering in the second half of 2016 will help create a “natural resources balance sheet,” with the goal of creating a nationwide system for comprehensively calculating land and water resources by 2018. The State Council announcement is available, in Chinese, at https://tinyurl.com/nkh45f5.
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China Cuts Gas Price for Industrial Users to Boost Demand
Nov 19, 2015 |
China cut natural gas prices for business and industrial users as the world's second-largest economy seeks to boost use of the fuel in its energy mix and reduce pollution.
The cuts vary by city, with a 26 percent reduction for Beijing and 24 percent declines for both Shanghai and Guangdong, the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's economic planner, said in a statement Nov. 18. New prices go into effect Nov. 20 and will save buyers such as power generators and factories an estimated 43 billion yuan ($6.7 billion) on about 60 billion cubic meters of natural gas, the NDRC said.
China's natural gas demand growth slowed in the first half of this year after almost double-digit expansion the past decade. The country has been slow to adjust prices for the fuel even as the cost to ship liquefied natural gas to Northeast Asia has plunged more than 60 percent from a record in 2014, according to New York-based Energy Intelligence Group.
“It's a reduction of an average 28 percent for the whole country,” according to Tian Miao, a Beijing-based analyst at North Square Blue Oak, a research company in London that focuses on China. “The cut is expected as government wants to boost demand for gas, which is very weak now and to meet a target for natural gas’ growing ratio in the whole energy mix.”
The so-called city-gate prices represent the cost for local distributors and buyers and sellers can negotiate around the regional benchmarks, according to the statement. China may install a price ceiling in a year that prohibits costs from rising more than 20 percent above the value of the benchmarks.
China will limit coal consumption to about 4.2 billion metric tons by 2020, reducing the fuel's share of its energy generation to less than 62 percent. Natural gas, which counts for around 6 percent now, will rise to more than 10 percent of total energy consumption by 2020.
Bloomberg News reported the imminent price cut in October.
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Tongwei Group Plans World's Biggest Solar-Cell Plant
Nov 19, 2015 | Bloomberg
Tongwei Group Co. is planning to build the world's largest plant to make solar cells in China's southwestern province of Sichuan at a possible cost of about $1 billion.
The facility is expected to have capacity of 5 gigawatts of high-efficiency solar cells annually, according to an e-mailed statement. The company held a ceremony on Nov. 18 to mark the beginning of construction.
The plant in Shuangliu county will triple Tongwei's total solar-cell capacity, which is estimated to reach 2.4 gigawatts by the end of this year. The plan underscores Chengdu-based Tongwei's efforts to expand capacity after agreeing to buy a 10 percent stake in Taiwanese solar-cell producer Gintech Energy Corp. in July.
The factory, which could cost about 20 cents a watt, could be part of a medium-term plan, said Wang Xiaoting, a Hong Kong-based analyst from Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
“The supply glut still exists, so expansion will prompt the smallest companies to quit,” she said.
JA Solar Holdings Co. is expected to have 4 gigawatts of capacity by the end of this year, making it the world's biggest solar-cell maker, according to BNEF data.
Tongwei said it also plans to build 10 gigawatts of photovoltaic power projects in the next three years to five years.
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China Eyes Charging Network for 5M Electric Cars by 2020
Nov 19, 2015 | Bloomberg
China plans to add more than 4.8 million single-vehicle charging points in the next five years to accommodate 5 million electric cars in an effort to curb automobile emissions.
In addition, the nation is targeting an increase of more than 12,000 charging stations by 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in guidelines posted Nov. 17 on its website. The stations can handle more than one car simultaneously, while a charging point serves just one vehicle at a time.
The goals represent a significant step for China, which at the end of last year had only 780 battery-charging and changing stations and 31,000 charging points to serve more than 120,000 electric cars, according to NDRC data. The world's largest country by population has made development of electric cars a strategic initiative to help combat pollution and reduce dependence on imported oil.
Purchases of electric cars are falling short of the government's targets in spite of subsidies to automakers and consumers, due partly to limited access to charging facilities. China's Vice Premier Ma Kai in May pressed local governments to accelerate the building of charging facilities, the lack of which he said was a bottleneck to the industry's development (97 DEN A-15, 5/20/15).
By 2020, China will speed up expansion of charging networks around the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou that are key areas in the fight to curb smog, according to the NDRC.
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Questions asked of EU-China anti-dumping measures as two more manufacturers are removed
Nov 18, 2015 | PV - Tech
By Andy Colthorpe
Fresh questions have been raised over measures to prevent “dumping” of cheap solar products from China into the EU, following the news that two more Chinese exporters have been removed from the undertaking.
