Preview Newsletter
SFCE Dec 21
-
SFCE Reaffirms Commitment to Growing US Solar Market
Dec 21, 2015 | PR Newswire
Following the U.S. congress passes extension on solar investment trade credits (ITC), Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited (“SFCE” or the “company”, HK stock code: 1165) reaffirms their commitment to the U.S. solar market and their subsidiary Suniva Inc.is well positioned as the second largest solar manufacturer in US... -
Former coal-fired Brisbane Powerhouse generating energy again, this time solar
Dec 20, 2015 | One Step Off The Grid
By Sophie Vorrath
The Brisbane Powerhouse, a former coal-fired plant turned arts venue, has come full circle and is again generating power, but this time through the installation of a 100kW solar array. The project, developed and brokered by New South Wales-based company Solar Choice was installed by local group Hembrows Electrical using Suntech 255W... -
Shanghai releases policy encouraging financing of distributed solar
Dec 21, 2015 | PV Tech (China)
By Vincent Shaw
The policy, the first of its kind published by a local government, allows investors of distributed solar PV projects in Shanghai, China, to obtain bank loans by using future income calculations, including tariff revenues and government incentives, as collateral. Under the conditions agreed, loan periods will range from one to five years... -
Approved ITC extension cements US leadership in ‘new energy paradigm’
Dec 21, 2015 | PV Tech
By John Parnell
The approval of the US investment tax credit (ITC) by lawmakers last week puts the US at the forefront of a “new energy paradigm”, according to an industry trade group. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), which was at the forefront of the lobbying effort to secure an extension to the tax credits, now estimates that as many... -
Beijing to Improve Smog Warning System
Dec 21, 2015 | BNA Daily Environment Report
A Beijing environmental official said the city will look to improve its smog warning system to avoid disrupting the lives of its 20 million people, while acknowledging that pollution—and the red alerts that mandate traffic restrictions and school closures—won't go away anytime soon. -
Pollution Chokes Chinese Cities as Smog Spurs Indoor Warnings
Dec 21, 2015 | Bloomberg
Heavy clouds of smog in China’s northern and eastern regions are prompting warnings for children and the elderly to stay indoors in metropolitan areas including Beijing and Shanghai. Concentrations of PM2.5 -- particles considered the most dangerous to health -- rose to as high as 176 micrograms per cubic meter at 11 a.m. in Shanghai, indicating... -
Solar And Wind Score Federal Tax Subsidies
Dec 18, 2015 | Forbes
By William Pentland
On Friday, Congress passed legislation making the solar investment tax credit (ITC) available for several years and creating a new production tax credit for wind power projects. The solar ITC, which was scheduled to expire at the end of 2016, was extended for as many as eight years as part of a $1.15 trillion spending bill. The ITC was extended... -
Land leases signed for 8.16 GW of renewables in Chile
Dec 21, 2015 | See News Renewables
By Militsa Mancheva
Chile’s Ministry of National Property has approved, up to the end of November, land lease agreements for 190 renewable energy schemes, totaling 8,157 MW of capacity. The USD 16.31 billion (EUR 15bn) of green power plants will be located on 47,188 hectares of governmental land in the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapaca... -
Urbasolar awarded 80 MW in France‘s latest solar auction
Dec 21, 2015 | PV Magazine
By Becky Beetz
The French Government announced the results of its latest solar tender, CR3 800 MW, at the start of the month. Under it, Urbasolar has been awarded a total of 80 MW, which will be spread across 15 projects, including rooftops, parking shade structures and ground-mount systems. -
Russia awards 280MW of PV, 35MW of wind in third annual auction
Dec 21, 2015 | Recharge
By Brian Publicover
The Russian authorities have awarded 365MW of solar, wind and hydroelectric capacity to prospective developers through 2019, in the country’s third annual clean-energy auction. Moscow-based Avelar Solar Technology and LLC Solar Systems — a unit of China's Harbin Power Equipment...
Press Release - SFCE Reaffirms Commitment to Growing US Solar Market
Suntech News
Industry News
Full Text of Stories Below
-
SFCE Reaffirms Commitment to Growing US Solar Market
Dec 21, 2015 | PR Newswire
Following the U.S. congress passes extension on solar investment trade credits (ITC), Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited (“SFCE” or the “company”, HK stock code: 1165) reaffirms their commitment to the U.S. solar market and their subsidiary Suniva Inc.is well positioned as the second largest solar manufacturer in US with the right track of capacity expansion plan that SFCE announced at the time of acquisition in August 2015.
