Solar

Chinese Competition regulator meets with Mercedes-Benz, Alibaba

The State Administration for Market Regulation, SAMR, announced on Wednesday that China's regulator of the market held a seminar on fair competition, with representatives from seven companies. These included Alibaba and LONGi. The statement stated that the executives who attended the symposium on February 2nd discussed the market, competition and the difficulties they face. They also made suggestions to combat monopolies and unfair competitors.

First Solar launches legal action against JinkoSolar for forecasting higher sales in 2025

First Solar, a solar panel manufacturer, forecasted higher sales for the current year and reported a rise of its fourth-quarter profits on Tuesday. It also announced that it had taken legal action against JinkoSolar over patent infringement. Extended trading saw shares up by 3.8% to $153.00. In November, the Biden administration imposed tariffs on imports of solar panels from four Southeast Asian countries after American manufacturers complained that companies were flooding markets with cheap products, which benefited U.S.

Lightsource bp has secured 10 power purchases totaling 1.3 GW in the last 12 months

The firm reported on Wednesday that Lightsource bp - a renewable energy developer and a subsidiary of British oil giant BP - secured 10 power purchase agreement (PPA) in the last year, totaling 1.3 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity worldwide. Lightsource bp stated that the PPAs have been contracted in Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific for solar power. Microsoft, Google and LyondellBasell, a chemicals company, are among the customers of Lightsource bp. The average contract lasts 12 years.

Researchers find that China's clean-energy investments are on par with global fossil fuel investments.

According to a recent analysis by the U.K.-based Carbon Brief, China will invest 6.8 trillion yuan (about $940 billion) in clean energies in 2024. This is close to the global investment of $1.12 trillion made in fossil fuels. This was despite the fact that growth in China's investments in clean energy slowed to 7% in 2023 from 40% due to overcapacity. Over half of this investment was from China's rapidly growing electric vehicle, solar and battery industries.

IEA: Global electricity demand will grow by 4% until 2027

The IEA released a report Friday that predicted the global electricity demand to increase by 4% – or more than Japan's total annual consumption – each year until 2027. However, the expansion of energy sources with low emissions should help counteract this trend. The IEA said that the 85% growth in global demand is expected to come from emerging and developing economies. China will account for more than half the growth with a 6% annual growth rate.

IEA: Global electricity demand will grow by 4% until 2027

The IEA reported on Friday that the global electricity demand will grow more than Japan's total annual consumption through 2027. However, the expansion of energy sources with low emissions should help to offset this trend. The IEA said that the 85% growth in global demand is expected to come from emerging and developing economies. China will account for more than half the growth with a 6% annual growth rate. China's power demand has grown faster than its economy since 2020…

Inpex, a Japanese company, targets FID in 2027 for Indonesia's Abadi Liquefied natural gas project

Inpex Corp., Japan's largest oil and gas exploration company, announced on Thursday that it plans to make its final investment decision on the Abadi project for liquefied gas in Indonesia by 2027, as part of efforts to increase LNG supply. The company has a three-year plan that will run through 2027. It plans to invest 11.8 trillion yen (11,7 billion dollars) in areas of growth, including the flagship Ichthys project in Australia. "Natural Gas and LNG have relatively low greenhouse gas emission intensity compared to fossil fuels…

Maguire: Recovering wind power may cool Europe's hot gas market

The wind-powered electricity produced in Europe in January 2024 was down by more than 7%, denying regional power producers a vital source of clean energy just as the demand for heating reached its peak. This wind shortage triggered an increase in Europe's natural gas-based electricity generation to its highest level in three years. It also supported a rally which has driven benchmark regional gas prices up by more than 15% this year. Models of wind forecasts now predict a recovery in regional production.

Indonesia's new energy supply plan includes a focus on renewable sources of power.

A deputy minister stated on Tuesday that Indonesia aims to increase its share of renewable energies in the electricity supply plan within the next 10 years. This will be fueled by increased solar, geothermal and hydro power. This new plan is known as RUPTL locally. It would replace Indonesia’s RUPTL 2021-2030, which planned a total new capacity of 40.6 gigawatts, of which 52% was renewable energy. Kartika Wirjoatmodjo said that the government…

German spot prices fall on increased wind power

European spot prices fell on Monday due to a higher average wind output, which is expected to exceed the increase in demand. LSEG data shows that the German day-ahead electricity price was 120.75 Euros ($124.77 per megawatt hour (MWh), down 9.7% on Friday's prices for Monday. LSEG data shows that the French baseload electricity for Tuesday was priced at 144.50 Euros/MWh. On Friday, the contract for Monday's delivery was not traded. LSEG…

China will roll back clean energy subsidies after boom

China's top economic planner said on Sunday that it is taking steps to reduce subsidies for renewable energy after an explosion in solar and wind installations. China has surpassed its own record for solar installations by 45% in 2024. China has installed more than 6 times as much solar power in China today, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. China's rapid installation of clean energy has allowed it to reach its 2030 goal six years earlier than expected.

