Report: Business not waiting for lower power prices, 46,000 have installed PV
Australian businesses are not waiting for lower power prices to fall. Instead, they are turning to roofop PV in record numbers, with a new report illustrating how C&I solar installations increased 60% from 2016 to 2017.
Downer to construct 87 MW Beryl Solar Farm
The 87 MW Beryl Solar Farm is set to become one of the first in the world to deploy First Solar’s Series 6 modules. The U.S. module manufacturer is the project developer, with Downer selected to commence construction in July.
LG bumps up product warranty on NeON 2 to 25 years
Premium PV module producer and supplier LG Electronics Australia has increased its product warranty to 25 years. Having sold some 750,000 modules in Australia to date, LG reports a “very, very small” number of warranty claims.
Panasonic, Tesla reveal plan to produce lithium batteries in China
Tesla’s batteries may soon be Made in China. The announcement was made by Panasonic CEO Kazuhiro Tsuga during a conference accompanying the company’s 2018 fiscal-year results last Friday.
Hanwha Q Cells improves profitability, reduces 2018 shipment guidance
The solar module manufacturer reports that Europe will likely replace the United States as its number one market, due to Trump administration duties. While Q1 revenues grew by around 2.5% year-on year, and net profit almost doubled from $17.6 million to $31 million, the outlook for 2018 shipments has been reduced by 400 MW to 5.6 GW to 5.8 GW.
18 MW Tesla battery ‘backbone’ of new Belgium VPP
The installation of an 18 MW battery storage system shows the Belgium region of Flanders’ pioneering work in integrating innovative storage systems to its electricity grid.
Clean Energy Regulator: RET will be met
There is already enough renewable energy projects under construction or generating to meet the Renewable Energy Target (RET). The Clean Energy Regulator officially confirmed today that the RET would be met, making a mockery of claims by former Environment Minister Greg Hunt that it was “simply not possible” to meet the original RET.
EU startups focus on software for solar integration and operation
The 2018 Ecosummit Berlin, a EU cleantech startup platform, focussed on smart green energy and mobility. Of the 99 speakers, 69 were startups presenting innovative solutions to a changing energy economy, catering to the needs of end-customers, developers and utilities alike.
JinkoSolar achieves 23.95% efficiency for p-type mono cell
Chinese module manufacturing heavyweight JinkoSolar has announced the achievement of a new world record efficiency for a p-type monocrystalline silicon cell, at 23.95%. The record has been confirmed in testing by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Rystad Energy: 83% of utility scale pipeline to deploy tracking
Single-axis tracking technology will be deployed in the vast majority of Australian large scale solar projects currently under development. Rystad Energy made the observation in its latest research note, adding that at present two companies share 90% of the confirmed orders.