Last Friday, the U.S. lawmakers approved a five-year extension to the solar and wind investment trade credits (ITC) as part of omnibus spending bill, and it is believed the extension of the solar ITC will provide a significant boost to the industry and greatly facilitate the deployment of clean and affordable energy throughout the United States. According to GTM Research, it would result in 25GW of additional solar capacity over the next five years, which representing a 54 percent increase over a no-extension scenario.
“This is a fantastic development for clean energy in the United States,” says SFCE CEO, Eric Luo. “This decision follows the truly transformative U.S.-led global agreement on climate and energy at COP21, reaffirming America’s dedication to the clean energy revolution. The extension of the tax credits will help solidify the growing U.S. solar industry and establish clean energy as a real and affordable alternative to outdated reliance on fossil fuels. Suniva is a clear example of American leadership in the sector and the need for renewed investment in American manufacturing and products. Suniva’s leading products are helping supply the growing appetite for well-made and efficient solar panels, and its capacity expansion to 400MW of Buy American Act (BAA) compliant solar products will further strengthen our competitiveness in the U.S. market.”
About SFCE
Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited (SFCE) is committed to becoming the largest low-carbon, integrated, clean energy generation provider globally. Through strategic acquisitions and integration, SFCE owns a number of well-known product and technology brands in the industry. SFCE fosters a continuous improvement in energy generation including in solar, sea water power and ground source heat pumps, combined with energy management and storage capabilities. SFCE aims to provide clean energy solutions to large scale public facilities and commercial users such as business facilities, office buildings, schools, hospitals sports stadiums and households. SFCE’s energy solutions can achieve energy cost reductions of 50% - 70%, creating energy generation choices for its customers to reduce both carbon emissions and energy costs. To learn more about the company, please visit www.sfcegroup.com/en/.
About Suniva
Suniva® is the leading American manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar cells and high-power solar modules. The company is known for its high-quality products, industry-leading technology, reliability and high power density. Headquartered in metro-Atlanta, Georgia, with manufacturing facilities in Georgia and Michigan, Suniva sells its advanced PV modules globally. For additional information on how Suniva is making solar sensible, visit www.suniva.com.
PR Newswire (China): http://www.prnasia.com/story/archive/1585898_ZH85898_1
PR Newswire (English): http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sfce-reaffirms-commitment-to-growing-us-solar-market-300195661.html?tc=eml_cleartime
Virtual Strategy Magazine: http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2015/12/21/sfce-reaffirms-commitment-growing-us-solar-market#axzz3uxvPHnTq
-
Former coal-fired Brisbane Powerhouse generating energy again, this time solar
Dec 20, 2015 | One Step Off The Grid
By Sophie Vorrath
The Brisbane Powerhouse, a former coal-fired plant turned arts venue, has come full circle and is again generating power, but this time through the installation of a 100kW solar array.
The project, developed and brokered by New South Wales-based company Solar Choice was installed by local group Hembrows Electrical using Suntech 255W solar panels and 4x 25kW Schneider Conext inverters.
Solar Choice managing director, Angus Gemmell, said the project delivered “powerful symbolism” that the shift to clean energy was making big strides.“It’s poignant to see solar panels glistening on the roof old defunct coal generators” Gemmell said.
The Powerhouse, first commissioned in 1928 to provide power for Brisbane’s now shuttered tram system, once delivered 56MW of coal-fired power, but was decommissioned after the trams were replaced with buses in the late 1960s.
In 1989, Brisbane City Council resumed ownership of the building and in the year 2000 it was brought back to life as a community centre, performance hall and events venue.
The addition of the solar panels to the heritage-listed building is the latest in a range of Brisbane City Council’s broader sustainability plans, he help deliver its goal of carbon neutral status for Council operations by 2031.
“Brisbane Powerhouse is thrilled to once again be a power generator, but in a very 21st century way,” said Brisbane Powerhouse CEO Fiona Maxwell in a media release about the project.
“We are delighted with the environmental leadership shown by Brisbane City Council in enabling this project and are excited to be a showcase to cultural precincts nationally for sustainability,” she said.
-
Shanghai releases policy encouraging financing of distributed solar
Dec 21, 2015 | PV Tech (China)
By Vincent Shaw
The policy, the first of its kind published by a local government, allows investors of distributed solar PV projects in Shanghai, China, to obtain bank loans by using future income calculations, including tariff revenues and government incentives, as collateral.
