[ June 2018 ]　　　

■ Yingli Green Energy de-listed from NYSE

(June 29, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Struggling major China-based PV manufacturer Yingli Green Energy has said that it would not appeal a notification from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on June 28, 2018 to de-list the company, due to non-compliance.

Yingli Green had failed to maintain an average global market capitalization of at least US$50 million, over a consecutive 30 trading-day period and its stockholders' equity was also less than US$50 million.

The company had previously reported a 2017 annual loss of US$510 million and a cash position of only US$58.1 million at the end of the year and had yet to report first quarter financial results.

Yingli Green’s American Depositary Shares (ADS) were said to be listed instead on the OTC Pink marketplace on July 2, 2018, under the symbol ‘YGEHY’. The company also noted that it would stop publishing regular quarterly earnings releases as it transitioned to the OTC market, although half-year and full-year results would be required for compliance.

Yingli Green reported total revenue of US$ 1,285.5 million in 2017, compared to US$1,206.4 million in 2016 on the back of PV module shipments of 2,953MW, compared to 2,170.4MW in 2016, remaining within the Top 10 rankings, despite years of financial problems.

■ South Korean gas stations to be fitted with Hanwha Q CELLS solar modules

(June , 2018/pv-tech.org)

A group of companies have signed memorandum of understanding that will see Hanwha Q CELLS Korea supply its solar modules across gas stations in South Korea.

Under the agreement, members of the Korea Oil Station Association (KOSA) will have solar systems installed by Dongwon EnC, with modules coming from Hanwha Q CELLS Korea and inverters from Dasstech. Meanwhile, Jeonbuk Bank will provide project financing.

Gas station owners will receive Renewable Energy Certification when they have PV systems deployed - mostly on the unused space of petrol station rooftops.

In a release, Hanwha Q CELLS noted that the roofs of Korean gas stations are typically higher than those of adjacent structures, making them suitable for solar generation. The company said that there is potential for 300MW of solar capacity if all gas stations in South Korea had PV deployed on their roofs. This would have an installation cost of KRW300 billion (US$266 million).

“This exciting project is part of Hanwha Q CELLS Korea’s ongoing effort to increase the development of solar power generation and expand market demand,” said Hyun-Soo Cho, president and CEO of Hanwha Q CELLS Korea. “Solar-powered gas stations are an interesting hybrid concept that combines solar energy with fossil fuels, illustrating how both energy sources can work side-by-side in a real business environment.”

In 2016, French energy company Total S.A. invested US$300 million with the goal of installing a total of 200MW of solar panels across 5,000 service stations worldwide over the next five years. Meanwhile, the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) Group announced in 2017 that it will install solar panels at all of its new gas stations, beginning with stations in Dubai.

■ SCI Engineered Materials wins largest ever CIGS order

(June , 2018/pv-tech.org)

US-based PVD thin film materials supplier SCI Engineered Materials has secured its largest ever order valued at around US$2 million from a CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenide) thin-film module manufacturer in China.

SCI said that the order was for TCO (Transparent Conductive Oxide) products with initial shipments expected to begin in late 2018 and completed during 2019.

Dan Rooney, President and CEO, stated, “We are excited to receive this significant order, the largest one in our 31-year history, from a new customer in China. The manufacture and installation of CIGS thin-film solar technology is accelerating, particularly in Asia, and we are well positioned to benefit from the long-term growth in this strategic global market. Based on orders received year-to-date, our sales of thin film solar products will be significantly greater than 2017.”

SCI had first quarter 2018 revenue of approximately US$1.84 million and reported total 2017 revenue of US$$6.8 million, up 24.4% compared to 2016.

■ India added 10.4GW of solar in 2017/18 – Bridge to India

(June 26, 2018/pv-tech.org)

India installed more than 10GW of solar during the financial year 2017/18 for the first time ever, according to the latest Solar Map from consultancy firm Bridge to India.

Of the 10.4GW deployed, 9.1GW was in utility-scale capacity, a rise of 72% over the previous year and more than all other sources combined (coal 4.6GW, wind 1.7GW). Open access solar also grew dramatically by 1.7GW, up 275% year-on-year.

Total PV capacity had reached 24.4GW as of March this year.

Karnataka now leads the pack of states having had a blockbusting year with 4.1GW deployed. It is followed by Telangana, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Adani, ReNew and Acme were the top three developers with total installed capacity of 2.3GW during the year.

Canadian Solar (12.9% market share), JA Solar (11.4%) and Trina Solar (7.9%) were the top three module suppliers in the year. Tata Power Solar was the only Indian firm to make the top 10 and domestic firms had just 11.42% market share, which is pertinent given reports today that power minister R.K. Singh intends to make future bids for renewables have up to a 50% manufacturing component. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has also touted the idea of a 100GW tender to be linked with manufacturing in the future, although Bridge to India's weekly newsletter this week described the idea as "lacking in credibility".

The consultancy also suggested: "By announcing such radical schemes, MNRE may be trying to deflect attention from recent problems and shore up confidence in the sector."

According to the Solar Map, rooftop capacity reached 2.4GW as of March 2018 with just over 1GW estimated to have been installed in FY 2017-18.

Meanwhile, off-grid solar installations reached 691MW with capacity addition of 217MW in the year.

Vinay Rustagi, managing director, Bridge to India, said: “[The] Indian solar market has grown spectacularly over [the] last four years. But we are still at only 24.4GW, way short of the 100GW target. It is not going to be easy as activity is expected to slow down in the current year before picking up again in 2019-20. While falling prices and government support have helped in boosted demand, supply side factors like land and transmission still remain a concern.”

■ SECI tenders 2.5GW of wind-solar hybrid projects across India

(June 25, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a Request for Selection (RfS) document for 2.5GW of hybrid wind and solar projects to be connected to the Interstate Transmission System (ISTS).

The minimum capacity for a single bidder is 200MW, with a maximum of 500MW. The minimum project size at a single location is 50MW. 25-year power purchase agreements (PPA) will be signed with SECI. An upper ceiling tariff has been fixed at INR2.93/kWh (US$0.043).

India approved its National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy in May before approving a 2.5GW tender plan, which was praised by consultancy firm Bridge to India, as it did not expect existing wind or solar projects to find a viable means of switching over to hybrid technologies.

However, Delhi-headquartered firm Hero Future Energies inaugurated the country’s first such hybrid project in Karnataka in April by retrofitting an existing wind plant with solar, but for industrial offtakers,

■ Waaree launches 1GW ‘fully automated’ module assembly plant in Gujarat

(June 22, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Indian PV manufacturer Waaree has started commercial production at a 1GW solar module assembly factory in the state of Gujarat, with several large tenders soon coming to fruition expected to counter the lull in activity brought about by a lack of tenders in H2 2017, according to a company official.

Speaking to PV Tech at Intersolar Europe 2018 in Munich, Sunil Rathi, Waaree’s director of sales and marketing, said the company is maintaining its targets of supplying 60-65% of its modules to the domestic market and 35-40% for export. Waaree assembles multi-crystalline, monocrystalline, and mono PERC modules among other technologies. Via its partnership with US-based firm Merlin, it also has 20MW of flexi module capacity.

