Welcome back to another busy week! This time, we are covering how the COVID-19-induced restrictions impact the renewables deployment in Bangladesh, Turkey and Mexico, and the brand new 400W solar module from Seraphim Solar, and many more!
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Your Monday Briefings is now divided into 2 sections:
- The 1st section has all the solar news related to COVID-19
- The 2nd section has the solar news which has little to do with the pandemic.
SECTION 1: COVID-19 WATCH
Bangladesh
Bangladeshi Solar Companies Are Asking for COVID-19 Stimulus Program
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has prolonged the industrial lockdown until May 16.
In response, the Bangladeshi PV companies are petitioning the government to grant them a COVID-19 stimulus program:
- BDT5 billion (US$58.9 million) of grants
- The duration of grants: 5 years
- Long-term loans without interest
- Tax incentives for 5 years
The industry players also ask the government to expedite the passing of a policy regarding installing rooftop PV installations on public buildings, which they believe to be able to generate more work.
Source: pv magazine
Turkey
Covid-19 Has Disrupted Turkey’s Solar Net Metering
Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority has stopped part of the net metering application process, as one of the measures of imposing restrictions on gathering due to COVID-19.
However, this move has disrupted the only booming segment of the already sluggish PV industry in Turkey.
The Turkish industry insiders regard this move as uncalled for. A large part of evaluating the net metering application was already online prior the pandemic. Plus, the evaluation committee could continue their work remotely.
Source: pv magazine
Mexico
Mexico: No More New Solar and Wind Power Grid Connections, For Now
The Mexican energy regulator National Energy Control Center (Cenace) has announced on Wednesday that any new solar or wind power grid connections will be suspended until further notice, citing concern over the country’s energy security during the pandemic as the reason.
However, the local lobby the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial (CCE) slammed the maneuver as an attack against the renewable energy industry.
The lobby group does not believe that this decision was based on sound technical evaluation or legal justification.
Source: pv magazine
SECTION 2-1: NON-COVID-19 Regional Market News
And for those of you who are sick of COVID-19 news, here are the news that are not (entirely) related to COVID-19.
Australia
French PV developer Neoen is building a gigantic solar park in Queensland’s Western Downs region.
The capacity will be around 400 MW, which will become the biggest solar project in Australia.
Source: pv magazine
China
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR)
On May 6, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued a notice that the organization will financially support the funding of the pilot demonstration projects of the renewable energy in 2020.
The notice mentioned the solar power can power and provide lighting for the schools, health facilities, nursing homes and other public buildings. Photovoltaics can be integrated into buildings as a result (such as solar tiles, roofs, curtain walls and more).
The funding priority system uses a star rating system, which ranges from 1 to 3 stars, with 3 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. The building-integrated PV is graded as 3 stars. The PV power generation application in the recharging of the electric bikes in the villages, schools and more is graded as 1 star.
Jiangxi Province
Shicheng County Ganjiangyuan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. has launched an open tender for its New Balance LP rooftop distributed PV project of 3.5 MW.
The tender documents can be purchased from May 11 to May 18.
The deadline for bid submissions and releasing the auction results is May 26.
SECTION 2-2: NON-COVID-19 Company News
Chinaland Solar Energy
Chinaland Solar Energy has released its brand new high-efficiency module Mars series, with multi busbars (MBB) 166 mm half-cells.
Mars series boasts MBB technology, half-cut design, paving technology, and triangle welding belt technology.
The module efficiency can reach 20.45%. And the output can reach 455W.
East Hope
East Hope Group has successfully signed 5 contracts involving a circular economy industrial base.
The contracts include a photovoltaic material industry chain project, which will generate 30 GW worth of products annually.
The total investment will amount to US$2.965 billion (RMB 21 billion).
And the value of annual output is estimated to be US$8.472 billion (RMB 60 billion).
Jiangsu Seraphim Solar System
Seraphim launches the brand new 440 W shingled module
Seraphim has unveiled its latest product, the 158 high-efficiency shingled module on May 6.
The brand new module can achieve higher efficiency, because the 158.75 mm are split into 6 pieces. The traditional ribbon is also replaced with electrical conductive adhesive.
The efficiency of the new module can reach up to 20.81%. And the module power can be as high as 440W.
Source: Jiangsu Seraphim Solar System
Tianjin Zhonghuan
Tianjin Zhonghuan (“Zhonghuan”) has made announced its plan to invest in Huanli Photovoltaic (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd (“Huanli”).
According to the announcement, in order to fulfill the need of differentiating the technology, Zhonghuan has launched a smart factory project for high-efficiency shingled solar cells and modules.
Therefore the Tianjin solar powerhouse will invest in Huanli Photovoltaic (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
