Staff Reporter

China’s solar panels makers to receive tax breaks

This despite massive overcapacity and weak demand.

JinkoSolar to supply solar modules to SGCC

Modules will generate 20 MW. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. will supply the solar modules to the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), the world's largest utilities company, for the Second Phase of China's National Wind/PV/Energy Storage and Transmission Joint Demonstration Project. The project consists of 60 MW divided into three tenders. According to the agreement, JinkoSolar will deliver the solar modules during the fourth quarter of 2013.

World solar power growth outpaces wind for the first time

Driven by plunge in new wind energy capacity.

ADB funds Indian renewable energy transmission system

Will provide US$500 million for this project.

China needs effective solutions for energy hunger

Uses up one fifth of global coal consumption.

India’s coal minister says India should use more coal

Coal to supply over half of India’s energy needs.

Chinese energy giants in major fund raising

Sell a combined US$2.58 billion in bonds.

ASEAN could derive 70% of its energy from green sources

Greenpeace report says this could occur by 2050. Greenpeace believes that by 2050, green energy could account for 70% of the electricity generation for the 10 countries comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This boost in green energy could also result in US$2.8 trillion worth of investment; US$2.7 trillion in fuel-cost savings and 1.1 million jobs by 2030, said the report entitled “Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable Asean Energy Outlook.” The report also noted that 28% of the region's total population, or 160 million people, still had no access to electricity. Sven Teske, renewable energies director at Greenpeace International, said ASEAN countries have more than enough natural resources to become a leading player for clean, renewable energies. "Renewable energies are more competitive than coal, utilize indigenous local resources and create more employment," Teske said. "Using more renewables is now an advantage for the economy, not a burden and reduces their dependence on dirty, imported fossil fuels like oil and coal."

Power-Gen Asia opens October 2 in Bangkok

Will focus on power generation and alternative energy. Power-Gen Asia and Renewable Energy World Asia will open at the Impact Exhibition and Conference Center for three days of discussion and debate on the future of Asia's power industry. Some 200 companies will also exhibit their latest technologies, products and solutions. The program includes more than 150 international experts presenting across eight conference tracks. These experts will talk on topics focusing on strategic and technical power issues and challenges and the growth of the renewable and alternative energy sectors Economic growth requires energy as its enabler and the power industry is the provider of this vital lifeblood. Balancing this responsibility with the requirement to protect the environment has put the power industry under the spotlight more than ever before.

Solar firms should start focusing on small, emerging markets

Report says these markets are the future. A new report by IHS estimates that photovoltaic installations in small, emerging markets could rise at about triple the global average during the period from 2012 through 2017. Annual installations in these emerging countries are expected to increase to 10.9 GW in 2017, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 38% from 2.2 GW in 2012. In contrast, the overall global market will expand at a CAGR of only 13% during the same period. The emerging markets will account for 19% of global solar installations in 2017, up from just 7% in 2012. IHS noted that across the world, new markets for solar PV are emerging, propelled by government incentives, including tenders for large-scale contracts, feed-in-tariff schemes and self-consumption support. Although these markets sometimes have huge hurdles like limited financing, regulatory uncertainty and opaque local regulatory conditions, companies throughout the solar supply chain can benefit from targeting these fast-growing emerging countries. Of the emerging countries IHS analyzed, Thailand and Turkey are expected to become the largest markets in the coming years. Both countries have the potential to install a cumulative total of nearly 3 GW of PV systems during the period from 2013 through 2017.