DeepSeek fever fuels patriotic betting on Chinese AI stocks

Chinese investors are investing in AI-related stocks. They believe that the homegrown startup DeepSeek's artificial intelligence advancement will result in a boom for the sector, and give China the advantage in an intensifying Sino/U.S. tech war. As President Donald Trump re-energizes the trade war by imposing new tariffs, patriotic calls have fueled a frenzy of buying in Chinese chipmakers and software developers as well as data centre operators.

DeepSeek fever fuels patriotic betting on Chinese AI stocks

First Solar wins early victory for ESG group with the use of deep sea minerals

First Solar has agreed not to use minerals from the deep ocean. This is a win for shareholders and environmentalists, as well as a sign that their agenda may make progress in spite of opposition from U.S. president Donald Trump's government. According to an agreement summary provided by the advocacy group As You Sow, the Tempe-based photovoltaic company will not include the minerals in its supply chain until "scientific findings are sufficient" to evaluate the environmental risks associated with this potentially destructive new mining process.

India reviews tariff surcharges on luxury goods, renewables and chemicals amid US pressure

India will review the import tariffs for over 30 items, including luxury cars and photovoltaic cells. This could lead to a rise in imports from America, according to a senior official at the finance ministry. To counteract President Donald Trump's increasing tariff actions, the Government has already reduced the tariffs on several products, including high-end cars, bikes, and chemicals, in the latest Budget. However, it has imposed an additional Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess, which is an alternative tariff on many items.

Clean energy companies pressure US lawmakers to protect subsides

On Wednesday, U.S. clean energy companies will be heading to Capitol Hill to urge Republican legislators not to eliminate lucrative tax credits that are contained in the landmark climate change legislation of former president Joe Biden. Members of Congress of both parties are being met by hundreds of representatives of firms from the solar, wind, and other renewable energy sectors to promote their role in creating employment and investment, as well as lowering electricity prices and meeting the soaring demand for power from data centers.

Shares of Enphase rise as company forecasts revenue for Q1 above expectations

Enphase Energy, a maker of solar inverters, forecasted first-quarter revenues above market expectations on Tuesday. This was after robust demand led to a higher-than-expected operating profit for the fourth quarter, which sent its shares up 6% after bell. According to data compiled and analyzed by LSEG, the solar energy company expects first-quarter revenues to range between $340 million and $380 million. Analysts had expected $338.5 millions.

Enphase shares soar as revenue forecasts for the first quarter are higher than expected

Enphase Energy, a maker of solar inverters, forecasted first-quarter revenues above Wall Street expectations Tuesday. This was after robust demand led to a higher-than-expected operating profit for the fourth quarter, which sent its shares up 6% after closing bell. According to data compiled and analyzed by LSEG, the solar energy company expects first-quarter revenues to range between $340 million and $380 million. This compares to analyst expectations of $338.5 millions.

Israel urges the public to install solar panels on their roofs in order to generate electricity

Solar panels are being installed on roofs in Israel to harness the sun's power and help Israel meet its growing demand for electricity. Around 15% of Israel's electric production comes from renewable sources, while about 70% of it is natural gas. The Energy Ministry set a 30% target by 2030, which will increase dramatically by 2050, when the goal of net zero emissions becomes a reality. Ron Eifer is the head of the sustainable energy division at the Ministry.

Premier Energies, India's largest solar energy company, halts U.S. plans for solar cell facilities amid policy uncertainty

Premier Energies, a manufacturer of Indian solar modules, announced on Monday that it would put on hold its plans to build a solar cell factory in the U.S. capable of producing 1 gigawatt. This decision was made after President Trump's inauguration and his halting green policies from the Biden era. In July 2024, Premier and North American Solar Module Maker Heliene announced a joint-venture to build a U.S. based solar cell manufacturing…

US Democratic lawmakers ask Trump about his blockage of federal grants for clean energy

U.S. Democratic legislators Friday sent letters asking two federal agencies to explain why federal funds were frozen on clean energy investments and federal funds that would lower energy costs for American customers. The agencies had violated federal law, the lawmakers said. Senate Democrats asked the newly confirmed Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin on Friday to explain why his organization froze federal funding that was already obligated for grantees. They claimed that this agency had violated federal law.

