Government Regulations
Shanghai Solar Declaration Calls for Multilateral Trade Negotiations
21 May 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Last week, representatives from SEIA went to China to meet with the Asia PV Industry Association to discuss how to settle the lingering trade dispute with China over anti-dumping and anti-subsidy allegations. John Smirnow, vice president of trade and competitiveness for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) – issued the following statement:
“Meeting last week in China, SEIA and the Asia PV Industry Association – along with several other organizations – agreed to a joint policy position, the Shanghai Solar Declaration, which strongly encourages the United States, China, the European Union and other nations to engage in multilateral trade negotiations aimed at ending this costly and disruptive dispute.
Schneider Electric Provides Electrical Balance of System to 10 Solar Projects in France
15 May 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Schneider Electric provided integrated solutions to for 10 solar power projects in France, including 57 PV Box power substations, monitoring and control system, and 10 grid connection substations.
EU Tariff on China, Good News and Bad for German Solar
14 May 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
The European Commission has agreed to impose punitive import duties on solar panels from China, according to a Reuters report.
Europe's Proposed Heavy Tariff on China's PV Products
14 May 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
According to EnergyTrend, a research division of TrendForce, Europe’s anti-dumping and countervailing investigation on China suggested that the government has subsidized their domestic solar manufacturers, and Europe may impose a punitive tariff (more than 30%) on China’s PV products. In addition, the wide range of products that may be affected by the punitive tariff suggests that organizations (EU ProSun and AFASE) are still defending their own interests.
Chinese PV Trade, Tariffs and Uncertainty
12 May 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy Features
China has long been an important player in the global photovoltaics market, but trade policies and quality of materials have been contentious issues. Many blamed market stumbling to the low-cost Chinese goods flooding markets throughout the world. Fast forward one year and more countries have expressed a need to levy import taxes on Chinese solar goods.
Colorado House Passes Clean Technologies Act
09 May 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) announced the passing of House Bill 13 – 1001, the Advanced Industries Acceleration Act by the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature. The bill provides for annual allocations of several million per year for the next decade including over $12 million next year in grants supporting seven advanced industries driving the Colorado economy including energy and natural resources.
Conergy Builds Second 2MW Solar Plant in Romania
07 May 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Conergy is currently building another 2MW solar power plant in the Romanian region of Slobozia. It was only in January this year that the PV solution and service provider had announced its entry into the market in the Eastern European country with a 2.2MW solar park.
Intersolar Europe 2013: Changing business models for the PV industry
06 May 2013POSTED IN Business News
At Intersolar Europe 2013, which takes place in Munich, Germany from 19 to 21 June at Messe München, numerous exhibitors showcase a variety of new PV system solutions and investment opportunities. Exhibition tours, workshops and presentations at PV Energy World shed light on the topics from a variety of perspectives and a specially dedicated set of presentations at the Intersolar Europe Conference rounds off the range of information available at the exhibition on new business models for the photovoltaics (PV) industry.
EU Close to Levying Tariffs on Chinese Solar Imports
03 May 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht is expected to tell his fellow EU commissioners on Wednesday that Brussels should levy the tariffs on solar panels from China. The move is to guard against Chinese production that quadrupled between 2009 and 2011 to more than the entire global demand.
127MW Solar Plant Opens in US
02 May 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Kyocera Solar Inc. is providing 25MW* of US-made solar modules for the 127MW Arlington Valley Solar Energy II (AV Solar II) utility-scale installation in southwest Arizona. Block 1 of the 5-section installation is now live, with the remaining sections expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013.
PV Cycle and Retela Partner on PV Recycling in Czech Republic
25 April 2013POSTED IN Business News
PV Cycle and the Czech WEEE-scheme Retela announced that they have started to collaborate in the area of PV module take-back and recycling in the Czech Republic.
European Solar Demand Up in Response to Anti-Dumping Duties
18 April 2013POSTED IN Business News
The Scandinavian-German solar module manufacturer Innotech Solar (ITS) has concluded contracts with six new distributors, benefiting from the increased demand for European solar modules from distributors who want to avoid paying backdated anti-dumping duties for purchasing modules made in China.
China's Yingli Now Top PV Module Supplier
11 April 2013POSTED IN Business News
Yingli from China became the largest global supplier of photovoltaic (PV) modules in 2012 based on annual merchant shipments, while previous leader and besieged fellow Chinese producer Suntech Power dropped to fifth place, according to the latest analysis from information and analytics provider IHS.
First Solar: Solar plant acquisition, solar stocks soar
10 April 2013POSTED IN Business News
First Solar, Inc.
EnergyTrend: China's PV manufacturers investing in solar
08 April 2013POSTED IN Business News
According to EnergyTrend, a research division of TrendForce, Chinese PV manufacturers are greatly interested in cooperating with Taiwanese manufacturers. Recently, first-tier manufacturers have come to Taiwan not only to exchange marketing ideas but also to resolve concerns and maintain their existing relationship with related industries.
John Smirnow, SEIA VP Named Chairman of US Department of Commerce Advisory Committee
05 April 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
John Smirnow, Vice President of trade and competitiveness at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), has been designated chairman of the US Department of Commerce’s Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (RE&EEAC). The re-charted committee was launched in recent days by US Commerce Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank.
IEA Responds to Japan Redefining Natural Energy Strategy
04 April 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
IEA Deputy Executive Director Richard H. Jones consulted with Japanese officials on the expertise and advice the Agency and its energy efficiency specialists can provide Japan on altering its systems to reduce dependency on energy imports.
Photo caption: IEA Deputy Executive Director Richard H. Jones in Tokyo. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, all rights reserved.
Bulgaria Energy Minister Proposes to Pull the Plug on Non-Compliant PV Plants
28 March 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Bulgaria's caretaker Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, proposed that renewable energy installations without certificates should be temporarily disconnected from the country's power grid.
Hanwha Q CELLS "Made in EU" Certified
27 March 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Hanwha Q CELLS, a Germany-based photovoltaic company, has now received the French "Made in EU" certificate for the manufacturing of both solar cells and solar modules from purely European components. The certificate will enable French customers of Q CELLS PV products to get a bonus on the French Feed-in-Tariff of up to 10% with immediate effect.
European Parliament Calls for Assessment of Renewable Energy Target
19 March 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
The Industry, Transport, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee of the European Parliament has adopted the Reul report today, which calls on the European Commission to assess a mandatory 2030 renewable energy target.