Waaree already has a 500MW facility in Surat in Gujarat, inside a special economic zone (SEZ). The new facility is located on the border of Maharashtra outside the SEZ.

When asked if there has been any clarification on whether solar manufacturing plants in SEZs will be subjected to anti-dumping or safeguard duties, should they be brought in, Rathi, said: “A lot of uncertainty is there. Nothing is clear so far. That is not the reason why we shifted [location], but that can be advantage to us. If duty comes then it will be easy for us.”

Waaree will be watching the market closely and plans to ramp up the facility to 1.5GW “very soon” if the conditions are favourable. For example, Rathi suggested that if a duty on imports is brought in, the 1GW capacity simply won’t be enough to meet demand.

The fully automated plant will help to increase productivity and the facility is expected to generate around 350 jobs, said Rathi.

When asked about the impact of China’s recent major solar cuts, Rathi said ASPs have started to decline, but he expects this to be a short-term trend with prices to stabilise again in 3-6 months’ time, but added: “Currently there is a lot of distress happening.”

Finally, Rathi said that India has begun to see significant demand for monocrystalline modules as the technology has started to become competitive with multi in the last year.

Dr. Hitesh Doshi, chairman and managing director of Waaree Group, recently discussed Indian solar prices, domestic manufacturing and the International Solar Alliance in a guest blog on PV Tech.

Waaree Energies also recently launched a do-It-yourself rooftop solar kit, aiming to reduce the time and manpower needed for standard installations. The company has more than 200MW of EPC jobs in the pipeline for this year as well as many rooftop projects.

■ Intersolar Europe 2018: International Solar Alliance partners Global Solar Alliance

(June 21, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Not-for-profit association Global Solar Alliance has signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an India-led venture hoping to spur investment in solar across developing countries, to promote solar worldwide.

The signing of the agreement took place at an ISA breakout forum at Intersolar Europe in Munich, Germany today.

The two bodies will:

- promote solar technologies and investment in the solar sector
- carry out projects and programmes to promote solar applications
- develop financial mechanisms
- intensify R&D efforts
- promote large deployment of micro and mini-grids and rooftop installations

The partnership will also boost mobilisation of solar projects to be signed during ISA outreach events and any other areas of collaboration.

■ Sembcorp to acquire 40MW rooftop solar project in Singapore

(June 21, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Sembcorp Solar Singapore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries, has signed off on a deal to acquire a 40MW grid-tied rooftop solar power project that is currently under construction in Singapore.

As part of this acquisition, Sembcorp has acquired 100% of the equity interest in the project development company, MSOA Pte Ltd.

Sembcorp’s total investment in the project, which includes the cost to acquire the project development company and future investment to complete the construction of the project, is valued at US$55 million.

■ JinkoSolar supplies 275.4MW of solar modules to South Australia project

(June 20, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Silicon Module Super League (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has supplied 275.4MW of high efficiency modules to a solar project in South Australia owned by a joint venture between Enel Green Power and Dutch Infrastructure Fund.

Green Light Contractors, a subsidiary of Elecnor Group, is EPC contractor for the Bungala project, near Port Augusta, which was recently completed and started production at its first 137.7MW phase.

Bungala is said to be the largest solar PV project under construction in Australia.

Gener Miao, vice president Global Sales and Marketing of JinkoSolar, said: "The Australian market is growing rapidly. We are working closely with local developers to build sustainable partnerships where they will be able to maximize their return on their investment from the superior performance of JinkoSolar's products."

Enel is investing around US$157 million in the project, which is fully contracted with a long-term power purchase agreement with Origin Energy, an Australian utility.

The overall Bungala Solar PV Project will be able to generate around 570GWh per year once fully operational, due in early 2019. The facility, which will cover an area of approximately 600 hectares, will consist of about 800,000 polycrystalline PV modules mounted on single-axis tracker structures.

■ India’s new solar procurement guidelines offer time relief for ISTS projects

(June 20, 2018/pv-tech.org)

India has given the option to solar power procurers to extend project commissioning timelines, which should help developers working on interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected plants.

The new guidelines from the Ministry of Power are not mandatory and would not apply to PV capacity that has already been bid out in reverse auctions. However, they do give the likes of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and state-run utility NTPC the option to extend:

land acquisition periods from seven to 12 months
financial closure periods from seven to 12 months from the date of execution of the PPA
project commissioning timeframes from 13 months to 21 months, from the date of execution of the PPA
projects of >250MW capacity commissioning timeframes from 15 months to 24 months, from the date of execution of the PPA
Mudit Jain, consultant at Bridge to India, told PV Tech the move came in response to multiple developers approaching the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) calling for more time to carry out ISTS-connected projects.

“You need to acquire more than 1,000 acres of land, which is not possible in the given timeframe, plus transmission line connectivity will take time,” said Jain.

When asked if the extra time would have an impact on project quality, Jain said it was unlikely to make a difference, because EPC services are still likely to be carried out in the same timeframes towards the end of the development process. ISTS-connected projects tend to be outside solar parks and go back to the model of developers having to secure their own land and transmission connectivity. Thus, the main advantage of the new guidelines is extra time for these challenges rather than for EPC activities.

Finally, Jain said that if the forward trajectory of module prices supports falling prices, then developers are likely to continue the trend of procuring modules as late as possible to secure the lowest prices.

The multi-gigawatts of ISTS-connected tenders have been seen as a chance for classic private equity-backed India developers to participate, given the added risks of land and transmission responsibility lying with the developer.

This week, SECI’s 2GW ISTS-connected solar tender was oversubscribed by 1.8GW, with ReNew Power, Softbank, Fortum, hero, Azure, Acme, Shapoorji Pallonji, Adani, Mahindra, and EDEN all in the running.

In other news, MNRE has recently released new Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets up to the year 2022, which can be found here.

■ Younicos extends ‘as-a-service’ proposition to microgrid customers

(June 19, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Increasingly, solar energy and behind-the-meter battery storage assets are being deployed on an ‘as-a-service’ basis and system integrator Younicos has decided to replicate the strategy for microgrids.

Pioneered in the likes of the residential PV leasing and latterly the C&I energy storage markets in US regions including California, increasingly, clean energy solution providers are offering customers the chance to host rooftop solar or lithium-ion batteries on a service contract basis.

In a recent examination of the behind-the-meter (BTM) C&I space in the US, analyst Julian Jansen of I.H.S Markit said that for the leaders of that market, utilisation of the ‘as-a-service’ business model is key.

■ Aggreko and Younicos combine solar-diesel hybrid with battery storage as a rental solution

(June 18, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Increasingly, solar energy and behind-the-meter battery storage assets are being deployed on an ‘as-a-service’ basis and system integrator Younicos has decided to replicate the strategy for microgrids.

Pioneered in the residential PV leasing and latterly the C&I energy storage markets in US regions including California, clean energy solution providers are increasingly offering customers the chance to host rooftop solar or lithium-ion batteries on a service contract basis.

In a recent examination of the behind-the-meter (BTM) C&I space in the US, analyst Julian Jansen of I.H.S Markit said that for the leaders of that market, utilisation of the ‘as-a-service’ business model is key.