Senate Democrats question EPA's blocking of federal grants committed

Senate Democrats asked the newly confirmed Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin on Friday to explain why his agency frozen federal funds already committed to grantees. They claimed the agency had violated federal law. Democrats in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee asked Zeldin to explain why the agency had "clawed-back" funds already committed, after hearing complaints from constituents that they were unable access funds for projects such as solar energy and others already underway.

Waaree, a manufacturer of Indian solar modules, is confident in US demand despite Trump's policy concerns. CEO Waaree

Amit Paithankar, CEO of Waaree Energies, said that the company is confident about U.S. demand, and it is well-positioned to handle possible import tariffs under Donald Trump thanks to its Texas operations. Last week, Trump ordered that spending on climate and infrastructure laws, tax credits for clean industries and new offshore wind leasing be halted. In the last nine months, nearly one fifth of Waaree’s revenue came from the United States. This is a major market for Indian manufacturers of solar modules.

India's Adani Group flagship company posts Q3 loss as coal trading segment weighs on profits

Adani Enterprises in India, the flagship of the Adani Group, reported on Thursday a decline in its third-quarter profits, which was impacted by the performance at the company's coal trading division. The net profit of the company fell to 578.3 millions rupees (6.68 million dollars) during the quarter October-December, down from 18.88 billions rupees one year earlier. The shares of the company fell by 4.6% and were amongst the worst performers in the benchmark Nifty50 index, which dropped 0.1%.

EIA expects higher wholesale electricity prices in the U.S. by 2025

The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts higher wholesale electricity prices in 2025 for all regions of the United States, except Texas and Northwest. In a report released on Monday, the EIA stated that wholesale power prices may average $40 per Megawatt Hour (MWh) in 2019. This would represent 7% more than 2024. The EIA predicted that the average cost of electricity in U.S. households would rise by 2% without accounting for inflation.

NextEra advances toward Iowa nuclear plant restart

NextEra Energy CEO John Ketchum said on Friday that the company has been in contact with regional grid operators about a potential restart of the Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Plant located in Iowa. Nuclear power in the United States has been on the decline for decades, but now is a sought-after electricity source by Big Tech's AI Data Centers. Nuclear power's ability, in the past year, to provide vast amounts of energy around-the clock that is almost carbon-free, has helped boost shares of nuclear plant companies.

Beware of Egypt's smokestack reshoring as Cement Exports Soar: Maguire

North Africa's second largest natural gas producer and its largest economy have increased the production and exports of several energy-intensive commodities in an effort to boost the growth of their industrial sector. Egypt's exports of chemicals, fertilizers, and cement doubled from 2022 to 2024. They have also grown by 350% in the last year thanks to government initiatives aimed at promoting rapid industrial growth. The increased output in Egypt coincides with a decrease in production in Europe of the same commodities.

Beware of Egypt's smokestack reshoring as Cement Exports Soar: Maguire

China's carbon power will rise in 2024, surpassing expectations that coal would peak

Official data released on Friday showed that China's thermal power generation, which is mainly coal-powered, increased by 1.5% between 2024 and 2025. This was contrary to expectations, as coal generation had been expected to peak. However, growth has slowed down, reaching its lowest level in nine years, excluding years during the COVID-19 epidemic. The data revealed the difficulties in eliminating coal-fired energy while still meeting China's growing demand for electricity to power its energy-hungry industry and electrify its economy.

Octopus Energy purchases OX2’s French solar unit in order to accelerate development

Octopus Energy, a British company, acquired the French division of OX2, a Swedish firm that builds solar power plants in agricultural areas. Octopus plans to retain its French team and expand the solar portfolio currently under development. France has lagged behind other European countries when it comes to building solar farms in recent years. Recent turmoil in the government has also delayed the implementation of a comprehensive energy plan, which could have streamlined the process.

Huafu fashion is among 37 Chinese companies that the US has banned imports of due to forced labor by Uyghurs.

The Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday that the United States had banned imports of 37 companies from China over allegations of human rights abuses against the Uyghurs. These companies are in the textile, mining, and solar industries. Huafu Fashion Co. is one of the largest textile companies in the world, along with 25 of its subsidiaries. The U.S. accuses them of forced labor practices in China's Cotton Industry. The companies have been added to the Uyghur Forcible Labor Prevention Act Entity list…

Masdar, UAE launches facility for uninterrupted production of 1GW renewable energy

The chairman of Masdar, a state-owned renewables company in the UAE, announced on Tuesday that the firm has opened a facility to produce clean energy at a rate of 1 gigawatt per hour. At the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week opening, Sultan Al Jaber - who is also the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the Chief Executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC), called the project an important step in the transformation of renewable energy into baseload electricity.

Egypt rushes solar energy to catch up as gas prices soar

Egypt, with its few clouds, vast deserts, and well-developed electrical grid, has everything it needs to expand solar energy generation. It is only now that Egypt has begun to take advantage of these resources, as the price of imported natural gas has risen. Last year, a sharp drop in gas production and a growing demand caught the authorities by surprise. This led to rolling blackouts during the hot summer. Ahmed Mortada is the head of energy for the multilateral lender European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Egypt.

Biden Team wraps up expanded Clean Energy Credit Guidance

The Biden Administration released Tuesday guidance to assist companies in securing clean energy tax credits as part of the 2022 Inflation reduction Act. This program finalized a program that extends subsidies previously available for solar and wind to other low-carbon sources. This move is a part of the actions taken by outgoing president Joe Biden to support his administration's efforts to combat climate change. The move could be vulnerable…

Trina Solar breaks world record in solar technology

Trina Solar, a Chinese company, announced in a Monday statement that it had set a world record for the efficiency of conversion of a particular type of solar panel. According to Fraunhofer's CalLab, Germany, the solar research institute, Trina’s large-surface area n type fully passivated heterojunction modules (HJTs) demonstrated an efficiency rate of 25.4% in laboratory tests. Cell efficiency is the percentage of solar power that is converted to usable electricity. Passivation covers the defects on the solar cell surface.

Sekisui Chem will begin mass production perovskite cells in 2027

Sekisui Chemical, a Japanese company, announced on Thursday its intention to mass produce next-generation Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) by 2027. Scientists consider PSCs to be an alternative low-cost option to silicon cells. They can reduce the space needed for solar panels. Sekisui will, in partnership and with the Development Bank of Japan, establish a new firm in early January that will design, manufacture, as well as sell PSCs, under a Sekisui Chemical license.

China's Polysilicon Futures Debut on Guangzhou Exchange

On Thursday, China's Polysilicon Futures were launched on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange. Prices fell across the board at the midday break. Seven contracts are available for delivery beginning in June 2025. On Thursday, the price of the front month contract for June deliveries fell by half to 41 710 yuan (5 714.48 dollars) per metric tonne from its initial listing price of 44 000 yuan. Trading volumes stood around 260,826 lots. China is the largest producer of polysilicon in the world, which is a raw material for solar panels.

Housing regulator: China will focus on stabilising the housing market by 2025

China Construction News, citing the work conference of the housing regulator held on Tuesday and Wednesday, reported that efforts will continue to be made in 2025 in order to stabilize and prevent further falls in China's property market. The report stated that China would vigorously promote reform of the commercial property sales system and expand the scope for urban village renovation beyond adding 1 million units. China said it would strictly control the commercial housing supply…

Sources say that Tesla's former China plant head will join renewable energy company Envision

Two sources with knowledge of the situation said that Tesla's former China Plant Manager is expected to join Chinese renewable energy company Envision. One source said that Song Gang, who announced Wednesday his departure from Tesla, will be taking on supply chain management duties for Envision. Envision and Song didn't immediately respond to separate comments. Tesla did not reply to a question about Song's departure. Envision, headquartered in Shanghai, is the largest wind turbine company in the world.

Spain's demand for electricity is increasing as renewables set records

According to Red Electrica's estimates, the amount of electricity consumed in Spain increased this year, after two years of decline. A record 56% came from renewable sources, such as solar and wind. The Spanish renewable energy industry has warned about the dangers of future investment in this sector due to the lack of demand for electricity. The preliminary figures indicate that demand increased by 1%, or 1.6% when adjusted for working hours and temperatures from 2023 to 244 terawatt-hours.

