Yingli’s financials go from bad to worse
In reporting its FY 2017 financials, Yingli has again revealed that “substantial doubt exists as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.” It is seeking to agree on a debt restructuring plan with creditors, and is asking them to refrain from initiating bankruptcy proceedings. Overall, it recorded a 2017 net loss of US$510 million and total liabilities of $3.2 billion. It has not issued guidance for this year.
Zibelman: Demand to ‘compete with supply’, distributed resources could reduce power prices
Bringing electricity demand closer into line with supply will be one of the keys if Australia is to meet the disruptive challenges facing its market, and it’s an approach that could restore the country’s role as an energy leader. A steep challenge but optimistic outlook was offered by AEMO CEO Aubrey Zibelman in a wide-ranging address earlier this week.
Longi half-cut cell PERC module exceeds 360 W
Longi is progressing at breakneck speed, having announced yet another world record. This time, the Chinese manufacturer says its 120-cell half-cut monocrystalline PERC module has exceeded 360 W.
Power Ledger: “Japan is a really good market”
Blockchain-enabled peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading will be trialed by Japanese utility KEPCO, under a new agreement with Power Ledger announced this week. Meagan Cojocar, an analyst with the Perth-based company says Japan is the ideal location for the Power Ledger as the country’s energy drive self sufficiently and its “crypto friendly” attitude.
Fronius introduces Ohmpilot – water heating with excess PV power
Fronius is introducing its Ohmpilot solution to the Australian market. The Ohmpilot is a consumption regulator that can utilize solar electricity not used in the home to heat water in boilers or buffer storage tanks.
Power Ledger partners with Japanese utility in new trial
Perth-based peer-to-peer (P2P) energy pioneer Power Ledger will partner with Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) to trial its blockchain-enabled platform. The limited trial will first involve only 10 homes in Osaka, however, Power Ledger says that Japan is an excellent fit for P2P energy trading.
Image Resources to power mineral sands operation with 3-4 MW PV
Image Resources has signed a deal with Perth-based Sunrise Energy Group to purchase the power from a 3-4 MW solar PV array, to power 25% of its mineral sands mining operations.
Walmart to host solar power on 130 more sites
The world’s largest retailer has slipped in recent rankings, but is planning to pursue more solar, both at its facilities and through third-party purchases of power.
ABB launches what it says is world’s fastest EV charger
The Terra High Power charger can charge an electric vehicle (EV) in just eight minutes, thus adding up to 200 km of range, says ABB, which launched the new model at this year’s Hannover Messe.
Long read: China’s monocrystalline boom
Two large Chinese ingot and wafer makers have announced bold plans to expand their capacities beyond anything seen to date. In the process they could transform the entire upstream solar manufacturing landscape.