It means that customers can ‘subscribe’ to solar or battery services over a contracted period, often with no-money-down to be paid. Generating revenues and savings from the use of the equipment means that the service provider essentially shares the economic value of the installation with their customer.

Initial PV-plus-diesel hybrid project for Eritrea mining operation

Younicos, among those particularly bullish on the prospects of storage ‘as-a-service’, has now made its first move to tackle new parent company Aggreko’s incumbent interest in the off- or remote-grid power sector.

Aggreko, a Scotland-headquartered provider of power generation equipment and energy controls systems which has delivered more than 204 temporary power installations worldwide to date, completed its purchase of German-American Younicos in summer 2017. With its track record of delivering mostly diesel-backed off-grid energy around the world, the energy storage industry has been waiting to see what sort of synergies the pair might find within one another’s offerings.

As such, microgrids as-a-service from Younicos-Aggreko will “enable customers to reduce their electricity costs through the use of cheaper solar energy – without any compromise to their power reliability or security of supply,” according to Aggreko managing director Karim Wazni.

Customers will sign up to a flexible contract where renewables, thermal generation and battery storage can be combined to provide modular and mobile but reliable solutions. The first project undertaken through this model is in Eritrea, Africa. A PV-plus-diesel hybrid solution will reduce fuel costs at a zinc and copper mine by more than 10% through a power purchase agreement (PPA) partly enabled by the low cost of renewables. A 22MW diesel generator and 7.5MW of solar PV will power the mine over the 10 year contract period.

“Integrating grid-forming battery systems allow as much solar as is economically optimal to be deployed, without any technical limitations,” Aggreko MD Karim Wazni said.

“What’s more, it also cuts fuel requirements by significantly improving thermal generation efficiency and replacing the need for backup. This lowers costs while reducing the impact on the environment by cutting emissions significantly.”

While Younicos-Aggreko has already been offering plug and play battery storage on short term rentals, integrating energy storage with Aggreko’s “existing hybrid solar-diesel offering doesn’t just combine two types of savings - it allows us to really leverage the different technologies, with each component being used more efficiently, while increasing overall resilience,” Wazni said.

■ World Bank supports 400MW of solar in Pakistan

(June 18, 2018/pv-tech.org)

The World Bank has committed US$100 million of funding to support 400MW of solar energy projects in the Sindh Province of Pakistan.

The local government said it had been seeking World Bank funding back in March when it detailed its Sindh Solar Energy Program (SSEP). The World Bank aims to support this large-scale solar deployment, starting with an initial 50MW plant, while also offering partial grants for private companies to install solar home systems across 200,000 households.

In the same announcement, the World Bank has also offered US$460.6 million for the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor Project to boost trade between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia by supporting private sector investment and reducing transport time and costs. This will include improving transport infrastructure and border crossings.

Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank country director for Pakistan, said: “The projects will address Sindh’s energy needs through the generation of solar power benefitting the entire province and support trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan through regional connectivity and private sector development along the Khyber Pass corridor. The construction of a 48-kilometre four-lane expressway linking Pakistan and its regional trading partners and upgrading the country’s infrastructure is an important component of Pakistan’s growth policy.”

The government of Sindh recently prepared a framework to address the potential environmental, resettlement, and social impacts associated with its major SSEP initiative. The pioneering scheme in Pakistan aims to support solar deployment in the province across utility-scale, distributed generation and residential segments. This includes up to 400MW of solar park capacity (50-200MW per park).

In other news, the Sindh government recently rejected submissions from all four bidders in its tender for 352 solar PV systems to electrify primary health facilities.

■ Lightsource BP completes first Indian utility-scale project under SECI tender

(June 18, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Lightsource BP has completed its first utility-scale solar farm in India after bringing online the 60MW project in Maharashtra, having won the contract through a competitive 450MW tender process completed in September 2016.

The solar farm in Wagdari was awarded by Solar Energy Corporation India (SECI) to Lightsource BP as one of just two contracts to be won by non-Indian firms, after it bid for one of the lowest levels of viability gap funding (VGF) support at INR1.96 million (US$28,800) per megawatt.

The project was financed in partnership with UK Climate Investments (UKCI), a joint venture between Macquarie’s Green Investment Group and the UK's Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

As the company’s first project of this size in India, chief executive Nick Boyle said the completion of the project was “testament to Lightsource BP’s ability to deliver”.

Construction, photovoltaic modules, and technical expertise for the project were provided by Sterling & Wilson and LONGi Solar, which supplied 200,000 modules to the 97-hectare development. Project finance was provided by Rabobank.

Richard Abel, managing director of UKCI, added: “Official commissioning of the site is a major milestone towards providing clean electricity for around 20,000 homes in the Maharashtra region.

“UK Climate Investments is proud to have worked with Lightsource BP in their first solar project in India, bringing together private sector expertise and catalytic climate finance funding to support India’s transition towards a low carbon economy.”

Prior to the 43% acquisition of Lightsource by BP in December, the British solar developer had said it’s work with UKCI would lead to the development of at least 300MW of new Indian PV projects, as well as the acquisition of operational assets.

This was followed in April with the launch of a fund management platform by Lightsource BP and Indian private equity firm Everstone Group, with the initial Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF) targeting ￡500 million (US$710 million) to invest in green infrastructure in India.

UK exporting 'home grown expertise' as national deployment falters

The ongoing work has been singled out by the UK’s energy and clean growth minister Claire Perry as evidence of the UK’s ability to export its solar expertise to other markets such as India.

“I am delighted that UKCI is working alongside London-based Lightsource BP to leverage the UK’s expertise in solar and support India’s ambitions for renewable energy,” she said.

“The UK has a track record of exporting our home-grown expertise to the rest of the world and this partnership is a perfect example of the public and private sectors working together to deliver our respective climate, development and growth objectives that will benefit the entire planet.”

Once the most prolific solar developer in the UK, Lightsource BP has readily sought opportunities abroad along with a number of other British companies following the drastic scaling back of government support for new solar under the watch of Perry and her predecessors.

Since the closure of the UK's Renewables Obligation regime in 2017, and the previous cuts to the small-scale feed-in tariff (FiT), deployment under the FiT remains around 80% lower than before. Similarly, ground-mount solar installations in the UK have all but come to a halt as developers seek to bring forward subsidy-free projects. Meanwhile, large-scale solar remains the only form of renewable generation to be locked out of the Contracts for Difference auctions despite offering one of the cheapest forms of generation.

However, Perry hinted last month that the government’s forthcoming post-2019 solar direction could deliver a “really positive” set of outcomes for the industry.

■ LONGi wins ‘Top Runner’ bid for 250MW PV power plant in Tongchuan

(June 15, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Leading integrated high-efficiency monocrystalline module manufacturer and ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member LONGi Green Energy Technology has won a bid to build a ‘Top Runner’ PV power plant of 250MW with partner, Three Gorges New Energy in Yijun County, Tongchuan City, China.

LONGi Green Energy Technology was said to be a 51% shareholder in the project, which is expected to be completed before June 30, 2019.

Recently, another SMSL member Trina Solar and building materials and PV systems developer China Singyes Solar Technologies Holdings secured a bid to build a 250MW ‘Top Runner’ PV power plant project in Tongchuan, Shaanxi province, China.

