Category Archives: Cells & Modules

Government unlikely to scrap customs duty on import of solar panels

Plea by MNRE secretary to give duty relief to solar power developers turned down at a meeting of government stakeholders. BENGALURU: The government appears to have turned down a plea by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to … Continue reading

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Solar power developers flouting domestic content norms may face penal action

India plans to penalize solar power firms that are using foreign equipment in projects awarded on the basis that they would only use locally made solar panels and cells As solar panels account for nearly 60% of a solar power … Continue reading

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US trade body recommendation may impact India’s solar power sector

Indian solar power tariffs’ sharp decline will get arrested in the short term with Chinese solar module prices set to increase post the US trade body recommendation on Friday New Delhi: Indian solar power tariffs’ sharp decline will get arrested … Continue reading

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India issues new specifications for solar power modules

The new standard specifications will come into force on the expiry of one year from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, 30 August 2017 New Delhi: India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued an … Continue reading

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Initiation of Antidumping investigation concerning imports of “Solar Cells whether or not assembled partially or fully in modules or Panels or on glass or some other suitable substrates” originating in or exported from China PR, Taiwan and Malaysia.

F.No. 6/30/2017-DGAD : Indian Solar Manufactures Association (hereinafter referred to as the petitioner) has filed an application before the Designated Authority (hereinafter also referred to as the Authority) in accordance with the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, as amended from time … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Dumping, Cells & Modules, Climate Change, Crystalline, Government, India, Manufacturing, MNRE, PV, Renewables, Solar, Solar Policy, Solar PV, Thin Film, WTO | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GST for Solar at 5%, Govt issues clarification

The government will levy a 5 per cent tax on all equipment required for generating solar power compared with nil duty now, a government official clarified, putting an end to confusion about the new taxation policy for the industry after … Continue reading

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Power loss due to soiling on solar panel: A review

The power output delivered from a photovoltaic module highly depends on the amount of irradiance, which reaches the solar cells. Many factors determine the ideal output or optimum yield in a photovoltaic module. However, the environment is one of the … Continue reading

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Piyush Goyal stays clear of issue of anti-dumping levy on solar gear

Staying clear of the demand for imposition of anti-dumping duty on solar equipment imports, Power Minister Piyush Goyal today said the ministry concerned will take an appropriate decision on the matter. “I am minister for renewable energy. I am focusing in … Continue reading

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Local solar panel makers may help save US $42 billion: KPMG

A sustainable manufacturing policy for the solar panel industry could help save USD 42 billion in forex outgo by 2030, according to a KPMG report and the Indian Solar Manufacturers’ Association (ISMA). The ISMA also called for continued government support … Continue reading

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India-US solar issue: WTO sets up dispute panel

The WTO has set up a dispute settlement panel to examine a complaint by the US against India’s domestic content requirements under the country’s solar power programme, Parliament was informed today. “Since the consultations could not result into satisfactory outcome, … Continue reading

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WTO Tells US To Reconsider Solar Panel Tariffs

In a move that many in the solar industry applauded, a World Trade Organization panel found that the US government overstepped its bounds when it imposed tariffs on solar panels and other goods from China. New Hampshire — Yesterday the World … Continue reading

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Solar Cell Efficiency Rises By 30% Through Singlet Fission

Scientists were pretty excited when they discovered you could convert light energy directly into electricity by capturing photons in semiconductors, exciting them into “excitons” (bound electron with negative charge and hole with positive), and capturing the resultant current through electrodes. … Continue reading

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Results of financial bid for KREDL Karnataka 50MW Solar PV Projects

Marked in Yellow Denote Unsuccessful Bidders  

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Budget 2014: Power sector gets electrified with Budget measures. Section 80IA extended to March 2017

Experts, industry and investors welcomed measures announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for the power sector, especially renewable energy. In his maiden budget, Jaitley laid stress on solar and wind energy, besides extending tax benefits for thermal power project developers. … Continue reading

