Kong Sun to boost Chinese DG PV by 600 MW

Hong Kong investment company Kong Sun Holdings Limited has announced this week a partnership that will swell China’s growing distributed generation (DG) solar capacity by 600 MW over the next three years.

Kong Sun will partner with Chinese EPC firm Wuxi Liansheng to develop DG systems across China in a collaborative project due to commence in 2015.

The framework agreement announced by Kong Sun gives the company priority rights to invest in any DG project developed by Wuxi Liansheng that has a capacity greater than 5 MW. The investment company added that the expected internal rate of return (IRR) is higher than 12% per project.

 Kong Sun's movement into China’s growing DG sector could be a sign that the larger investment firms are beginning to support this growing segment of the market. Having previously operated solely within the ground-mount, utility-scale PV sector, this cooperation with Wuxi Liansheng, plus an earlier agreement announced late last month with Yucheng Hangyu, signifies a "furtherance of the Group's entrance into the DG PV power system market", read a company statement.

Kong Sun, formerly a large player in China's real estate market, switched its attentions to solar PV in the Fall of this year, quickly stockpiling a solar portfolio of 70 MW.

The company's pledge to help develop China's DG industry will be welcomed within the People’s Republic. Bold plans announced earlier this year to source 8 GW of a targeted annual growth capacity of 14 GW from DG have thus far fallen short.

In May, data from China's National Energy Agency (NEA) revealed that just 188 MW of DG capacity had been installed, and despite hopes being pinned on an end-of-year glut boosting numbers, solar analysts have warned that further contractions are likely at the end of the year – a situation that could allow Japan to end 2014 as the world’s largest market in terms of new PV capacity added.

SolarMax's parent company Sputnik Engineering bankruptcy spread supply chain

SolarMax's parent company Sputnik Engineering bankruptcy spread supply chain, the German company InTiCa facing € 2.5 million ($ 3.1 million) shortfall in its 2014 figures.

The electrical components of the inverter manufacturer quoted company "unexpected" filed for bankruptcy, has issued a profit warning. The manufacturer said it will no longer be able to achieve its 2014 earnings forecast.



InTiCa said the bankruptcy proceedings until the final determination of the results, in order to accurately calculate the final extent of the damage caused. The company said it is ready to accept an impairment loss and impairment of assets of up to seven hundred and fifty thousand euros, and the remaining 1.8 million euros previously earmarked for Sputnik's unsold inventory.

InTiCa said that given the Sputnik announcement, which is studying the inventory of "alternative internal and external applications."

Huawei held Europe intelligent photovoltaic plant spot in Germany

November 25, 2014, Huawei host the 2014 European Smart photovoltaic plant spot in Saarbruecken, Germany. The German spot Huawei smart PV power plant is another grand flagship event, covering the entire European market. From Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium and China 130 partners and distributors together to discuss the global solar industry trends. Germany Greencells, Siemens, British Lightsource, Lee Teng-hui in Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Science and Technology Co., Ltd., with the King at home and abroad to share photovoltaic power station construction and operation and maintenance of the success stories. At the meeting, Huawei systematically expounded the latest achievements and progress of the world's photovoltaic power plant project intelligence solutions, and has released the latest solutions and product roadmap, to win live guests of attention and appreciation. Smart PV power plant solutions bring value being European and global customers widely recognized.

Meanwhile, the participating members visited the 7.8MW power plant (photovoltaic plant Huawei Smart Solutions), a live demonstration of fanless design, intelligent string detection, anti-PID, big data analytics, wireless private communication technology and other functions, so that the guests really feel to Huawei's range of innovative technologies, advanced concepts and global leader advantage.

Based on Huawei's 26 years of accumulated deep in the digital information and power electronics technology, Huawei launched the use of string inverters for photovoltaic power plants intelligent overall solution compared to a centralized inverter traditional solution with high power output, easy maintenance advantages. At the same time, Huawei also continue to rely on Nuremberg, Germany, and research and development team in Stockholm, Sweden, in high power conversion topology and control of the core technology, technical, structural design and high heat, such as weather and stock the next 5-10 years, technology, and actively respond to future challenges, leading the world solar inverter technology development.



Adreas Hffman (Germany Greencells CEO) Germany 7.8MW power plant operators stable over the past year, high power output, Huawei's intelligent photovoltaic system is highly recognized by investors and owners, the future will be launched in European countries with Huawei broader cooperation.

Solarcentury (EPC), said: In the past most centralized ground station, but since the beginning of this year, along with string pv inverters price advantage, as well as the flexibility of string solutions, using multiple MPPT technology, can reduce the block, dust, string mismatch effects, improve power generation. Moreover, the service easier. And indicators of satisfactory quality inverter Huawei successfully passed the rigorous testing Solarcentury glad Huawei will become our new partners.



Lightsource (EPC) Kate Baxter, head of strategy, says: Even before entering the UK PV market, Huawei, its good reputation, reliable technology and excellent business management already world-renowned. Early, we visited the factory in Shenzhen Huawei, very impressed; this spot, but saw their real technical strength, first-hand experience of their highly respected in the industry, the root cause.

SolarMax bankruptcy: the lack of a pan-European policies harm the industry

Switzerland inverters supplier SolarMax filed for bankruptcy, some experts expressed surprise at the speed of its. WinfriedHoffman ASE from the private consulting firm pointed out that the lack of cohesion and support policies are a failure of European politicians.