■ Akuo Energy commissions three PV-plus-storage projects in Indonesia

(June 15, 2018/pv-tech.org)

French power producer Akuo Energy has commissioned three solar-plus-storage microgrid projects that will provide power to the villages of Merabu, Long Beliu and Teluk Sumbang in Indonesia.

Akuo Energy started work on the three projects back in December 2016 after signing a partnership with Millenium Challenge Account (MCA) Indonesia, a group established by the Indonesian government.

The three projects, which combine PV systems and lithium-ion batteries, will benefit the three villages located in the remote Berau district of Indonesia. In total, all three villages only have a population of 460 homes, comprised mostly of fisherman, laborers and farmers.

With a combined PV generation capacity of 1.2MW and a capacity of 2.1MWh in storage, these three microgrid projects can provide reliable energy for 24 hours a day.

Prior to the development of these microgrid projects, these villages only had access to diesel generators that provided unreliable energy and created pollution. In addition, the high cost of fuel meant that paying for these generators accounted for up to 30% of the villagers’ monthly income.

Eric Scotto, president and co-founder of Akuo Energy, said: “This project is at the heart of the missions and values of Akuo Energy. With the green electrification of these 3 Indonesian villages, we allow isolated villages to access a basic need in respect of the environment, and also begin a phase of industrialization of our solutions hybrids. This innovation, coupled with the financial support provided by Millennium Challenge Account Indonesia, has been designed according to the principle of equitable profits, favoring especially women and vulnerable people. It's a great pride for Akuo Energy to announce the entry into operation of these plants.”

■ GCL New Energy to build 110MW PV project in Colorado as strategy shifts outside China

(June 14, 2018/pv-tech.org)

China-based GCL New Energy, Inc., a subsidiary of clean energy conglomerate GCL Group, is to develop a 110MW PV power plant project in Colorado, US.

GCL New Energy said that the Pioneer plant, located on a 611-acre site, 35 miles east of Denver, Colorado, included a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA), a local power company. The PPA has a fixed initial contract term of 10 years, with three optional 5-year extensions, for a possible 25-year lifetime. The project requires no security deposit and has low grid connection costs, according to the company.

The plant is expected to have a total annual yield of around 215 million kWh, and is expected to be grid connected in 2020.

The project highlights GCL New Energy’s strategy shift since its initial experience and track record of project development was focused on China. The company noted that it was planning to increase its activities in a number of key global markets and has three regional headquarters in North America, Japan, and Africa. In 2017, it launched "Overseas Seeding Initiative" in key overseas target markets.

GCL New Energy had a total installed capacity of approximately 6GW, representing an 70% year-on-year growth in 2017.

The Company’s electricity sales increased by 92% to about 5.3 billion kWh, as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

■ GE delivers inverters to Pacifico's 96MW Japan solar project

(June 14, 2018/pv-tech.org)

GE has delivered inverters for Pacifico Energy’s 96.2MW Hosoe solar plant in the Kyushu region of Japan.

Along with the 50 units of its 1.26MW Brilliance inverters delivered to the project, GE also supplied transformers, ring main units and recombiners, preassembled on skids and optimized for flawless integration.

The Hosoe project has also been financially supported by GE Energy Financial Services, the global energy investor of General Electric.

GE recently signed a rooftop PV deal with Tata in India.

■ Samsung Electronics eyes 100% renewables in China, Europe and US with solar and geothermal

(June 14, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Samsung Electronics has committed to 100% renewable energy use in all of its factories, office buildings, and operational facilities in the US, Europe and China.

Starting this year in Korea, Samsung will install approximately 42,000m2 of solar panels in Samsung Digital City, its headquarters in Suwon. The company will continue to add approximately 21,000m2 of solar arrays and geothermal power generation facilities beginning 2019 in its Pyeongtaek campus and 2020 in its Hwaseong campus.

Samsung Electronics is now positioned to increase its use of renewable energy globally to match the equivalent amount of energy created by an average 3.1GW solar power plant by 2020.

■ Seraphim to supply 246MW of modules to Ukraine’s largest solar project

(June 14, 2018/pv-tech.org)

China-based manufacturer Seraphim Solar is to supply modules to the largest PV project in Ukraine, a 246MW solar plant being developed by Ukraine’s largest energy group, DTEK.

CMEC is acting as EPC contractor and Seraphim is the sole module supplier for the PV system in Dnepropetrovsk, central Ukraine. Seraphim’s 330W polycrystalline modules will be delivered to the project site before the end of August.

Polaris Li, president of Seraphim, said: “Seraphim is particularly proud to be the sole module supplier for this landmark project. It rewards years of hard work and demonstrates the global recognition of Seraphim’s bankable manufacturing processes – including our reliable brand image. This 246MW solar power plant clearly demonstrates Ukraine’s renewable energy ambitions.”

Ukraine's government is targeting 11% renewables in its energy mix by 2020 and is investing EUR3 billion (US$3.4 billion) into solar development. Ukraine has long been one of Seraphim’s most valued markets.

Last year, Seraphim shipped 1.2MW of modules to Izmail for another milestone in PV project history.

Oslo-headquartered clean energy firm Scatec Solar recently signed agreements to build two solar PV projects with a capacity of 33MW and 50MW in the Cherkassy region of Ukraine.

■ JA Solar expanding business footprint in South Korea with newly created subsidiary

(June 13, 2018/pv-tech.org)

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JA Solar has become the first Chinese manufacturer to indicate efforts to increase its overseas sales - following China’s move to curtail solar growth - by announcing that it is establishing a new subsidiary in South Korea.

Earlier this month, China’s government imposed sector caps and feed-in tariff (FiT) mechanism reductions to significantly slow solar installation growth, which may have been a factor in JA Solar’s ramped up focus on South Korea. A company release said the new subsidiary will help JA Solar support customers in the region and further expand its global footprint.

JA Solar is also aiming to further expand its presence in South Korea, where it has been supplying cells since 2001 and PV modules since November 2016, after it received the KS (Korean Industrial Standards) module certification.

The company said that it has already built close business relationships with a number of well-known Korean companies, including KT, GS Group, Hyundai Group, SK Group, Posco Group, ETA Solar, among others, via solar cell supply deals in the past.

Baofang Jin, chairman and CEO of JA Solar, said: "JA Solar has over 20 branches across the globe. We are optimistic about the prospects and business outlook in the South Korean solar market, and believe our new subsidiary will enhance our ability to provide timely and superior customized services to our customers in the region. Additionally, the new subsidiary will enable us to enhance our brand awareness and become a leading solar module supplier, and further contribute to the development of renewable energy in South Korea."

According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), the global average selling price (ASP) of solar modules is expected to decline by 35% in 2018 due to the Chinese policy overhaul. ROTH Capital Partners also expects as much as 34GW of solar production overcapacity in China in 2018.

■ BHEL bags 30MW of solar EPC orders in Gujarat

(June 13, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Vertically-integrated solar firm and industrial goods company Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has won two EPC contracts for solar PV projects in the state of Gujarat.