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Anti-dumping duty on solar gear imports won’t hurt consumers: Indian Solar Manufacturers’ Association

Solar power gear makers have rejected the argument put forth by developers that imposition of antidumping duty on imported solar power equipment will double the cost of solar power in the country, saying the cost escalation will not be even … Continue reading

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Domestic solar cell makers say use of indigenous products can keep cost of solar power low

Domestic manufacturers of solar cells have said that use of indigenous products can help keep cost of solar power low, countering the government’s claim that it will escalate after imposition of dumping duty. “The fact is that cost of power … Continue reading

Posted in Anti Dumping Duty, Anti-Dumping, Batch I, Cells & Modules, Grid Connected, India, JNNSM, MNRE, Phase II, PV, Renewables, Solar | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

India Dumping Duties Risk Choking Modi’s Solar Revolution

Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg A SolPac D160 solar field, comprising of parabolic solar concentrating reflector dishes developed by Thermax Ltd., stands at the Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. manufacturing plant in Chakan, Maharashtra, India. The Indian government may strangle Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s … Continue reading

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India Minister Nitin Gadkari Asks Goverment to Scrap Solar Duties – The Ministry of Finance has until Aug. 22 to implement the duties

India’s transport minister has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to scrap a plan by the nation’s previous administration to impose duties on solar imports from China, the U.S., Malaysia and Taiwan, the Hindu Business Line reported. Minister of Road, Transport and … Continue reading

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Manufacturing capacity of Solar Cells and Modules in India as of 3rd June 2014 – MNRE

Click here for the entire document Companies Cells (MW) Module (MW) Installed capacity Capacity under Operation as on date Installed capacity Capacity under Operation as on date Access Solar – – 18 Ajit Solar – – 20 Alpex – – … Continue reading

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Effect of Anti-Dumping Duty on Module Prices in India

Posted in Anti-Dumping, Batch I, Cells & Modules, China, Crystalline, India, MNRE, NSEFI, Phase II, Power Generation, PV, Solar, Thin Film | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anti-Dumping applied for Solar Products imported into India from Malaysia, China PR, Chinese Taipei and USA.

Anti-Dumping Investigation concerning imports of Solar Cells whether or not assembled partially or fully in Modules or Panels or on glass or some other suitable substrates, originating in or exported from Malaysia, China PR, Chinese Taipei and USA. 14/5/2012-DGAD:- Having … Continue reading

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Middle East & Africa Solar PV Market To Surge By 50% In 2014

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is set to see massive growth in solar photovoltaic (PV) demand in the coming years, according to recent findings in the latest NPD Solarbuzz Emerging PV Markets Report: Middle East and Africa. Year-on-year … Continue reading

Posted in Africa, Cells & Modules, Commercial, Grid Connected, Power Generation, PV, Renewables, Residential, Rooftop, Rural Lighting, Solar | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

India may not impose anti-dumping duty on solar power gear imports

The government may refrain from imposing anti-dumping duty on cheap solar power gear imports, as it tries to pin down the cost of renewable energy. The government may refrain from imposing anti-dumping duty on cheap solar power gear imports, as … Continue reading

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Rebuttal to Quality Related points brought by National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) by Indosolar

Printed in TOTO Click here for the original letter submitted to SECI and here for the detailed reply by IndoSolar NSEFI submitted the following quality related issues to SECI and MNRE on March 24th 2014 with regard to crystalline silicon solar … Continue reading

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Panasonic Sets New Solar Cell Efficiency Record of 25.6%

Panasonic has a long history of breaking solar efficiency records. The company recently announced that it has broken an efficiency record again. Its HIT solar cell has achieved a conversion efficiency of 25.6%, a new world record and “a major … Continue reading

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Renewable energy market share climbs despite 2013 dip in investments