Qcells claims that a new technology could reduce the space required for solar panels

Hanwha Corp.'s Qcells announced on Wednesday that it had made a significant breakthrough in a new solar technology. This has the potential of reducing the space needed by panels to generate electricity from the sun's light. The solar industry is facing a number of pressing challenges, including the need for more space. In some areas of the United States, large-scale projects that occupy vast tracts of land are being met with opposition.

Canada will impose new tariffs on Chinese imports during the New Year

The government's latest fiscal update revealed that Canada will impose tariffs as soon as next year on a number of Chinese products as part of a larger investigation into the imports of the country. The government of Justin Trudeau has already placed a tariff of 100% on all Chinese electric cars and a tariff of 25% on the imports from China. The finance ministry had previously stated that it was exploring ways to increase the tariffs. The mid-year financial update…

EU solar growth slows, raising concerns for energy transition

Industry data revealed on Tuesday that the growth in solar power installations in Europe has slowed to 4% after years of double digit increases. This is raising concerns over the continent's transition to clean energy. The findings are a blow to the European Union’s plans to expand rapidly its use of renewable energies – a key pillar in the bloc’s efforts to combat climate change and to end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. SolarPower Europe…

US solar industry's strategy for Trump's era downplays climate

The U.S. Solar Industry unveiled their lobbying strategy on Thursday for the incoming Trump Administration. They promoted themselves as a domestic employment engine that could help meet soaring demand for power, without mentioning its role in fighting climate change. The new policy agenda is a dramatic shift for the solar industry, which has been a major beneficiary from the Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark climate change law passed by President Joe Biden in 2022.

Investors threaten to take action after the Czech Parliament cuts solar industry aid

On Wednesday, the lower house of the Czech parliament approved a change in rules for aids to solar power plants that could reduce some support. Industry representatives criticized this decision and said it violated commitments made by government. The bill still requires approval from the upper house. It will require power plants that were built between 2009 and 2010 - when profits soared - to provide annual profit calculations. These calculations will be used to determine if they are eligible for state assistance.

ReNew Energy, India's energy company, has offered to be privatized in a $2.82 billion deal

Filings with the U.S. Securities And Exchange Commission show that some of the largest investors in ReNew Energy Global are offering to take the company public. The proposed deal values the generator, according to calculations, at $2.82 Billion. The consortium of Masdar in the UAE, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board chairman Sumant Sinha, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority unit with 64% collective voting rights has formed and offered to purchase shares of India's second-largest clean energy generator for $7.07 per share.

Phillips 66 and NextEra team up to power California refinerys with solar energy

The refiner announced on Tuesday that Phillips 66 would power its Rodeo refinery with a solar facility operated and owned by NextEra Energy. In a press statement, Phillips 66 said that the solar plant will be constructed on 88 acres of land (36 hectares), adjacent to the renewable fuels facility located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The solar plant will be composed of over 70,000 modules that will produce around 60,000 Megawatt Hours of electricity per year.

India will mandate the use of solar cells made locally in all clean energy projects by June 2026

From June 2026, Indian clean energy companies will have to use solar photovoltaic modules made from local cells by a list of approved companies. This is a measure to reduce imports from China, the top supplier. India has already required the use of solar cells made in India for government projects. The government intends to increase the non-fossil energy capacity of its country to 500 GW from 156 GW currently. India currently has a capacity to produce solar PV modules of around 80 gigawatts…

Tata Power CEO: India's Tata prefers the domestic market to lucrative solar exports

Tata Power’s newly constructed 4.3 gigawatts (GW) solar cell and module manufacturing facility in southern India is mainly aimed at domestic markets, according to its chief executive, despite the fact that exports have increased exponentially. Tata Power is one of India's largest integrated power companies. It has invested 508 million dollars in a new facility for the production of solar cells and modules in Tamil Nadu. "We will be setting up this factory to serve the Indian market" This country is a huge opportunity.

Meyer Burger secures $40 mln in bridge loan after key client's exit

The Swiss solar panel manufacturer Meyer Burger announced on Friday that it had secured nearly 40 million dollars in bridge financing for its business, after its biggest customer, DESRI said it would be pulling out last month. Meyer Burger stated in November that its future was uncertain following the announcement of the DESRI's exit, which followed a number of other setbacks. Meyer Burger expects to draw down an initial tranche worth $19.7 Million from the new bridge loans facility.