The first order from Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) is for setting up a 20MW project, while the second from Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (GSFC) is for a 10MW project. Both the solar power plants will be set up at Gujarat Solar Park, Charanka, Gujarat, and together they are valued at over INR1.25 billion (US$18.5 million).

With these orders, BHEL’s solar capacity under execution at Gujarat Solar Park has reached 120MW, while the company’s solar portfolio has risen to 580MW. The company is presently executing over 210MW of ground-mounted and rooftop PV projects across the country.

■ India steps closer to first lithium-ion cell facility, with cost and lifetime goals

(June 12, 2018/pv-tech.org)

An Indian clean energy firm hopes to bring down the cost of lithium-ion cell manufacturing below INR15,000 (US$222) / kWh and create batteries for rooftop solar with a 25-year lifespan, by setting up a manufacturing facility in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Two research institutions and local developer Raasi Solar Power have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a technology transfer that moves India a step closer to having its first lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility.

The South Asian country until now has mostly drawn interest in battery assembly manufacturing and little on the cell side. This has led to Indian firms sourcing lithium-ion batteries mostly from China, Japan and South Korea among others. However, Indian power minister R.K. Singh recently chaired a meeting with battery-based energy storage manufacturers calling on them to set up manufacturing units in India.

While India’s large-scale stationary energy storage sector has been temporarily stunted by policy U-turns and tender cancellations, it has thriving deployments of storage in telecoms towers and ATMs among other smaller scale applications across the country. A government release said that India is one of the largest importers of lithium-ion batteries, having brought in nearly US$150 million worth of such batteries last year.

Technology transfer

A group at Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CECRI), based in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, a national laboratory under the aegis of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a new technology for lithium-ion cells in partnership with CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) New Delhi, CSIR- Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI) Kolkata and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, CSIR-CECRI has set up a demo facility in Chennai to manufacture prototype lithium-ion cells and a government release said this has the potential for mass production. Raasi Group plans to use this technology to set up the battery cell fab in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu.

C. Narasimhan, chairman and managing director of Raasi Group, said: “We want to bring down the cost of cell manufacturing below INR15,000/kW to replace lead acid battery. We also have plans to make lithium-ion battery for solar rooftop with life span of 25 years to make it affordable enough to drive the photovoltaic segment.”

Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan said: “Today’s development is a validation of the capabilities of CSIR and its laboratories to meet technology in critical areas to support our industry, besides other sectors. It will give tremendous boost to two flagship programmes of prime minister Narendra Modi – increasing the share of clean energy in the energy basket by generating 175GW by 2022, of which 100GW will be solar and the second, [the] National Electric Mobility Mission, to switch completely to electric vehicles by 2030.”

Vardhan highlighted that the project was in line with Modi’s ‘Make in India’ vision, which seeks to boost domestic manufacturing across all industries in India.

Dr Rahul Walawalkar, president and MD of Customized Energy Solutions (India) and an executive director of the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), has previously told Energy-Storage.News that where India has struggled to maintain competitiveness with China in the solar PV manufacturing space, it could compete in battery storage manufacturing if it moved fast.

■ Trina Solar and Singyes Solar win China ‘Top Runner’ 250MW solar power plant bid

(June 12, 2018/pv-tech.org)

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar and building materials and PV systems developer China Singyes Solar Technologies Holdings have jointly secured a bid to build a 250MW ‘Top Runner’ PV power plant project in Tongchuan, Shaanxi province, China.

The ‘Top Runner’ program only promotes high-efficiency modules and has been a key driver of PV manufacturers transitioning from standard BSF (Back Side Field) cell technology to PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) technology and further advanced technologies such as heterojunction (HJ) and IBC (interdigitated Back Contact) modules.

The 250MW ‘Tongchuan Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology Top-runner Base Project’ was said to be starting construction by the end of September 2018, and the project would be completed and grid-connected by 30 June 2019.

The ‘Top Runner’ program has been excluded from recent surprise caps on utility-scale and Distributed Generation projects in a Chinese government policy change, due primarily to over US$17 billion in back-payment FiT subsidies to PV plant owners after several years of deployments running ahead of government plans, which culminated in over 53GW was installed in China in 2017.

■ Tata signs 5MW rooftop solar PPA with GE in India

(June 12, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL), a subsidiary of Indian power giant Tata Power, has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with US-based conglomerate GE to provide solar rooftop solutions for six manufacturing and services sites in India.

Tata Power will install solar rooftop projects at the sites located at Durgapur in West Bengal, Pallavaram and Hosur in Tamil Nadu, a multi-modal manufacturing site at Pune, an upcoming factory at Marhowra in Bihar and a maintenance facility at Roza in Uttar Pradesh.

The project will be carried out on a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis. The installation of the solar rooftop projects will help to generate over 1 million kWh of electricity per year, and will lead to an average tariff reduction of around 30%.

Ashish Khanna, president, Tata Power (Renewables), said: “The project underlines our leadership in project commissioning space and reflects GE’s commitment towards enhancing solar energy for its manufacturing units. It also demonstrates GE’s confidence in Tata Power capabilities in providing reliable solar power through competency in rooftop solutions. We are hopeful that the renewable segment will also be encouraged by these cost optimized energy solutions.”

Amit Kumar, vice president, supply chain - GE India and South-East Asia, said: “India is an important manufacturing base for GE and sustainability is at the core of our business. Generation of solar power at our manufacturing plants will help us in reducing our carbon footprint. The country has a lot of potential for solar rooftop projects which need to be harnessed to meet India’s energy needs for manufacturing.”

Tata Power Solar has commissioned more than 1.45GW of ground-mount utility scale and over 200MW of rooftop and distributed generation projects across the country till date. It was ranked the number one EPC rooftop solar player consistently for four years by Bridge to India.

Tata Power recently partnered with Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd (CGPL) to develop a universal rooftop solar installation for the entire village of Tunda in the Indian state of Gujarat. The firm also won 150MW in the most recent 1GW solar auction in Maharashtra.

■ Huawei supplying inverters to 168MW of Grupotec solar projects in Spain

(June 12, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Spanish EPC firm Grupotec has partnered with Chinese PV inverter supplier Huawei for 168MW of solar projects in Spain.

These solar assets, being developed by Grupotec, include both government-awarded and private PPA projects.

Huawei will provide its new fully-digitized 1500V, SUN2000-100KTL string inverters. The company claimed that these inverters can deliver 2% higher yields and smarter operations and maintenance (O&M).

Olallo Villoldo Bellón, chairman of the board, Grupotec said: “Huawei will be the exclusive string inverter provider for this project. Huawei Smart PV Solution has proved its values in our previous projects in terms of outstanding PR, incredible reliability, and extremely easy O&M. Meanwhile, Huawei’s vision towards the digitalization and smartness trend of solar industry matches our strategy. This makes no doubt that Huawei is the right choice for us to work with for now and in the long term.”

■ US solar set to ride out Trump tariffs in 2018, forecasts GTM

(June 12, 2018/pv-tech.org)

The US solar sector is set to exceed expectations for deployment in 2018, according to the latest quarterly figures from GTM Research.

