Asia – Page 6 – Solar Magazine

Renewable solar energy found new investors in India

A coal giant company, the largest in India, named Coal India Limited is said to be willing to invest in renewable solar industry.

The company is ready to acquire a 2 MW project in the renewable solar industry with the purpose of altering into PV energy.

An Indian news agency called DNAIndia announced that the Indian company, Coal India, is taking measures for a 2 MW solar PV plant at Sambalpur. Moreover, the company plans to extend a rooftop PV installation at its Central Mine Planning and Design Institute research facility in Ranchi.

As the Sambalpur plan is concerned, the Indian company is thinking of taking over nine acres of Coal India land. This is viewed as a commercial project, thus DNA says that the Ranchi rooftop would be functioning to minimize the company’s energy bills.

DNA also brings into the center of attention the fact that Coal India is barely following a veer that has seen public sector mining rival Neyveli Lignite Corp in the middle of developing the first 10 MW phase of an eventual 25 MW project near Neyveli airstrip. This means that Coal India is not even close to being an unequalled volte face.

Roxana Moraru

PV wafer production would increase to 19% in 2013, according to recently released estimates

Because in Japan there is a growing demand for photovoltaic wafers, the 2011 wafer production levels will be reached again in 2013.

Despite its fall to 15% in 2012, photovoltaic wafer production increase to 19% this year, the most recent data provided by Wafer Supply Chain Quarterly and NPD Solarbuzz Polysilicon state that photovoltaic wafer production will increase to 19% this year, mostly because in Japan there is a growing demand for such products.

“Supported by attractive solar PV incentive rates, Japan will account for more than 10% of global PV demand in 2013,” are the words of NPD Solarbuzz Vice President Charles Annis.

The progress of Japan in particular is said to urge the need for premium efficiency modules that use mono c-Si wafers.

“Multi c-Si wafer manufacturers are constantly improving casting approaches and developing new high-efficiency multi-wafers. Leading wafer manufacturers are now selling high-efficiency multi c-Si wafers with efficiencies as high as 18%, which is in the range of low end mono c-Si wafers, and thus helps maintain the competitiveness of multi c-Si based products,” added the Vice President.

However, if the mono c-Si wafers would increase their market share in comparison to multi c-Si wafers, improvements in mono ingot production and module efficiencies are needed, informs NPD Solarbuzz.

To sum up NPD Solarbuzz predicts that by 2015, mono c-Si cell production will develop much faster than multi c-Si cell production, creating more applications.

Roxana Moraru

China – Market research predicts China’s demand for PV in 2014 is 0.9-3.6GW

China – Market research predicts China’s demand for PV in 2014 is 0.9-3.6GW
Taking in consideration China’s reputation as the promised land for the solar industry, the newst report from Solarbuzz sayz that there are wild fluctuations in demand of the country, this could mean suppliers which rely on markets outside the People’s Republic will enjoy an advantage.
The solar market research company, in its latest edition of NPD Solarbuzz Quarterly, predicts that demand in China up to April 2014 will vary wildly between 0.9 and 3.6 GW per quarter.
Although NPD Solarbuzz is forecasting that will add up to more than 20% of global demand over the next four quarters, it will make managing inventories tough for companies focused on the Chinese market, whereas companies dependent on other regions will benefit from more predictable levels of demand.
The report’s authors say demand in Europe, of which 65% will come from established German, Italian, French and U.K. markets, will amount to between 2.7 and 3.2 GW quarter on quarter.
The rest of the world, with Japan predictably strong in the first half of the 12-month cycle and the U.S. mirroring that seasonality in the following six months – supported by emerging markets in south east Asia and the Middle East – will also supply more predictable demand in the year ahead.

Photovoltaics manufacturing is growing fast in India

India – PV manufacturing capacity in growing fast, upto an incredible 2GW for both fotovoltaic cells and modules!

From India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), domestic manufacturing capacity of photovoltaic cells and modules has grown to 2 GW. It estimates India’s potential solar power per square kilometer to be 30 to 50 MW.

Since Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in 2010 was lunched, which aims to install 20 GW of solar power by 2022, India’s manufacturing capacity of photovoltaic cells and modules has increased from around 200 MW to 2 GW.

Among other benefits for local manufacturers, while domestic content requirements have been stipulated under the first phase of the mission – and more stringent rules are being considered under the second – there have been complaints by some in India that imported photovoltaic goods, particularly from the U.S., for India’s manufacturers is causing problems.

In response, the government launched an anti-dumping investigation into solar cells from the U.S., China, Taiwan and Malaysia. It also, however, offers concessional customs duties to imports of finished solar products and equipment, in its bid to reduce solar power costs.

Solar power

In related news, MNRE has estimated that the solar power potential per square km in most of India is between 30 and 50 MW, in shadow-free areas.

Overall, MNRE states that 27 GW of renewable energy has been installed in India. It aims to install a further 30 GW of new capacity between 2012 and 2017.

The total capacity installed, solar is said to account for just over 1 GW. At the end of 2012, Mercom Capital Group stated that around 1.1 GW of projects are due to be installed in the next six months. Meanwhile, the MNRE has allocated 1.172 GW worth of solar projects via various programs over the past three years, of which 369 MW have already been commissioned.

