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Solar market is estimated to value $134 billion until 2020

Annual income gathered from PV installations is to overcome $134 billion in the next seven years. Moreover, solar will not net supporstarting from 2017, as Navigant Research report announces.

Navigant Research, a market analyst, forecasted the annual revenues from PV installations worldwide will top US$134 billion by 2020.

438 of modules and installments from around the world will be gathered in the upcoming seven years, as the company’s Solar PV Market Forecasts shows. This report also predicts government alternative energy installation targets will rise in the close future.

Navigant Research also forecasted that the time when solar energy can face conventional energy has finally arrived. They say that by 2017, a year after the tax credit for solar investment in th U.S will drop by 10% is probably the period when all this will take palce.

It is also forecasted that solar can and will be competitive with conventional electricity almost around the world by 2020.

Roxana Moraru

Negotiations are continuing in regard with import taxes between China and EU

Thorough bargaining continue to take place between the EU and China in the discussion of the PV market. Chinese Minister

Gao Hugheng and the EU trade commissioner Karel De Guchy will confront each other on this concern by the end of the week, being said that it will consist in long telephone conversation between the two. Additonaly, a compromise was offered to China by the EU, EU awaits a response.

The member states of the EU are to be aknowledged by the European Commission in the negotiation-related matters by the end of the week. China was seemingly given concessions by the EC, as reported earlier this week by the German news agency DPA.

An import tax cut was proposed by the EU for crystalline substrates, cells and arrays by 15%, but the reduction is not known on which base. Although it is said that the EU made a minimum import value proposal of €0.65 per watt for Chinese arrays, given to us by well informed sources, China had a proposal of the minimum price of €0.50 per watt on imported arrays.

Import duties on Chinese crystalline substrate,cells and arrays will rise from 11.8% to an average of 47.6% if no compromise is achieved by Aug. 5.

Jochen Endle, spokesman of Hanwha Q CELLS Germany tells us that some 200 MW of high-efficiency cells and 120 MW of high-efficiency modules are currently produced in Thalheim annually. The cells are mainly used in the company’s own arrays. In Malaysia, the company produces 900 MW of standard cells, some of which are exported to Europe.

Roxana Moraru

Another 100 MW of solar is reqested by Long Island Power Authority

The projects to be built in Long Island must be 100 kW to 2 MW. This comes after the first initiaive of 100 kW to 2 MW, wich encountered a lot of succes.

The purpose of Long Island Power Authority is to reach another 100 MW in distributed solar generation with the help of its Clean Solar Initiative II. There are a couple of main areas in the Long Island grid.

After the successful energy sell for bidders through Lipa through a 20-year PPA, the Clean Solar Initiative II (CSI-II) decided to help out the interested parts in 100 kW to 2 MW sized schemes to bid against each other over the price they can offer green energy.

A premuim of US$0.07/kWh (€0.05/kWh) will be on the market in a bid focus generation on specially selected areas east of LIPA’s Canal substation in Southampton. If this turns out to be a succes, distributed generation will turn down the need for electrcity generation, infrastructure and distribution investment in the overcrowded area of the Long Island grid.

LIPA also announced the plans for another two renewable energy projects till the end of the year.

Roxana Moraru

Standards for large scale solar are to be prepared by the UK government

The concern of loosing agricultural land may not be put apart by commitments to sustainability. The problems may be determined by incentives that can not stir rooftop and mid-size schemes.

The irresponsible installers from the UK are causing problems for large scale solar farms that are supported by the UK government who wants to introduce guidelines to increase their development.

A debate regarding the details was organized by Sarah Wollaston. The worries about visual impact of large scale solar farms, named hard-pressed farmers try to diversify their businesses, were summarized by Wollaston. Those who do not support solar farms also pointed out the loss of agricultural land.

Solar Trade Association, the UK trade body, is choosing 10 commitments responsible planning and development of solar farms but the UK government is planning further restrictions.

According to the STA, the problem seems to be a solar policy that doesn’t reward enough the mid-size installations.

