UK bans state investments in solar panels that are linked to forced labor
The energy department announced on Wednesday that Britain will avoid using solar panels associated with suspected forced labor in China by its new state-owned company, Great British Energy. Over 80% of solar panels are produced in China. According to a study by the UK's Sheffield Hallam University, forced labour is used in the production of polysilicon - one of the panel's core components - among Uyghurs.
Enphase Energy misses quarterly profit estimates, forecasts weak Q2 revenue
Enphase Energy, a solar inverter manufacturer, missed analyst expectations for the first-quarter profit due to a softening of demand in the United States. It also forecast revenue for the second-quarter below market expectations. Shares dropped 12.5% in after market trading. Enphase's residential solar inverter sales were affected by a softening of demand in California, the top U.S. state. The reform will be implemented in 2023.
US finalizes tariffs against Southeast Asian solar imports
U.S. Trade officials finalized tariffs on solar panels and cells from Southeast Asia. This is a major step in settling a trade dispute that has been raging for a year, with American manufacturers accusing their rivals overseas of flooding the market unfairly with cheap goods. The Commerce Department imposed preliminary antidumping, antisubsidy, countervailing duty on solar equipment imported from Malaysia…
Ember reports that renewables will provide 32% of the global electricity by 2024.
A report from the energy think-tank Ember on Tuesday revealed that renewable power generated a record 32% global electricity in 2017. The overall electricity demand increased 4%, driven by heatwaves, data centres, and other factors. Euan Graham, Ember's electricity and data analyst, said that energy security concerns, which are exacerbated by the trade war caused by President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imports from the United States…
Albanese, an Australian company, has pledged A$2.3 billion in order to assist homeowners with solar batteries
The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged A$2.3billion ($1.39billion) on Sunday to help homeowners purchase batteries to store solar energy and reduce their energy costs. This is a key issue for the 3 May general election. Albanese’s center-left Labor is neck-and-neck with the Liberal-National Opposition led by Peter Dutton in opinion polls.
Maxeon Solar will establish alternative supply chains in the face of tariff turmoil
Maxeon Solar Technologies, a renewable energy company, announced on Friday that it would create alternative supply and manufacturing chains in response to the tariffs levied by U.S. president Donald Trump. After the bell, shares of the company rose 4.6%. The move comes in the midst of a global trade war that is intensifying after Trump on Thursday imposed a baseline 10% tariff on all U.S.
Modi's India aims to strengthen energy and defence ties during Sri Lanka visit
India wants to promote investment and strengthen defence and energy ties with Sri Lanka during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the island country, where New Delhi is competing with China for more influence. Modi will arrive in Sri Lanka on Friday night. He is the first world leader to be hosted by Anura Kumara dissanayake since he assumed office.
US to develop AI on Energy Department Lands
On Thursday, the administration of Donald Trump announced that it had identified 16 sites in the U.S. Department of Energy where data centers and energy plants to support artificial intelligence could be built. The rapid growth of AI has led to a boom in the demand for power in the United States, which is unprecedented in 20 years. Big Tech companies and utilities are scrambling to build data centers and new power plants.
Shell cancels onshore and solar wind projects in Brazil
Shell has announced that it will discontinue its solar and wind energy generation projects in Brazil as part of "portfolio adjustments", the company stated on Thursday. The move is made in an unfavorable climate for renewable energy investments in Brazil. Projects have been unable to be implemented because of a lack of demand, slow growth in supply, and regulatory issues.
The prize is worth billions of dollars, but winning it is the key: Russell
Decarbonising steel is one of the biggest challenges to meeting climate goals. However, it could be extremely profitable for those companies and governments willing to take on the risk. Steel value chain is responsible for 7 to 9% global carbon emissions. It is the biggest industrial contributor, and therefore a primary target for many countries' and companies' goals for net-zero in 2050.