German Cabinet approves $1.4 billion subsidy to reduce 2025 electricity network fees

The German cabinet approved a proposal to provide a subsidy of 1.3 billion euros ($1.37 billion) for electricity network fees that consumers will pay next year. This was announced by the Economy Ministry on Tuesday. High energy prices are straining household budgets in Europe's largest economy and affecting industrial production. The ministry stated that the subsidy would be funded by federal funds. It is expected to reduce the network charges, which make up approximately 20% of the electricity bill.

Solar tariffs in the US will increase prices and reduce profit margins for Southeast Asia

Analysts said that a new round of U.S. import tariffs against Southeast Asian solar panel producers will likely increase consumer prices while reducing producer profits. However, the industry had anticipated this move. The Commerce Department announced new duties on Friday that extend the United States anti-dumping regime to solar cells in Southeast Asia, instead of just finished modules. Citi analyst Pierre Lau wrote in a report that the tariff increase was in line with what had been expected.

India's floating-solar plans face opposition from fishermen

But he fears his livelihood could evaporate if plans to install a huge floating solar farm on the Nathsagar reservoir go ahead. The government is considering a project to blanket about 7,500 hectares of the 350-sq km reservoir near the town of Paithan in Maharashtra state with floating photovoltaics, part of an ambitious push to create 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030 - enough to power hundreds of millions of homes in the world's most populous nation.

Australia proposes tax incentives for critical mineral deposits

The Australian government will introduce legislation on Monday to implement production tax incentive for renewable hydrogen and essential minerals. This could help boost investment in this sector, which can play a key role in energy transformation plans. The government announced that the proposed law would establish a tax incentive of 10% on the relevant processing and refinement costs for 31 essential minerals, from the fiscal years ending in June 2028 until the fiscal years 2039-40, up to ten year per project.

NTPC Green's IPO attracted bids of $1.8 bln, making it the third largest listing in India this year.

NTPC Green Energy (the renewable energy arm of the state-owned NTPC) received bids totaling 154.06 Billion Rupees ($1.83 Billion) for its $1.2 Billion initial public offering on Friday, as investors placed bets on the growing need for clean energy in the country. India is rushing to meet its clean-energy targets. It has increased investments in renewables and expanded capacity. Moody's ratings says it will need to spend $385bn by 2030 to reach its goals after failing to do so in 2022.

NTPC Green’s $1.2 billion IPO is fully subscribed by the final day in India’s bet on renewable energy

Investors bet on India's growing need for clean energy. The $1.2 billion NTPC Green Energy initial public offering was fully subscribed by Friday's closing day of the sale. The 96% subscription rate was achieved by the institutional investors who received approximately three quarters of all 593.2 millions shares. The bids will close at 5 pm IST the same day. As of 12:23 am IST, the portion reserved for retail investors had been oversubscribed 2.81 times after it was fully subscribed during Tuesday's first day of auction.

China has finalised stricter guidelines on solar manufacturing investment

According to an announcement on the ministry's website, China's Industry Ministry finalised on Wednesday investment guidelines for solar photovoltaic manufacturing projects to curb overcapacity. Companies are directed to maintain a capital ratio of at least 30% for solar PV project. This standard was previously only applicable to polysilicon projects, while the minimum capital ratio for all other PV projects remained at 20%. The ministry didn't provide a definition for the ratio.

Albanese: Australia and India will boost their cooperation in renewables and defence

Australia and India will work together to increase investment in renewable energies, such as solar manufacturing, batteries, and mineral processing. This was the announcement made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a G20 meeting on the sidelines. Albanese, the Australian Minister for Defence and Maritime Security, said that Australia and India would also like to increase their defence and maritime cooperation. He made this statement during a Tuesday meeting in Rio de Janeiro with India's PM Narendra Modi.

Sources say that Chinese exporters will increase prices and renegotiate after the tax rebates are cut.

Analysts and traders said that Chinese exporters will increase prices on a variety of products, from used cooking oil to aluminium, and renegotiate their contracts to pass the cost of Beijing’s tax incentives. On Friday, the world's second-largest economy announced that it would reduce its export tax rebate rates for certain refined oil products, solar panels, batteries, and non-metallic minerals from 13% down to 9%. It also said that it would cancel the rebates for products made of aluminium…

Solar power in favelas of Brazil hopes to shine under G20 spotlight

Residents of Morro de Babilonia in Rio de Janeiro, one of the underdeveloped "favela" neighborhoods, rarely discuss geopolitics. But as the city prepares to host the leaders of the Group of 20 on Monday, they hope that a project of the locals' will find its way into the spotlight. Babilonia, a small community in Rio de Janeiro, has slowly expanded its use of solar energy since 2015. Local non-profit Revolusolar installed panels that power the homes of 50 families.