The addition of 2.5GW in Q1 2018 marks a 13% year on year increase, according to the research firm’s latest US Solar Market Insight Report, produced in partnership with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

The report forecasts that annual deployment will match last year’s 10.6GW despite the imposition of 30% trade duties on imported cells and modules. California installed more than 1GW in Q1 by itself with Florida (482MW) and New York (124MW) the next most productive states.

“The solar industry had a strong showing in the first quarter,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO, SEIA. “This data shows that solar has become a common-sense option for much of the US and is too strong to be set back for long, even in light of the tariffs. States from California to Florida have stepped up with smart policies that will drive investment for years to come.”

The utility sector, the most vulnerable to the impacts of the duties due to its fine margins, looks to have largely mitigated for the tariffs in the near-term but the report predicts issues beyond this year as developers look to renegotiate power purchase agreements.

There are also signs that residential solar is recovering from a recent dip with the sector looking set to arrest its decline.

“This is a promising indicator that constraints to residential PV growth like segment-wide customer acquisition challenges and national installer pullback are abating,” said, Austin Perea, senior analyst, GTM. “However, these problems are not entirely solved, as we’re seeing slowdowns in states with a relatively high penetration of PV installations.”

Overall, solar represented 55% of all new US power generation assets in Q1.

■ NTPC tenders for 36MW of solar in Telangana and Gujarat

(June 11, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Indian state-run utility NTPC has issued EPC tenders for a 21MW solar project in Gujarat and a 15MW plant in Telangana.

Both projects will be awarded via a reverse auction and will require O&M services for a three-year period.

The Gujarat project will be located at Gandhar. Deadline for bid submissions is 26 July 2018.

The Telangana project will be located at Ramagundam. The deadline for bid submissions is 30 July 2018.

The utility also recently issued an invitation for bids for EPC work on three separate solar projects in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, with a combined capacity of 102MW.

■ First Solar breaks ground on largest thin-film solar manufacturing plant in the US

(June 11, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Leading CdTe thin-film PV module manufacturer First Solar held a ground breaking ceremony on 8 June 2018 for the construction of its new 1.2GW manufacturing plant near its existing flagship facility in Perrysburg, Ohio.

The planned annual nameplate capacity of the Ohio 2 facility makes it the largest single thin-film solar module manufacturing facility in the US and combined with the Ohio 1 flagship facility, creates the largest solar thin-film manufacturing hub in the US at 1.8GW.

Both facilities are dedicated to First Solar’s large-area Series 6 modules (3x size) of its previous Series 4 modules.

Initial module production is expected in late 2019 and is expected to cost around US$400 million, while creating around 500 new jobs.

However, in May, 2018, ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Hanwha Q CELLS announced plans to build a PV module manufacturing plant in Whitfield County, Georgia, with a capacity that would exceed 1.6GW.

■ Acme wins another solar project in Uttar Pradesh at 75MW

(June 8, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Indian developer Acme has won a 75MW solar PV project in Uttar Pradesh, in addition to the 50MW project win that it announced yesterday.

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) had invited bids for 275MW to be executed at multiple solar parks in Uttar Pradesh. According to a release, Acme bid for 75MW at Parasan solar park in Jalaun District of Uttar Pradesh today and won the capacity at a tariff of INR3.32/kWh (US$0.049), which was slighty lower than the INR3.38/kwh tariff for its 50MW at the Gujrai solar park, which is said to have tough conditions for project development.

The next lowest tariff bid for the Parasan solar park was INR3.34/kWh.

Manoj Upadhyay, founder and chairman Acme, said: “We are delighted to win another project of 75MW in SECI bid in Uttar Pradesh today. Second consecutive win shows our commitment towards the development of clean power in the region. We will showcase these projects’ success stories in solar power development arena with the use of innovative technology and special structures to overcome all the ground challenges.”

By winning this bid, ACME’s portfolio in Uttar Pradesh has reached 155MW.

■ GCL-Poly wants to sell polysilicon subsidiary stake for US$2 billion

(June 8, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Leading polysilicon and solar wafer producer GCL-Poly Energy Holdings said it was in talks with major China state-owned industrial conglomerate, Shanghai Electric to sell a major shareholding in its main polysilicon production subsidiary, Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon for around US$2 billion.

GCL-Poly said in a financial statement that it entered into a framework agreement with Shanghai Electric Group Company to sell a 51% stake in polysilicon production subsidiary Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon.

The US$2 billion deal being negotiated included a 50% settlement in cash and 50% by the allotment and issue of ‘A’ shares to GCL by Shanghai Electric.

In a rare level of transparency into deals yet ratified after due diligence proceedings, GCL-Poly said the a majority stake disposal in Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon had been driven by the recent Chinese government’s decision to cap solar growth in the country:

“The Company has been adhering to the philosophy of “Bringing Green Power to Life” since it was founded in 2006. Our mission is to continuously provide efficient clean energy for a better living environment. Over the years, we have remained a leading supplier in the global photovoltaic industry, and we have spared no effort in research and development to increase the efficiency of our products and reduce the production costs. We have led the development of the photovoltaic industry to achieve grid-parity and consolidate China’s position as a leading photovoltaic market in the world.

Following the recent indication by the Central Government to introduce measures aiming at promoting sustainable development of the photovoltaic industry, enhancing development quality and speeding up reduction of subsidies, the Directors consider that it is important to find a strategic partner in order to continue the Group’s initiative for grid-parity.”

With the expected impact in China with the curtailment of utility-scale and distributed generation (DG) projects, market research firms are forecasting a period of overcapacity and plummeting prices in the second-half of 2018.

PV Tech had previously reported that due to China’s installation growth over the last several years, topping 53GW in 2017, when major manufacturers such as GCL Poly had significantly added capacity to meet demand and highlighted further major expansions in 2018.

PV Tech reported that GCL-Poly produced 74,818MT of polysilicon in 2017, a 7.9% increase over the prior year, while nameplate capacity remained at 70,000MT.

However, its next phase of major polysilicon expansions included the construction of its planned 60,000MT facility in Xinjiang, China, which includes 40,000MT of new-built facilities and 20,000MT of existing Xuzhou facilities to be removed and relocated to the Xinjiang facility.

GCL-Poly said that it expected construction of the first phase of a 20,000MT facility would be completed by the second quarter of 2018 and the second phase of a 20,000MT facility would be completed by the end of 2018.

The relocation of the 20,000MT plant in Xuzhou was scheduled for the end of 2020, should market conditions allow for polysilicon production disruption.

Unlike the majority of polysilicon producers, GCL-Poly’s polysilicon subsidiary produces and sell the majority of production in-house to its wafer production subsidiary, GCL-Poly (Suzhou) New Energy.
Wafer production in 2017 was approximately 23,902MW an increase of 37.9% from 17,327MW produced in 2016.

GCL Group also had ambitions to establish manufacturing hubs outside of China.

■ Azure and Maheswari Mining bag 85MW of solar in Assam

(June 8, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) has awarded 85MW of solar capacity to be built in the Northeast Indian state via a reverse auction held last month.

Indian developer Azure Power has bagged a 75MW project at a weighted average tariff of INR3.37/kWh (US$0.052/kWh) and has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). The project will be developed outside a solar park and is expected to be commissioned in 2019.

Meanwhile, Maheswari Mining and Energy, a Telangana-based company, also won 10MW of capacity.