Under the conditions agreed, loan periods will range from one to five years, while interest should be within 15%, plus the basic loan rate. Furthermore, the loan has to be guaranteed by a bonded company which, as its fee, will charge 1% of the total loan.
Shanghai’s municipality government has appointed local state-owned companies to act as interactive service agents, bonding companies and pilot banks for the new policy. The goal is to help small and middle sized investors of distributed PV projects obtain loans faster and more easily.
The policy was studied by government for more than three years. Calculations by industrial insider, PVPlus, a third party platform focused on distributed online trading, estimates the loans will increase the average internal rate of return (IRR) of local distributed PV projects from 15.14 to 20.86%.
"The policy is unique and creative, and with high practicability. With good supervision and risk control this policy will help the development of distributed PV in Shanghai. And presenting good samples for other areas," commented Qiming Han, analyst of public services industry of Shenwan Hongyuan Securities.
Read more: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/shanghai-releases-policy-encouraging-financing-of-distributed-solar_100022526/#ixzz3ux0kxehm -
Approved ITC extension cements US leadership in ‘new energy paradigm’
Dec 21, 2015 | PV Tech
By John Parnell
The approval of the US investment tax credit (ITC) by lawmakers last week puts the US at the forefront of a “new energy paradigm”, according to an industry trade group.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), which was at the forefront of the lobbying effort to secure an extension to the tax credits, now estimates that as many as 220,000 new jobs could be created as a result.
“The solar industry now has a seat at the table with the nation’s other major electricity producers,” said Rhone Resch, CEO, SEIA. “Solar is the planet’s most abundant source of energy and offers all Americans clean electricity that can be built at scale and will make our nation proud and prosperous as a world leader in a new energy paradigm."
“This historic vote brings the solar industry to the forefront of the conversation about American energy,” Resch added. “The ITC extension makes America and its solar industry the world’s preeminent producer of clean and affordable energy.”
The extended tax credits will retain the 30% rate until 2019 before falling to 26% the following year and 22% in 2021 before remaining permanently at 10% thereafter. The new deadlines will only require projects to have commenced construction, not to have been grid-connected as is currently the case. This will apply at each stepdown in the rate of the ITC.
SunEdison's president and CEO Ahmad R. Chatila said the extension was the “foundation of a predictable renewable energy policy which will create jobs, provide Americans with cost-effective electricity, and keep us on a path to clean and sustainable energy”.
Solar is the planet’s most abundant source of energy and…will make our nation proud and prosperous as a world leader in a new energy paradigm
Tom Werner, CEO of manufacturer and system developer, SunPower, said the extension would have positive consequences beyond the solar industry.
"With Congressional approval on a five-year extension of the ITC, we have a fresh runway that will only accelerate the global energy transformation to clean, sustainable sources such as solar. The ITC extension provides a sense of certainty that allows for new investments that might not have been possible in its absence.
"Every day, we see increasing numbers of homeowners, public agencies and businesses taking advantage of the benefits of solar power,” he said. “Beyond our industry, this is good for families and for the bottom line of every sector, and will help achieve environmental and economic goals well into the future.”
The 2000-plus page bill of which the ITC extension was just a small part was approved by 65 votes to 33 on Friday.
-
Beijing to Improve Smog Warning System
Dec 21, 2015 | BNA Daily Environment Report
A Beijing environmental official said the city will look to improve its smog warning system to avoid disrupting the lives of its 20 million people, while acknowledging that pollution—and the red alerts that mandate traffic restrictions and school closures—won't go away anytime soon.
Given current pollution patterns, Beijing should expect two red alerts to three red alerts each year, Yu Jianhua, chief engineer of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, said in an interview Dec. 17. Hours later, Beijing issued a red alert—its highest pollution warning—for the second time in two weeks, with the forecast calling for hazardous smog through Dec. 22.
“The plan design should consider factors including the economy, societal tolerance and pollution levels,” Yu said, declining to detail any changes in store. “It's indeed a difficult problem and a big challenge, but we must face the problem in the process of curbing pollution.”
Yu's remarks reflect the balance that Chinese officials must strike as they grapple with the smog that routinely blankets northern China. Past failures to clear cars from the road or keep children out of the smog spurred accusations of inaction, while the alert system drew criticism about the turmoil it causes the city's 20 million residents.
Already, there was grumbling on Chinese social media about the restrictions that came with the alert issued early Dec. 18. “Don't make trouble for cars—it's really very inconvenient,” one Internet user wrote on a discussion board on Sina Corp.’s microblogging service. “Will red alerts for air pollution become an ordinary thing now?” asked another.