Sources say that a JV of green arms from India's NTPC and ONGC has bid $650 mln for Ayana Renewable.

Two people who were involved in the deal said that a joint venture between India's NTPC Green Energy, and ONGC Green Energy was the highest bidder on Ayana Renewable Power. They bid $650 million. People said that the venture had outbid JSW Energy to secure the renewable energy company backed by the quasi-sovereign fund National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. Ayana Renewable Power is owned by NIIF (British International Investment Fund), Green Growth Equity Fund and British International Investment Fund.

Maxeon Solar wants to review the detention of solar panels assembled in Mexico

Maxeon Solar, a California-based company, said it filed a request on Thursday for reexamination with U.S. Customs & Border Protection regarding the continued detention by the federal agency of its solar panels imported from Mexico. The California-based company cited the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. The agency didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Maxeon shares dropped 13.6% during afternoon trading. Maxeon began to detain its modules in July.

SMA Solar, a German company, will cut 1,100 jobs and lower its full-year forecast

SMA Solar Technology, a German supplier of solar power components, announced on Wednesday that it plans to reduce up to 1,100 positions worldwide and lower its forecasts for this year. This comes nearly two months after the company announced a restructuring plan. SMA Solar began a restructuring program for the entire company in September to reduce costs by up to 200 millions euros. The company now expects to lower its group revenue between 1.45 billion and 1.5 billion euro for the entire year.

Germany mandates open market sales of new wind and solar plants

The German cabinet approved Wednesday plans that will require the majority of operators of new solar and wind power plants to independently sell their electricity on the open markets. This is to improve the integration renewables in the country's system. According to a new energy policy, even small facilities of 25 kilowatts must self-market instead of selling their power to the grid with guaranteed prices. Germany wants to reach 80% of its current electricity demand through renewable sources by 2030.

Enphase Energy will lay off up to 17% of its workforce and take charges up to $20 million

Enphase Energy announced on Friday that it will reduce its global workforce of about 17%. This will affect about 500 employees and subcontractors. The solar inverter manufacturer is reducing operations due to a slowdown in residential solar demand. The company will concentrate contract manufacturing at four locations: two in the US and one each in India and China. It added that the company would cease its contract manufacturing in Guadalajara.

Commodities fall amid increased risks of Trump's second-term: Russell

Commodities have reacted to Donald Trump's election to a second U.S. term with fear, and most are losing ground due to fears that a new trade war will hit the global economy. The negative reaction contrasted sharply with the record-breaking performance of U.S. stocks, which rose to new highs amid optimism about Trump's tax cut agenda, at least for the United States. The contrasting reaction to Trump's win over Democrat nominee, and now departing U.S.

Trump's Victory Lifts Small-Caps, Banks

Donald Trump's second term as U.S. President on Wednesday lifted equity markets, on the back of bets on lower corporate taxes, favorable tariffs, and deregulation. This lifted shares of local small-cap companies, banks, and Trump Media.Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors, was appointed to head a government efficiency panel after Trump endorsed the billionaire during his election campaign. This led to an increase of 12.6% in Tesla's shares.Futures linked to the Russell 2000 small-cap index surged by 6%.

India's Apollo Green Energy plans a solar module plant and targets an IPO in 2025.

The chief executive of India's Apollo Green Energy said that the company, which is an engineering and construction company, intends to build a 500 Megawatt (MW), solar module plant within two to three years, and to tap into domestic public markets by 2025 for new projects. Sanjay Gupta, the CEO of the company that focuses on renewable energy projects, said the company has an order list of 35 billion rupees (416 million dollars) and wants to triple its size to 100 billion by the end this year.

Chinese solar firms are ever-nimble and go to places where US tariffs do not reach

The U.S. tariffs on Vietnam and three other Southeast Asian nations have prompted some of the largest Chinese-owned factories to cut production and lay off workers. In the meantime, a number of Chinese-owned solar power plants are being built in Indonesia and Laos. These are outside of Washington's protections on trade. Reports show that their planned capacity would be enough to provide about half of the solar panels installed in the U.S. Chinese solar firms have shrunk their output in existing hubs, while building new factories elsewhere.