On 12 November, two more firms were removed from the EU-China minimum import price (MIP) undertaking by the European Commission (EC). Chint Solar and Sunny Energy were found to have breached some of the rules around accessory obligations to the MIP, joining Renesola, Canadian Solar and others in being taken out of the MIP arrangements which allowed them to continue trading in Europe.
While each case varies in its details, the companies that have been removed have all used various means to circumvent these necessary obligations, which include a prohibition on selling to both EU and non-EU customers of the same company, for example.
In such cases, the picture for EC investigators becomes more complex, as companies could have formally complied with the MIP while in reality using a loophole to avoid some of its requisite conditions.
At present, producer-exporters from China have to produce quarterly and six-monthly reports for the EC, with more than 100 obliged to do so. According to legal sources, the EC is unable to check all of these and currently samples reports from just a handful of companies.Due to expire in December
The future of the MIP is not clear and it could come to an end in just under a month’s time anyway. A decision by the commission on whether it will conduct a so-called expiry review has to be made by 7 December, as the two-year period since the implementation of the undertaking in 2013 comes to an end then. According to a source within the legal profession, who preferred not to be named, due to a request by EU Pro-Sun, the SolarWorld-led trade group which advocated the anti-dumping measures in the first place, an expiry review is likely.
According to the source however, that expiry review investigation can only abolish the undertaking or keep it in place as it is until the review is complete – it does not have the power to amend the measures. However, in the event the commission decides to investigate further, it could also launch a so-called interim review, which would give it those powers, the source said.
It is apparently an “open question” whether or not this will happen, but if it did, the EC would be able to enact measures such as the lowering of duties or make changes in the scope of products included in the investigation.Analyst's view
According to the industry group Solar Alliance for Europe (SAFE) and others, the ongoing dispute is ultimately dampening demand for solar installations in Europe. With Europe’s solar manufacturing base limited to SolarWorld and a few much smaller players, there is an argument that the rest of the value chain, including installers, O&M companies, investors and project managers will lose out overall. In September, more than 20 European trade associations called on the EC to end the trade restrictions.
Similarly, external factors, such as the effect of this dampening of demand in meeting carbon reduction or renewable energy targets ahead of the COP21 talks could ultimately have an influence. The EU could take this aspect of public interest into account and could weigh up the interests of the union’s remaining producers versus others in the value chain, including consumers.
Additionally, from an economic standpoint, it is argued that 75% of the solar value chain in the EU is created in the manufacture of production equipment which is then sold to panel and cell producers – in regions including China.
Commenting on the latest developments, Finlay Colville head of Solar Intelligence, PV Tech publisher Solar Media's market research arm, said the “entire MIP saga” was “becoming largely a European and Brussels artefact of the bygone days of mainland Europe solar.”
According to Colville, the undertaking offers little comfort to either side of the dispute - with even Milan Nitzschke, VP of the dispute’s main protagonists SolarWorld recently describing an explanation of the price benchmarking methodology used by the EC to determine MIP as “absurd”.
Colville also said the slow speed of decision-making in Brussels was a concern for some. He claimed too that the whole industry was being stifled by the MIP issue.
“Regardless of your view on whether dumping is an issue today, or any other bigger picture issue on MIP, it is high time the system was changed. Whether it moves to a US-style import-duty type system, or gets scrapped altogether, is up for grabs, but change would be welcomed by most,” Colville said.
“The sad reality of MIP is that many of the companies in Europe that were meant to benefit from MIP simply had to price below this marker to get business. Ultimately, the most affected have been the countries around Europe that are itching to move to a subsidy-free grid-parity situation, and are stopped in part by a module pricing environment that is not indicative of the global market changes and price erosion.”
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SunPower's Solar Farms for Apple in China to Quadruple Power
Nov 19, 2015 | Bloomberg
By Chris Martin and Mark Chediak
SunPower Corp. agreed to build three solar farms in China’s Inner Mongolia region with a capacity of 170 megawatts for Apple Inc., a sale that will more than quadruple the technology company’s commitments to pollution-free power in the country.
When completed next year, panel manufacturer and developer SunPower, Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co. and another partner will own the three plants, San Jose, California-based SunPower said in a regulatory filing Wednesday. While the third investor wasn’t identified in the statement, SunPower Chief Executive Officer Tom Werner said Wednesday that Apple would take an equity stake in the new projects.
This isn’t the first time SunPower has handled solar power for Apple. In April, it agreedto build 40 megawatts of solar for the iPhone maker in the Sichuan province. Last month, Apple said it was planning to invest in 200 more megawatts of the renewable energy and encourage suppliers to make similar commitments.
The most recent sale includes plants of 100 megawatts in Shangtuhai Village, 20 in Qianbaimiao Village and 50 in Mandahtu Town Sunite Zuoqi.
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