System Introduced in 2013
Beijing introduced its four-colored pollution warning system in 2013 but only issued its first red alert on Dec. 7. In the interview, Yu said that more red alerts were the inevitable result after a March decision to lower the pollution level that triggers a red alert to air quality of 200 from 300 (236 DEN A-6, 12/9/15).
The air quality index in Beijing was 115 as of 12 p.m., indicating “light” pollution, the local environmental monitoring center said. The reading of PM2.5—the smallest particles that pose the greatest health concern—was 45 micrograms per cubic meter at Tiananmen Square. The World Health Organization recommends no more than daily average exposures of 25 micrograms.
Yu said the city's forecasting was more advanced, which would prompt changes to the way alerts are delivered. Following the Dec. 7 alert, some Beijing residents were unhappy because the warning came late on a Monday evening, giving people little time to prepare for school cancellations and other disruptions.
Yu acknowledged that the city had a long way to go to clean up the pollution.
“Our forecasting capability has improved as the government makes deeper efforts to curb pollution and the technology becomes more advanced,” Yu said. “The work is long-term and complicated.”
-
Pollution Chokes Chinese Cities as Smog Spurs Indoor Warnings
Dec 21, 2015 | Bloomberg
Heavy clouds of smog in China’s northern and eastern regions are prompting warnings for children and the elderly to stay indoors in metropolitan areas including Beijing and Shanghai.
Concentrations of PM2.5 -- particles considered the most dangerous to health -- rose to as high as 176 micrograms per cubic meter at 11 a.m. in Shanghai, indicating “heavy” pollution, according to the Shanghai monitoring center.
Levels were at 222 near Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, that city’s municipal monitoring center said. The World Health Organization recommends daily exposure of no more than 25 micrograms.
This month’s frequent and extensive smog has renewed calls for better pollution forecasting and prevention. Beijing has quickened the pace at which it reacts, issuing its second red alert, prompting school closures, traffic restrictions and limits on factory production.
The alert, the highest on a four-tier warning scale, was issued last week and runs through tomorrow. Bad Weather
“Pollution issues exist in lots of Chinese cities and they become visible amid bad weather,” said Yang Chaofei, vice president of China’s Society for Environmental Sciences.
The burning of raw coal and industrial emissions are the major sources of pollution in northern parts of China, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Dec. 1.
Beijing has a long way to go to clean up its pollution, Yu Jianhua, chief engineer of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, said on Dec. 17.
In addition to the health warning, Shanghai has also initiated a series of “winter pollution” measures effective as of 7 a.m. today. The actions call for a halt to construction and demolition work in central areas of the city, according to the municipal government’s official microblog.
-
Solar And Wind Score Federal Tax Subsidies
Dec 18, 2015 | Forbes
By William Pentland
On Friday, Congress passed legislation making the solar investment tax credit (ITC) available for several years and creating a new production tax credit for wind power projects.
The solar ITC, which was scheduled to expire at the end of 2016, was extended for as many as eight years as part of a $1.15 trillion spending bill. The ITC was extended for utility-scale and commercial solar projects until 2024 with a gradual phase out beginning in 2020. Meanwhile, the solar ITC for rooftop solar in the residential sector will end in 2021, three years before it expires for non-residential solar PV projects.
The loss of the ITC would have dampened demand for solar generally but would have especially decimated the nascent distributed solar industry. According to the market forecast company IHS, solar capacity installation was forecast to decline by 10% globally after the ITC expired.
“This forecast has now been reversed [as the result of the ITC extension],” said IHS in a press release. “Global solar installations are now expected to reach between 66 GW and 68 GW in 2016, growing to between 70 GW and 73 GW in 2017.”
The unequal treatment of residential solar is symptomatic of the tax scheme’s overarching bias against distributed generation, especially high-efficiency, low-emissions natural gas technologies. Until now, fuel cells were eligible for the same 30% ITC provided to solar. Combined heat and power (CHP) technologies were eligible for a less generous but still meaningful 10% credit. That both of these natural gas technologies were excluded from the solar ITC extension suggests the tax scheme resulted as much if not more from political lobbying as it did from political wisdom.
The expiration of the ITC is likely to affect the fuel cell industry more immediately than the CHP industry as federal tax credits provided the latter with significantly less support than the former.
The silver lining in the solar ITC extension is that it gives rooftop solar companies like SolarCity and Sun Run a fighting chance to survive the anti-competitive practices of monopolies hell bent on destroying them. It will need all of the help it can get. If the solar ITC does too little for distributed solar, it probably does more than it should for utility-scale solar and wind.