IRENA: Global renewable energy capacity still falls short of target despite record growth in last year
The International Renewable Energy Agency's (IRENA) report on Wednesday showed that the global renewable energy capacity grew at a record rate in 2024, but still fell short of the 2030 target. Renewables will account for 92.5% (or 585 GW) of the new energy capacity in 2024, a record growth rate of 15.1%. This brings total renewables to 4,448 gigawatts. The progress is still below the 11…
The EU Commission has told Spain that it will not pay in a long-running case of renewable subsidies
The European Commission gave Spain a win on Monday when it told the country that they would not be paying any compensation for claims in the billions of Euros for renewable energy subsidies cut over a decade earlier. After the conservative government of Spain cut renewables subsidies to reduce an artificially low power tariff deficit that had been built up over years, foreign investors, mainly investment funds, filed a lawsuit against Spain.
Laos signs clean energy agreement worth $1.45 billion with Chinese industrial company
Laos signed a clean energy agreement worth $1.45 billion with a Chinese manufacturer of power plant equipment as it continues its drive to generate and transmit clean electricity. China Western Power Industrial and a Singaporean construction company signed an agreement with Xekong Thermal Power Plant, Laos. The project will design, supply and build a 1,800 megawatt clean energy power plant in southern Laos.
Russell: Renewables and gas are gaining ground on coal and oil
The latest review of the International Energy Agency shows that renewables and gas are the most popular energy sources. In its Global Energy Review published on Monday, the IEA described this growth rate as "faster-than-average". Electricity, the fastest growing sector, grew 4.3% by 2024 or almost twice the average annual growth rate of the last decade. In 2024, the IEA reported that renewable power capacity increased by 700 gigawatts.
India receives investments of $19 billion through the Key Production Scheme, says government
The trade ministry announced on Saturday that India's main manufacturing scheme had received nearly $19 billion in investments as of November of last year. This comes a day after reports New Delhi would let the $23 billion incentive program expire due to disappointing results. Reports indicate that the incentive scheme won't be expanded beyond 14 sectors piloted and that production deadlines won't be extended…
India receives investments of $19 billion through the Key Production Scheme, says government
The trade ministry announced on Saturday that India's main manufacturing scheme had received nearly $19 billion in investments as of November of last year. This comes a day after reports New Delhi would let the $23 billion incentive program expire due to disappointing results. Reports indicate that the incentive scheme won't be expanded beyond the 14 pilot sectors…
UK invests $260 Million on solar panels for hospitals and schools
GB Energy, a state-owned firm, will be leading a 200 million pound ($260) solar panel project to benefit hospitals and schools in Britain, the country announced on Friday. This is the first investment made by the company since its establishment last year, with the goal of lowering electricity bills. GB Energy, a key component of the Labour Government's plan…
Cuba is on track to install fifty solar parks by the end of this year, according to the Ministry
The Energy Ministry announced late Wednesday that Cuba was making progress with a China-backed project to install over 50 solar parks in this year, capable of producing more than 1,000 Megawatts. This comes just days after Cuba's outdated grid collapsed, leaving millions without power. Energy officials released the most detailed report on the progress of the plan…
Sources: Masdar, the UAE's solar energy company, is in negotiations with Endesa for a $200 million deal.
According to a document and two sources who are familiar with the matter, Masdar Abu Dhabi Renewable Energy Company and Endesa Spanish Power Utility are close to a deal in which Masdar would pay approximately $200 million for a 49% stake in Endesa's solar portfolio. The agreement for the approximately 450 megawatts portfolio would build on the partnership that already exists between the two companies…
Terabase Energy receives $130 Million to expand solar technology
Terabase Energy, a solar technology company, announced Thursday that it had secured funding from SoftBank of $130 millions to scale up its technology for large projects. Terabase Energy now has a total of $200 million in funding, making it the largest funding round in its history. The amount raised by the company was not disclosed. Solar and energy storage accounted for 84% of new capacity added to US power grids last year…