“We’d all like to see more roof-mounted, community and mid-sized schemes and that came over loud and clear in the (parliamentary) debate. But the fact is the UK FIT scheme is failing these important applications. If that’s what the minister and MPs want to see – and they say they do – that situation must now also be addressed”, in term of Leonie Greene, STA’s head of external communications.

Roxana Moraru

China does not apply any punishment for importing polysilicon from the EU

It was told once more by the german Economics Ministry that no vindictive duties shall be given by China due to conflicting imports from the EU. Thursday the statements were backed up by the Ministry of Economics, no increase in punitive tariffs is to be made in regard with import of polysilicon.

The Economics spokesperson Stefan Rouenhoff declared: “To our knowledge, there will be no Chinese punitive tariffs on European polysilicon imports to China, Negotiations between the EU and China regarding the EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases against solar panels from China are continuing. The aim of the Federal Ministry of Economy is to continue to contribute to an amicable solution between the EU and China.”

Beijing had not made any obligation to dictate anti-dumping punishment on the polysilicon line from the EU. This remains to be given by an unknown source related to China’s Ministry of Commerce giving a feedback on the polysilicon factor between Chinese minister of commerce Gao Hucheng and German economics minister Philipp Rösler.

Further bargains are taken by a Chinese delegation in Brussels this week on the EU’s anti-dumping fees in Chinese PV imports after a 3 week delegation made by EU in Beijing. Negotiations continue, said Helen Banner, the spokesperson of EU trade agent Karel De Gucht.
The EU Agency aproved a phased admittance in June in which anti-dumping fees are to be raised 11.8% on Chinese imports, even though a sound confronting was given by a large number of EU member states.

For months, authoritative taxes were taken into consideration regarding polysilicon imports from the EU by China, the Ministry of Commerce started an investigation in the imports of European polysilicon in the end of the last year in a short while after EU Commison began its investigation into the claimed anti-dumping procedures by Chinese producers.

Roxana Moraru

The destiny of PV is in China and Japan’s hands

45% of the world’s request for solar power is said to come from the double Asian marketsin the remaining of this year, as consultants predict. A record of over 45 GW is forecasted for 2013.

NPD Solarbuzz, a solar consultant, announced that the world overreliance by the PV industry on China and Japan will go up in the rest of 2013

The last report is predicting that the two Asian countries will be responsible for over 45% of global solar demand until 2014, with a record of 35 GW.

As Solarbuzz estimates Japan’s, China’s, Germany’s and U.S.A.’s requests for PV reached over 60% of the global demand.

Solarbuzz also points out the fact that PV market will rely on the two countries is not necessarily a good thing as Europe is set to supply less than 30% of PV request this year as opposed to 50% of the second half of 2013.

45 % of the 15 GW demand until now was for large scale utility and commercial ground mount, 20 % for residential rooftop and 35% was for non-residential rooftop and off-grid.

Roxana Moraru

Climate change policy announced by Obama puts solar in a better place

The climate change policy in U.S.A offers a new role for solar. Other positions were also settled, as natural gas, nuclear and CCS were defined, among solar, as “clean energy technologies.” As a follow up, agreements show a 13 GW increase of renewables by 2025.

What was meant to be an announcement for tougher carbon standards for power stations and a warning for climate changes, turned out to be a feature on solar and other renewables.

In his speech, the president also announced a new goal for the Department of the interior to allow a further 10 GW of renewables on public lands until 2020, since in 2012 10 GW were already permitted.

America’s biggest energy consumer, The Defense Department, promised to use 3 GW if unconventional energy for military use by 2025. Federal agencies also committed to distribute 10 MW of installed renewables capacity by 2020.

The speech added a presidential memorandum towards green energy into America’s grid network.

On the other hand, solar watchers are not as excited as Obama’s energy policy still looks up to fracking and shale gas, as well as nuclear. Obama also announced that the U.S public money will no longer be used to support the coal-fired power plants, and the fossil fuel will no longer be tax free.

“The U.S. will work with trading partners to launch negotiations at the World Trade Organization towards global free trade in environmental goods, including clean energy technologies such as solar”, as the president said.