Installed solar jumped 26 percent — from 31 Gigawatts in 2012 to a record 39 GW in 2013 — even as investment in solar capacity decreased 23 percent from US$135.6 billion to US$104.1 billion. Renewable energy’s share of world electricity … Continue reading

Posted in Bagasse, Biomass, Cells & Modules, CPV, Crystalline, DISCOM, Geothermal, Global Warming, Hydro, Off-grid, Power Generation, PV, Renewables, Residential, Rooftop, Rural Lighting, Solar, Solar Thermal, Thin Film | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

SUNEDISON DROPS INDIA SOLAR PROJECT ON DCR SUPPLY WORRIES

BlackRock Inc.-backed SunEdison Inc. dropped a solar power project in India as local equipment shortages and prices make it unviable. SunEdison is giving up the 20-megawatt project it won in an Indian government auction in February on concerns that local … Continue reading

Posted in Batch I, Cells & Modules, Commercial, Crystalline, Grid Connected, JNNSM, MNRE, Phase II, PV, Renewables, SECI, Solar, Solar Policy, Subsidy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MIT device uses heat store to crank up solar panel output

US researchers have found a way to use heat to improve the efficiency of solar panels. Photovoltaic (PV) cells typically produce less electricity the hotter they get, but the engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a solar-powered … Continue reading

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Top 10 PV module suppliers of 2013

Based on existing company guidance and downstream channel checks – and supplemented by various estimates by company through to the end of 2013 – NPD Solarbuzz can now reveal the Top 10 PV module suppliers for 2013. Rankings are done … Continue reading

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China cuts the cord on struggling solar manufacturers

Manufacturers that can’t get on to the list could be left in the wilderness. The Chinese government has excluded almost 80% of operating manufacturers, including Shunfeng and LDK Solar, from benefitting from domestic support measures as it looks to curb … Continue reading

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Ford will debut a solar-powered electric car at the Consumer Electronics Show next week

The solar cells in the new Ford C-Max Solar Energi, to be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show. The car, a concept vehicle not ready for dealer showrooms, is a version of the C-Max Energi plug-in car already sold by … Continue reading

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Solar trade wars: are you winning yet?

This is our opportunity to learn from the policies of other nations so that we don’t commit the same mistakes – Ritesh Pothan Above – Prices of Yingli Modules European buyers this week have been warned they could face imprisonment … Continue reading

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Scientists’ new approach improves efficiency of solar cells

An international team of scientists, led by researchers from the Universities of York and St Andrews, has developed a new method to increase the efficiency of solar cells. The new approach achieves highly efficient broad-band light trapping in thin films, … Continue reading

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NPD Solarbuzz: Chinese solar PV industry rebound continues

Yingli and Jinko Forecast to Announce Record PV Shipment and Costs for Q3’13 During the third quarter of 2013 (Q3’13), the recovery of the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry took a major step forward. Nine of the top ten solar PV … Continue reading

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Final Guidelines for Selection of 750 MW Grid Connected Solar Power Projects Under Batch-I of JNNSM Phase-II

MNRE finally releases the final guidelines for the next phase of 750 MW, click here for the entire document and some important excerpts below RFS_Documents For Selection of SPD under JNNSM Phase II Batch I Domestic Content Requirement Out of … Continue reading

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Innovation in renewable-energy technologies is booming – RE Patents on the rise

New study shows that from 1970 to 2009, Japan led the world in the number of patents related to photovoltaics (solar cells). Over the last five years of that period, the number of solar patents worldwide increased by 13 percent … Continue reading

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Plastic Solar Cells Offer Bright Future

  Energy consumption is growing rapidly in the 21st century, with rising energy costs and sustainability issues greatly impacting the quality of human life. Harvesting energy directly from sunlight to generate electricity using photovoltaic technologies is considered to be one … Continue reading

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Stacked Solar Cells Can Handle Energy Of 70,000 Suns, currently at 45% efficiency