Meyer Burger talks to bondholders about injecting new capital

Meyer Burger, a Swiss solar panel manufacturer, said that it had entered into advanced negotiations on Thursday with a group holders of its convertible bond maturing in the years 2027 and 2029. The aim is to inject new capital into their business and restructure liabilities under some convertible bonds. The company said that it expects to achieve annual sales between CHF 350 and CHF 400 millions and EBITDA of approximately CHF 70millions by 2026.

Repsol targets renewables deals, seeks 'solution' for North Sea business

Josu Imaz, the chief executive of the Spanish oil company Repsol, said that the company is currently working on new deals for its renewable operations both in Spain and in the United States. It also wants to find a solution to its exploration and production business in the North Sea. Repsol has a strategy that focuses on selling minorities in renewable projects, to fund the expansion of green energy capacity and biofuels. It also focuses its upstream activities on key markets such as the U.S.

TotalEnergies' third-quarter revenue drops as refining profits collapse

TotalEnergies, the French oil giant, reported a third-quarter net profit at $4.1 billion, a three-year-low. The company was hit by a collapse in refining margins as well as upstream outages. The adjusted net income fell 37% compared to a year ago and 12.7% compared to the $4.7 billion of the previous quarter. Analysts had expected $4.2 billion. The adjusted earnings before interest tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), which is the total of all these items, fell by 23.6% to $10 billion.

Australia should be leading the energy transition. But is it missing out? Russell

Australia's abundance of minerals and renewable energy, stability of government, and proximity to Asia's growing markets makes it a country that is well-positioned to benefit from the energy transition. The mood was a bit downbeat this week at the International Mining and Resources Conference in Sydney, which brought together the entire mining and resource sector. Speaker after speaker highlighted the opportunities available, but there was…

Australia should be leading the energy transition. But is it missing out? Russell

Spanish renewables warns against threats to investment

Renewables lobby APPA warned that the mismatch between an increasing supply of renewable energy and electricity demand, which is struggling to grow in tandem with low wholesale power prices threatens future investment in the sector. He said that, in terms of pricing, "By 2024 we expect to have about 10% of our hours at zero, or even negative, power prices." April was the lowest month of the entire historical series. The warning comes as…

Singapore is ready to grant licenses of 30 years for the importation of low-carbon energy

Singapore will grant import licenses for 30 years to companies that invest billions in low-carbon energy projects. The head of Singapore's energy regulator announced this on Wednesday. This is a measure to help the firms recover their initial investment. The city-state has set a goal to import 6 gigawatts of low-carbon energy by 2035. It has given conditional approvals to 10 projects in Australia. At the Singapore International Energy Week…

Enphase's forecast for fourth-quarter revenue is below expectations due to muted demand

Enphase Energy, a maker of solar inverters, forecast revenue for the fourth quarter below Wall Street's expectations on Tuesday. This was due to weak demand across some markets. Shares fell 9% following the bell. The demand for residential solar in Europe has declined due to lower electricity prices, and increased competition on key markets like the Netherlands and Germany. According to LSEG data, the solar energy company expects its fourth-quarter revenues to range between $360 and $400 million.

US offers tax incentives to solar manufacturers that use semiconductors

The Biden Administration announced on Tuesday that it would extend an incentive to manufacturers of thin silicon wafers used in solar panels, which are mostly produced in China. This is part of the administration's climate change and job agenda to create a domestic supply chain for solar energy. Thanks to the new subsidies for clean-energy manufacturing, manufacturers have announced dozens solar panel manufacturing facilities by 2022. However…

Cambodia increases power import capacity in order to improve flexibility

Cambodia's energy minister said that the country plans to increase its capacity to import cleaner power from Laos and Vietnam, as well as Thailand, by more than 600 Megawatts. This is a 50% increase over current agreements. Keo Rottanak noted that the move could boost interconnections in Southeast Asia and provide more options for diversifying power supply in the face of rising hydropower volatility due to weather-related interruptions.

Singapore approves the import of solar power from Australia via an undersea cable

SunCable, the project's owner, announced on Tuesday that Singapore's energy regulator has given conditional approval to a multi-billion-dollar project to pipe solar electricity 2,672 miles (2,300 km) from Australia to Singapore. The Energy Market Authority of Singapore granted conditional approval to SunCable after a thorough process to determine the project's technical and commercial viability. SunCable, owned by Atlassian billionaire Mike CannonBrookes and based in Northern Australia…