PV installations in Q2 fall by half
In the second quarter, India installed solar projects amounting to 52% less capacity quarter-over-quarter, due to uncertainties around trade cases, module price fluctuations, and PPA renegotiations prompted by record low solar tender bids.
Affordability and lack of charging points stalls electric vehicle take-up in India: Bloomberg
Bloomberg New Energy Finance says EVs will make up only 7% of new car sales in nation by 2030, compared to a predicted 44% for European sales, 41% in China, 34% in the US and 17% in Japan
GCL Group, Softbank sign MOU for 4 GW of solar manufacturing in Andhra Pradesh
The Asian companies will form a joint venture in India to execute the plan. The project’s total investment is expected to be around US$930 million, which will be used for the production of solar PV ingots, wafers, cells, modules and batteries.
Sharp hits 25.09% efficiency on full size HJT cell
Japanese electronics giant Sharp has announced the achievement of 25.09% conversion efficiency, from a cell utilizing both heterojunction and back contact technology. The measurement has been validated by Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories (JET).
Panasonic begins supply of prismatic-type automotive Li-ion batteries, unveils new storage solution in India
Panasonic’s Chinese factory has started the mass production and global supply of prismatic-type automotive lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Its Indian subsidiary, Panasonic India, meanwhile has launched a new energy storage solution, CBPS 8000, for telecom towers at the Elecrama 2018 exhibition, currently taking place in India.
US rejects establishment of compliance panel, disagreeing with India’s WTO claim
The United States blocks India’s request for a panel to investigate Indian compliance to solar cells ruling. Thus, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) has deferred the establishment of a compliance panel. Moreover, U.S. reserves its right to obtain WTO authorization to take countermeasures against India, but there is desire to find a bilateral resolution.
SC-Solar to ship 1.5 GW of module manufacturing equipment by March 2018
The leading automation equipment supplier installed 15 GW of module manufacturing lines worldwide in 2016, where 1.2 GW is installed in India.
Hitachi, Itochu, NEDO switch on PV microgrid pilot in India
Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has started operating a microgrid powered by a 1 MW solar array in western India.