With a new connection, the overall efficiency of solar energy devices, including GaAs based ones, can reduce the cost of solar energy production North Carolina State University researchers have come up with a new technique for improving the connections between … Continue reading

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Mercom reiterates its global PV installation forecast of approximately 38 GW for 2013, 23% growth year-over-year

Mercom Capital Group, reiterated its global photovoltaic (PV) installation forecast of approximately 38 GW for 2013, strong 23 percent growth year-over-year, noting improving market conditions, in its recent analysis.  “After years of overcapacity, bankruptcies and record low prices, we are … Continue reading

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Solar PV Equipment Suppliers In Waiting Mode

The consolidated solar photovoltaic (PV) book-to-bill ratio is forecast to remain below parity once again during Q3’13, representing the tenth consecutive quarter where net-bookings have been lower than recognized revenues. According to the latest information from NPD Solarbuzz, the consolidated … Continue reading

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Trade War: SolarWorld challenges US import duty rates and loopholes

The key challenge is SolarWorld’s attempt to appeal the so-called ‘scope ruling,’ which enabled Chinese module manufacturers to avoid duties if they used solar cells produced outside China. PV manufacturer SolarWorld is taking the United States government to court for … Continue reading

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NPD Solarbuzz: Idled solar cell capacity in India belies bigger issues

Market research firm, NPD Solarbuzz reports that a significant amount of crystalline-silicon solar cell production in India lays idle, despite almost US$0.5 billion of investment in solar cell equipment between 2006 and 2012. The reason for the idled capacity was … Continue reading

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Solar manufacturing costs ‘driven by scale rather than cheap labour or subsidies’

Advanced technologies are expected to enable manufacturers in both regions to reach a more competitive scale through improved access to capital Production scale rather than low labour costs has driven China’s boom in manufacturing PV modules, according to a joint … Continue reading

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Trina, Yingli, SunPower top Solar Scorecard

Of the leading 40 solar companies, environmental and consumer advocacy group Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition found that Trina Solar, Yingli and SunPower bested industry rivals in areas such as worker safety and module toxicity. Industry watchdog and consumer advocacy group … Continue reading

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First Solar and China Sunergy urge Indian government to drop dumping investigation

U.S. and Chinese manufacturers claim that India’s government is acting beyond the scope of its powers in a dumping probe they describe as “flawed.” An Indian investigation into claims that U.S., European, Chinese, Malaysian and Japanese PV manufacturers dumped solar cells … Continue reading

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Solar thin-films may fall under local sourcing ambit, but with caveat

To avoid issues with the US at the WTO, the compulsory sourcing norm will only apply to power supplied to government agencies. India may extend compulsory local sourcing conditions on solar thin films, mostly imported from the US, in the … Continue reading

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Doping boosts efficiency of CdTe cell: Empa study

Scientists at the Empa Institute in Switzerland claim to have achieved 11.5% conversion efficiency for a CdTe solar cell by doping it with copper. The researchers improved on previous results of around 8% by using high-vacuum copper evaporation on substrate … Continue reading

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SolarWorld shareholders approve rescue package; Qatar Solar picks up stake

Shareholders in the beleaguered German manufacturer SolarWorld have given the green light to a comprehensive restructuring of the company’s finances. The debt-for-equity deal, approved by a 91% majority yesterday, will see Doha-based Qatar Solar acquire a 29% interest in SolarWorld … Continue reading

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EU solar trade deal sets floating price on Chinese panels

The EU and China have announced the terms of the deal to end their long-running solar trade dispute, setting a minimum import price linked to industry price reports. The initial price level was not released at the time of publication. … Continue reading

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Leaks reveal EU efforts to close Chinese PV offshore loophole: Sets €0.56 per Watt minimum import price

More details of the EU trade deal have emerged including an attempt to stop Chinese manufacturers from circumventing the legislation by sending production capacity overseas. According to a document seen by PV Tech, Chinese firms will come under scrutiny by the European … Continue reading

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