APDCL had originally floated tenders for installation of 100MW (4X25MW) ground-mounted solar plants under a Build Own Operate (BOO) basis in four separate regions spread across the state of Assam. A total of fourteen bid submissions were made.

This week, Indian developer Acme Solar announced it has won a 50MW solar PV project in the state of Uttar Pradesh with a tariff of INR3.38/kWh (US$0.05) via an auction held by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The tariff is almost level with that of Azure in Assam.

■ Fortum to sell 54% stake in India solar portfolio

(June 8, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Finland’s Fortum has signed an agreement to sell a 54% share in its solar power company that operates four projects in India, with an aggregate capacity of 185MW, to UK Climate Investments (UKCI) (40%) and Elite Alfred Berg (EAB) (14%).

Elite Alfred Berg has the option to buy up to an additional 16% from Fortum. Through the partnership, Fortum will retain a significant minority ownership in the solar company and continue to provide operation and maintenance (O&M) services.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in the EU and is expected to close in the beginning of the third quarter 2018.

Kari Kautinen, SVP, M&A and Solar & Wind Development at Fortum, said: "Our ambition is to continue the partnership also for future solar power projects. The arrangement frees up capital for further investments and enables Fortum to continue to utilise its key competencies to develop, construct and operate solar power plants in India.”

"This project demonstrates the growing maturity of India’s secondary market for renewables – creating an environment in which private investors have confidence to invest in new greenfield projects that will accelerate the decarbonisation of India’s economy," said Richard Abel, managing director of UK Climate Investments.

UKCI is a ￡200 million pilot investment programme mandated to invest in green projects in India and across sub-Saharan Africa ,while EAB is an investment service company.

Last year, the head of consultancy firm Bridge to India, said that many developers with solar assets in India are looking to sell their portfolios. Some of them have been in the market for a long time and are under pressure from their investors to find an exit. Meanwhile, PV Tech recently analysed how hardening interest rates might impact the secondary market in India's solar sector.

■ Sunseap begins construction of 168MW Vietnam solar project

(June 8, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Sunseap International, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Sunseap Group, has started construction of its 186MW, US$150 million solar farm in Vietnam – claimed to be the largest PV project in the ASEAN region.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the 186-hectare site in Ninh Thuan province on Vietnam’s south-central coast. The farm is expected to reach commercial operation by June 2019 and once completed, it will generate enough electricity to power up to 200,000 households in Vietnam and create permanent jobs for over 200 local workers.

The project was greenlit in April this year.

Sunseap, together with its joint-venture partners InfraCo Asia, an infrastructure development and investment company of the Private Infrastructure Development Group, and CMX Renewable Energy Canada, a solar developer based in Canada, will sell the solar power generated to Vietnam’s national grid at the mandated solar feed-in tariff of US$0.0935/kWh for the next 20 years.

Frank Phuan, co-founder and director of Sunseap, said: “We are excited to reach another important milestone in this solar project for Vietnam and for Sunseap. It is a testament to the government’s commitment to promoting renewable energy and to supporting foreign investments in this sector. For Sunseap, this marks a significant step in our efforts to bring affordable, reliable and clean energy to beyond Singapore. As our name implies, we want the sun to be a major contributor to a sustainable future for Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.”

■ Acme wins 50MW solar project in Uttar Pradesh

(June 8, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Indian developer Acme Solar has won a 50MW solar PV project in the state of Uttar Pradesh with a tariff of INR3.38/kWh (US$0.05) via an auction held by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).

The capacity will be located at the Gujrai solar park. In a release, Acme said that this will be a tough project due to poor site access, soil condition, difficult contours, high wind speed, and lower global horizantal irradiance (GHI).

“We wanted to learn from this project and use our innovation and execution capabilities to meet the customer expectation. We will build special structure and balance of plant to meet site condition,” said Manoj Upadhyay, founder and chairman ACME Group.

The firm will now sign a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with SECI who will sell power to the state utilities.

With this win, Acme’s total portfolio will increase to 2.8GW.

Azure Power recently commissioned a 40MW solar PV project in Uttar Pradesh, while SECI has increased the capacity available in its tender for grid-connected floating solar at Rihand Dam in the same state from 100MW to 150MW.

Softbank's JV, SB Energy won 200MW in one of the most recent solar auctions in Karnataka with a tariff of INR 2.82/kWh (US$0.041), which is 56 rupees lower than Acme's Uttar Pradesh bid.

■ JinkoSolar to supply 1.43GW of solar modules to sPower in the US

(June 5, 2018/pv-tech.org)

The US subsidiary of China-based Silicon Module Super League (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has entered into a three-year agreement to supply 1.43GW of high-efficiency modules to the developer sPower.

To-date, JinkoSolar has supplied more than 800MW, made up of roughly 2.5 million solar panels, to sPower's PV projects. In a statement, JinkoSolar said the agreement includes significant down payments, which will help the company expand manufacturing capacity in both the US and Asia.

"We have had a strong track record of success with JinkoSolar's high-quality and reliable modules, which is why we have signed another deal," said Ryan Creamer, CEO of sPower. "JinkoSolar's technology roadmap and cost leadership are also strong enablers for our future projects, and we look forward to maintaining our strong partnership."

Gener Miao, JinkoSolar vice president of sales & marketing, said: "We value the opportunity to grow our business with a visionary like sPower. JinkoSolar has been investing heavily in advanced solar technologies, and these efforts have yielded major benefits."

JinkoSolar recently set further records by establishing new P-type and N-type PV module power ratings ahead of the largest annual industry exhibition, SNEC in Shanghai, China.

Private investment firm Fir Tree Partners sold sPower to an AES and AIMCo joint venture back in August last year.

■ India Briefing: Greenko buys Orange Renewables, Minister update, Distributed renewables data

(June 5, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Greenko acquires Orange Renewables

4 June: Indian developer Greenko Energy Holdings has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Orange Renewables Singapore for a total enterprise value of approximately US$922 million. Orange has 907MW of solar and wind assets and pipeline of over 500MW.

The deal will add to Greenko’s existing portfolio of over 3GW of operational capacity, taking its overall operational capacity to about 4GW of wind, solar and hydro. Greenko’s overall under-construction capacity in addition to the 4GW of operational capacity is over 7GW.

“Indian energy markets are transitioning from deficit markets to demand driven contracts requiring reliable, flexible and cost competitive energy. Greenko is focussing on building integrated renewable energy assets with storage to address these markets by competing with conventional energy assets like thermal in quality, quantity and cost,” said Anil Chalamalasetty, managing director and chief executive, Greenko.

Energy minister praises achievements

5 June: Indian power minister R.K. Singh has said that more US$42 billion investment was made in renewable energy in India during the last four years and the country is “well on track” to achieving the 175GW target of installed renewable energy capacity.

Singh even said that trends suggest the target will not only be achieved but exceeded.

He also said that 41 Solar Parks in 21 States with an aggregate capacity of over 26GW have been sanctioned.

CLEAN and GOGLA jointly launch India DRE Data Collection

3 May: Clean Energy Access Network (CLEAN) and Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA) have jointly launched the India Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) Data Collection, covering off-grid solar, solar pumps, mini and micro-grids and improved cookstoves.