This year, 4.4 GW of new solar projects have been announced in India, however, Bridge to India predicts that only around 1.1 GW will be online by the end of the year. Mercom is slightly more optimistic, with forecasts of between 1.3 to 1.4 GW.

There are, however, concerns that Phase II will be “indefinitely delayed” due to a lack of funds. Despite this, it seems likely that when funds are available, a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) model will be adopted, as opposed to reverse auctions.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes – first carbon-neutral Formula 1 team

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been certified as fully carbon-neutral and it becomes the world’s first ever carbon-neutral Formula 1 team.

To achieve this ambition Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has worked alongside CNI to select appropriate and relevant initiatives to offset the team’s carbon footprint.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes became the first ever Formula 1 team to achieve the coveted Carbon Trust Standard, last December.

Implementing a series of efficiency-driven measures within the McLaren Technology Centre, it was able to achieve annual savings of more than 1500 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

“Vodafone McLaren Mercedes leads the way across F1, and certainly does so in terms of environmental initiatives: the first F1 team to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard, recognition by the Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme and a whole host of initiatives at the McLaren Technology Centre,” said CNI co-chairman James Brown.

Solar powered car Bluetooth kit

You’ll no more need messy wire or cables and no need to recharge.

With the new Solar Powered car Bluetooth kit, all you need to do is sticking this device to the inside of your windshield and pair it to your mobile phone.

You now have the safest and most convenient way to talk and answer calls while driving.

If your phone has voice recognition you can even make calls by simply saying the contact’s name!

The Solar Powered Car Bluetooth Kit announces the caller name or number before you answer or reject it, making sure you don’t answer unwanted calls while driving!

This Solar Powered car Bluetooth doesn’t require batteries, thanks to eco friendly solar charger!

It has dimensions: 89mm Diameter x 45mm Depth and a Bluetooth Version 2.0.

You can buy it for just 20 euro.

World market for solar PV cells will double by 2020

According to South Korea’s Samsung SDI, the global market for solar photovoltaic cells will double by 2020, rising from 2010′s $30 billion to $70 billion.

Reuters reported early Wednesday, that the Falling prices and supportive government policies will drive the growth.

Chinese solar PV cell manufacturers will continue with aggressive overseas expansion plans the solar power industry out to 2013.

Germany and Italy, two leading EU solar power markets, have cut back on subsidies this year.

Although EU subsidies shrink in, Samsung SDI plans to aggressively expand its solar PV cell production from its current 150 MW to 3 GW by 2015, believing that its “super-efficient crystalline solar cells will differentiate” it from competitors’ products.

The company will invest 2.2 trillion won ( $2.05 million) into the business and expand into thin-film solar PV manufacturing as well.

Samsung intends to expand on US, Japanese and EU markets while considering emerging markets, such as China and India as well.

Samsung SDI acquired Samsung Electronics’ solar PV cell division for $149 million at the end of May.

Solar powered charger – efficient and flexible

Solar powered chargers have the serious potentiality to defy the main electricity grids, at least for charging of small appliances.

Designer Nikolay Bastrakov has made use of existing technologies to create his own version of a solar charger, whose intrinsic system counters the conventional problems to efficiently generate higher degree of power output.

He designed one of the world’s most efficient solar powered chargers.

This device is based on the user convenience of compactness, portability, and aesthetics.

The main form can be easily attached to a backpack because it has a mobile battery.

The compact form was made from silicone with an additional coating of the polymer film to form a singular structural element.

The designer had used thin film solar cells, which were assembled on a common substrate, and this substrate was connected to the main control unit housed in a silicone cell.

The advantage of thin film solar cells is to be effective on even cloudy days.

The device has a control unit which includes a converter, a small battery, micro-processor for processing the information received from the sensors.

This display system utilizes electronic ink.

This type of display forms an image does not emit and reflect light.

The bendable control unit can be attached to bags and backpacks to accentuate upon their degree of portability.

Gamesa a world leader in wind turbines

During 2011 Gamesa made progress in offshore strategy, technological design and development of the G11X-5.0 MW platform which will be equipped with a 128-metre rotor diameter.

Gamesa has a 15 years experience in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of wind turbines, having installed 21,000 MW in over 30 countries across four continents, with over 13,600 MW under maintenance.

All this makes her a world leader.

Recently, in Liverpool Gamesa showcased theG128-5.0 MW offshore wind turbine.

The first prototypes are scheduled for completion in the last quarter of 2012.

The company plans to invest over €150 million between now and 2014 in the UK wind power offshore.

Algeria discovered solar thermal just one year ago

Algeria is the fourth biggest exporter of natural gas worldwide, the second biggest producer of liquefied petroleum gas and the tenth biggest producer of mineral oil.

The consequence is clear: renewable energies are not in the focus of the government.

The administration of the country only talks about photovoltaic and wind energy.

During a conference in Algeria in January, the state-owned electricity and gas utility Sonelgaz had 20 minutes to talk about projects in the field of renewable, and the speaker did not once mention the words ‘solar water heating’.

Algeria still remains in a deep slumber when it comes to heating water with the sun.

So far, annual market volume is estimated at around 50 residential systems per year.