Roxana Moraru

New inverters designed by Sungow, present at Intersolar 2013

A new set of inverters were presented by Sungrow in this year’s Intersolar.

Sungrow brings three brand new inverters at the exposition after enjoying a great success with the launching of 5-30kW string inverters and the releasing of SG500MX at SNEC 2013 in Shanghai. The new products are: SG800MX, the veiled central PV inverter; SG8/10/12KTL-EC-series string inverter, intelligent residential PV system, and SH10KTL, residential energy storage systems.

The outdoor inverter unit with an 800kW capacity, SG800MX, is one of world’s greatest single-machine power PV inverters. Throughout the stunning surprise elements are the SVG function during night, operation temperature ranges -25℃~+55℃. Moreover, it met German BDEW directives and obtained the certificates for grid-connection in America and Canada. The series to which it belongs have a great deal of amazing features such as: natural cooling function, higher conversion efficiency and lower cost and built-in monitoring system. To sum up, SG800MX is an intelligent residential PV system solution designed for Europe and America.

As for SH10KTL, Sungrow’s newest product for energy storage system of residential PV plant, it has an energy storage function integrated and it can switch seamlessly between grid-connected mode and off-grid mode

And last but not least, SG30KTL, is a wall-mounted string inverter with the largest single-machine power that can be found. This solution was the choice of many Europeans since its launch in 2012. The inverter remarks itself through the granted double “A” results from Photon’s test and VDE-ASIG reliability certificate.

Roxana Moraru

Three PV solar parks were constructed in Romania

Romania’s solar capacity increased after the contraction of three PV solar parks was finished by Et Solar group. The parks have the combined capacity of 28 MW. So, an increase of 48 MW was made over the last eight months, after the company installed a total of 50 MW this year.

The solar parks are owned by Romania’s top electricity supplier and trader. The new PV systems are located in Targu Carbunesti, Gorjcounty, and Simnicu de Sus, Dolj county.

The PV modules were provided by ET Solar Group and the engineering procurement and construction services and the financing also were supplied by ET Solutions AG, its Munich-based subsidiary to be precise. The ET Solutions’ Romanian branch will be in charge of operations and maintenance.

ET Solar Group president and CEO Dennis She says that “the achievement of grid connection for these three photovoltaic plants is a result of seamless coordinated work among our team in Munich and Bucharest”. “It further demonstrates that we are transforming ourselves into a global EPC company. We are committed to further growing our project solutions business to other emerging markets.”

Romania had only 2 MW PV capacity in the last October, so the industry has come a long way in this country. However it was not easy. The Romanian government imposed new measures in June which were meant to frighten foreign investors. Between them is one ordinance that is meant to disapprove two out of six six green certificates given to photovoltaic energy producers per megawatt hour fed into the national grid. The Romanian energy regulatory Authority will still assign PV solar plants plants six green certificates but repress two of them until March 2017.

Roxana Moraru

Siemens solar division will close down

The solar division from Siemens will shut down after they failed to sell the unit that has not been functioning for nine months.

The company would be shut down production and the division according to sources from the company. Yet still, current ongoing projects will be completed and warranty obligations will be fulfilled, as announced by a company spokesperson.

As a result, 280 people will loose their jobs. The majority of them are located in in Israel, where the solar thermal subsidiary Solel Solar Systems, a Munich-based group operates.

Siemens spokesman To

Wolf also claims that “the current and future market for solar receivers remains low. As a result, it was difficult to agree on a business plan for a sale that took into sufficient account the interests of both the buyer and seller.”rsten Wolf said that „After seven months of intensive sales efforts for the solar thermal business, it’s clear that due to the increasingly difficult market situation, no investor could be found for the business.” He also announced that the company was unable to reach an agreement that “provided due consideration for the interests of customers, employees, investors and Siemens.”

The latest engineering company, Siemens, purchased Solei in 2009 with $418 million. The group has reported $1 billion losts and Siemens put its solar unit on the block.

Roxana Moraru