Indeed, with that caveat about rooftop solar, the renewable energy tax credits passed by Congress today bear the hallmarks of the worst kind of crony capitalism.
The ITC extension will be a boon for utility-scale solar companies like FirstSolar and SunPower, but it will be a boondoggle for investors in centralized solar projects. In particular, the shareholders of a small number of large utility holding companies like NextEra Energy and Southern Company stand to benefit the most from the solar and wind tax credits. Indeed, shareholders of foreign utility companies like Spain’s Iberdrola have already made mountains of money on the taxpayer’s dime building huge wind farms in the United States.
Investor-owned electric utilities are in the middle of a major capital investment cycle and will almost certainly be able to lower their tax liabilities with the solar and wind tax credits passed by Congress today.
In March, NextEra Energy’s senior management said at an investor conference in New York City that the company expected to deploy over $30 billion of capital expenditures between 2015 and 2018, including investments of about $10 billion in utility-scale wind and solar power projects.
NextEra Energy paid a tax rate of 1.25% from 2005 to 2009, according to the National Review, noting that statutory tax rate was 35% during that period.
-
Land leases signed for 8.16 GW of renewables in Chile
Dec 21, 2015 | See News Renewables
By Militsa Mancheva
Chile’s Ministry of National Property has approved, up to the end of November, land lease agreements for 190 renewable energy schemes, totaling 8,157 MW of capacity.
The USD 16.31 billion (EUR 15bn) of green power plants will be located on 47,188 hectares of governmental land in the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapaca, Antofagasta, Atacama and Maule, the press release from Thursday says.
The list includes 171 photovoltaic (PV) projects with a combined capacity of 6,669 MW. These solar farms, which will spread across 32,004 hectares of land, are estimated to require a total investment of USD 13.34 billion.
At present, Chile’s cumulative installed power generation capacity amounts to 20,000 MW. Once completed, the planned renewable power plants will boost it by 40.78%, the ministry calculates.
(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.919)
-
Urbasolar awarded 80 MW in France‘s latest solar auction
Dec 21, 2015 | PV Magazine
By Becky Beetz
The French Government announced the results of its latest solar tender, CR3 800 MW, at the start of the month. Under it, Urbasolar has been awarded a total of 80 MW, which will be spread across 15 projects, including rooftops, parking shade structures and ground-mount systems.
The French solar company has said it will invest around €100 million (approx. US$108.5 million) in rolling out the projects. The necessary solar PV modules are expected to come from France-based manufacturer, Sillia.
Overall, 810 MW of projects over 250 kW have been awarded to 22 bidders. Originally, the government tendered just 400 MW, however responding to a large volume of bids at low prices, it doubled this to 800 MW in August.The next tender is scheduled for early next year.
Tariffs for the winning projects have fallen between 15% and 23% on the previous tender, to an average of €0.082/kWh for ground mounted arrays, €0.129/kWh for large rooftop arrays and €0.124/kWh for solar shade structures. The tender was dominated by ground mounted projects up to 12 MWp in size. Over 50% of the modules required for the projects will reportedly be manufactured in France.
Expectations are that France will install over 1 GW of solar PV in 2015. Recently, it realized the completion of Europe’s biggest PV plant to date, the 300 MW Cestas plant, located near Bordeaux.
-
Russia awards 280MW of PV, 35MW of wind in third annual auction
Dec 21, 2015 | Recharge
By Brian Publicover
The Russian authorities have awarded 365MW of solar, wind and hydroelectric capacity to prospective developers through 2019, in the country’s third annual clean-energy auction.
Moscow-based Avelar Solar Technology and LLC Solar Systems — a unit of China's Harbin Power Equipment — were among several companies that won the rights to build 280MW of solar, according to a statement by ATS, Russia’s energy-market regulator.
Finland’s Fortum, meanwhile, won the rights to build a 35MW wind farm in Ulyanovsk Oblast.
In addition, the authorities auctioned off roughly 50MW of hydroelectric capacity.
In 2014, the Russian authorities awarded 505MW of solar capacity for development, and nearly 400MW in 2013.
Last week, Russian state news agency TASS reported that an undisclosed company had completed a 25MW solar project — the country’s largest — in Orsk, Orenburg Oblast.
Press Release - SFCE Reaffirms Commitment to Growing US Solar Market
Suntech News
Industry News
Full Text of Stories Below
Add recipients
Suggested