The collected data will feed into CLEAN’s ‘State of the Sector Report - 2017/18’.

■ Pakistani bank partners Nizam Energy on commercial solar financing

(June 5, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Pakistani financier JS Bank has partnered with local solar firm Nizam Energy on a PV module financing solution directed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The smart panel solution, named JS Smart Roshni, will allow SMEs that use Nizam’s solar modules and technical services to benefit from financing of up to PKR10 million (~US$86,500) at a mark-up of 6% from the bank, while reducing the SMEs’ dependency on grid power.

Babbar Wajid, head of product development and business management, JS Bank said: “Our partnership with Nizam Energy reflects our commitment to provide customers with responsible solutions for their energy needs, while creating medium to long-term savings. This initiative will help our clients increase operational efficiency in an environmentally responsible manner, and help reduce load on the national grid.”

Usman Ahmad, CEO, Nizam Energy, commented: “With easy and low cost financing solutions provided by JS Bank, we can further enable customers across Pakistan to avail solar power generation solutions with financing support.”

In other news, the Government of Sindh Province in Pakistan recently rejected submissions from all four bidders in its tender for 352 solar PV systems to electrify primary health facilities. Meanwhile, in February, the Pakistani regulator issued its tariff determinations for 300MW of solar with tariffs significantly below grid parity, for which Nizam was a co-sponser with Scatec Solar for 150MW worth of projects.

■ India seeks to ‘rationalise’ safeguard duty recommendation

(June 5, 2018/pv-tech.org)

India’s newly-formed Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) will hold a public hearing regarding the case on whether to impose Safeguard Duties on imports of solar cells and modules on 26 June in New Delhi.

DGTR noted that it expected a large number of attendees and therefore a maximum of two representatives from any party could attend, but requests for more than two attendees can be made by 10 June. Additional secretary Sunil Kumar will oversee the meeting.

Several Indian media reports recently said that the Delhi High Court had disposed a petition from Indian developer Acme Solar challenging the proposed Safeguard Duty, for which a 70% duty for 200 days had been recommended by the Directorate General of Safeguards’ (DGS) back in December 2017. The court reportedly said the recommendation was not binding.

However, Mudit Jain, a consultant at Bridge to India, said the Indian government has now gone back to the DGS for a new recommendation on the provisional duty amount. He told PV Tech that 70% would be “much more detrimental” to the market and therefore the government is seeking to “rationalise” the duty. Indeed when first announced, analysts had claimed that a 70% duty would derail the entire National Solar Mission.

Remarking on the 26 June meeting, Jain said the aim is to find out whether there are grounds for imposing a duty and to discover what the final duty would be. Giving his personal opinion, Jain suspected that a final duty of 20% could be imposed.

The investigation was kick-started after a petition from the Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) last year, on behalf of domestic manufacturers including Mundra Solar (Adani), Indosolar, Jupiter Solar, Websol Energy Systems and Helios.

This April, India also launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of EVA sheets for solar modules from China, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, in March, the Directorate General of Anti Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) terminated its anti-dumping investigation regarding imports of solar cells from China, Malaysia and Taiwan, but a fresh filing from the petitioners, the ISMA, covering a new period of injury could still be expected.

■ Chinese major PV companies have already determined that overseas growth

(June 4, 2018/pv-tech.org)

The news that the Chinese government is implementing major caps on the growth of PV deployments in the country, indicates that major PV companies such as GCL and rival LONGi Green Energy have already determined that overseas growth would be required to meet ambitious goals over the coming years.

LONGi Group and GCL Group are expanding production into India, while GCL Group has previously touted the possibility to expand into Saudi Arabia.

LONGi already has cell and module production in Malaysia and GCL has the same in Vietnam.

■ Call for rethink on Europe’s small-scale renewables and C&I self-consumption policies

(June 1, 2018/pv-tech.org)

A total of 17 European associations have called on policymakers to reintroduce the debate around priority dispatch and balancing responsibility for small-scale renewable installations and demonstration projects after new policies forced smaller consumers to compete on the same market as utilities.

The associations, under the umbrella of the ‘Small is Beautiful Campaign’, were lobbying policymakers ahead of an upcoming trialogue meeting on the Electricity Market Design Regulation.

In a release, SolarPower Europe said that the future of small-scale renewable installations in Europe is currently under threat, after the Council of the European Union introduced balancing responsibility obligations, supported the phase-out of priority dispatch and introduced a bidding obligation on small-scale renewable and high-efficiency cogeneration installations, demonstration projects and energy communities.

This would force consumers, homeowners and small businesses to compete in the same market and with the same requirements as major utility-scale energy producers, added the association.

Aurélie Beauvais, policy director of SolarPower Europe said: "Small-scale renewables make the energy transition a reality at the local level. The diverse groups of stakeholders supporting the Small is Beautiful campaign shows that the benefits of small renewable installations are spread across all layers of society. We are calling for a step-wise market integration of small-scale renewables, that acknowledges the specificity of such installations, while adopting an approach that will foster innovation through a dedicated framework for demonstration projects".

Call for European C&I renewables self-consumption framework

Meanwhile, ten of Europe's major energy-intensive companies have also urged European policymakers to set up the right framework for commercial and industrial (C&I) self-consumption of energy, ahead of negotiations on the Renewable Energy Directive on 31 May.

The companies included ArcelorMittal, BayWa r.e., DSM, Dupont, ENI, Novozymes, Total, Shell, Voestalpine and Wacker Chemie. They see self-consumption of renewable energy not just as a way into using clean energy but also as a key way to reduce energy costs.

James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe said: "SolarPower Europe has been extremely active in promoting a wide approach to self-consumption, acknowledging both the benefits and potential of commercial and industrial self-consumption. This can drive the scaling up the development of solar installations in Europe and support the competitiveness of European based businesses. We support the signatories in this endeavour and call on EU Member States to allow commercial and industrial consumers of energy to self-consume without disproportionate charges."

Last year, the French parliament adopted a draft law on self-consumption of electricity from renewable energy sources.

■ Univergy developing 15MW solar project in South Korea

(June 1, 2018/pv-tech.org)

Univergy International is developing a 15MW solar PV project in Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.

Univergy has recently set up a new office in Seoul, after the Government of South Korea set a target of 63.8GW renewable power generation by 2030. Univergy has also set a target for 2018 to develop 300MW of renewable energy projects in the country.

Yago Acón, executive director of Project Development for Southeast Asia and the European Union of Univergy, said: "We are working in Korea since the end of 2017, since we saw that it was a great opportunity for foreign companies specialized in the development of renewable projects. The project we are currently developing is Yeongiu of 15MW in Gyeongsang that we plan to deliver during the first quarter of 2019."

The Government of South Korea targets 20% of electricity generation through renewable sources by 2030. The installed capacity of renewable energy in 2017 was 15.1GW, which will increase to 63.8GW in 2030, generating up to 48GW of new installed capacity, said Univergy in a release.

Univergy International recently started a joint venture with Japanese company Europe Clean Energies Japan and the Vietnamese Thanh Nien Media Corporation, to develop a 44.4MW solar PV project in Dak Nong, Cu Jut district, Vietnam.