Hoffmann also SMA Solar-Fabrik company and a member of the Advisory Committee. Hoffmann believes, SolarMax bankruptcy is not just the issue of the European inverter market, but involves all parts of Europe throughout the PV value chain. This is a failure of the whole European industrial policy, European politicians do not give enough support to ensure fair competition worldwide.

SolarMax bankruptcy

Whether solar inverter China, Japan and the United States in providing high-quality products. So if Europe is to maintain manufacturing capabilities, quality alone is not enough, you need to have a clear strategy. Asian politicians know how to attract investment, they provide support for infrastructure, construction and financing aspects. If the sum of the situation facing European manufacturers are compared, it is an unfair contest.

He hoped that the current situation in Europe can be changed, people can realize the importance of large-scale production of products, capable of how to maintain and encourage investment in the European industry to know more about. Otherwise, Europe could be a really big problem.

The production process

Yingli to supply 300 MW Neoen PV plant in France

Yingli Green Energy agreed to supply 120 MW of solar panels to independent French power producer Neoen's 300 MW solar park in South West France.

Yingli will ship more than 393,000 YGE 72 Cell solar panels between December and June and comprise more than a third of the overall solar park, which will cover 250 hectares (618 acres) of land divided in 25 solar plants. The modules will be mounted in an east-west orientation to boost the system's overall power density given their layout, according to Yingli.

The installation is expected to be Europe's largest solar photovoltaic energy park when completed. Located in the town of Cestas, near Bordeaux, the project is budgeted at more than €360 million.

Neoen will own 120 MW while eight other investors will own the remaining 180 MW.

Construction of each power plant will be performed by a consortium that includes local companies Eiffage-Clemessy, Schneider Electric and Krinner, which will also be responsible for operation and maintenance activities.

The solar park, which will be connected directly to the high voltage grid, is expected to begin operation in October 2015. It will produce more than 350 gigawatt-hours annually -- the equivalent of the entire power consumption of the population of Bordeaux.

Praising Yingli's reliability, project director Patrick de Labrusse of Eiffage-Clemessy said, "One important step for a project of such immense proportions is to gain the trust of investors and banks, which involves choosing the right partners."

Cost of Cestas solar energy cheaper than Hinkley Point C nuclear energy

Yingli noted that Neoen had "worked hard on multiple system optimizations and plant design in order to increase the project's profitability and competitiveness." As a result, Yingli added, the plant will provide electricity at €105 ($130) per megawatt hour -- below the price of the electricity that will be generated by the United Kingdom's planned new nuclear power plant.

France's EDF, which is building Britain's new Hinkley Point C nuclear project in Somerset, England, has secured a guarantee from the British government for a minimum price of £92.50 pounds (€117/$145) per megawatt hour generated by the plant for a period of 35 years. The nuclear power plant is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Both the European PV industry and leading environmental protection advocates have criticized the Hinkley project.

"By driving down the cost of solar electricity, the project clearly demonstrates the increasing competitiveness of solar PV against traditional energy sources," Yingli stressed.

Reaching grid parity is a reality now

Yingli Chairman and CEO Liansheng Miao added, "We are honored to be part of this milestone project in the European PV market, and to be delivering a promising model that is driven by profitability and cost-competitiveness rather than dependence on public incentives. Reaching grid parity is a reality now and we are pleased to partner with innovative European companies such as Neoen and Eiffage-Clemessy – they set a high standard and work hard every day to build a low-carbon economy across Europe."

Policy uncertainty paralyzes large-scale Down Under

New data from the renewable energy industry highlights just what impact policy certainty – or the lack of it – is having on small and large-scale markets.

Rooftop solar – largely funded by the balance sheets of Australian households and businesses – continues to surge ahead. That's helped by the fact that federal incentives – paid up front – are locked in by legislation.

The graph below shows the trend in small-scale rooftop solar systems, residential (below 10 kW and in green), and commercial-scale systems (between 10 kW and 100 kW and in blue) over the past year.

After sharp falls caused by the winding back of various state-based FITs, the deployment of solar inverter by homes and businesses has steadied and is now growing solidly.

According to Green Energy Markets, more than 155,000 small-scale solar systems have been added across Australia this year, an average of more than 15,000 per month.

Last month, 16,729 systems were added, for a total of 75 MW (the average size being 4.2 kW), taking the total for the year to 657 MW.

Large-scale solar at a standstill

Meanwhile, construction in the large-scale renewable energy market is at a virtual standstill, thanks to uncertainty about the future of the large-scale market, which has caused bank financing to dry up, and its share of generation is also going backwards.

This is partly due to lower wind speeds, and lower hydro production, as the incentive to generate more hydro is removed because of the dumping of the carbon price and the fall in the value of LGC certificates, due to policy uncertainty.

In October, the share of renewable generation, not including rooftop solar, was 13.1 per cent. That was down from 14.2 per cent in September and 18.3 per cent a year earlier.

In the past month, just four small solar power stations and a small hydro generator were approved.

So far this year, it has been a sorry story for new developments. As this graph shows, less than 200 MW of large-scale renewable plants have been accredited in 2014.

Of those, two plants – Boco Rock wind farm and the Portland wind farm extension – were committed last year, as was the 20 MW Royalla solar farm which makes up the bulk of the solar total.

The rest of the solar component include rooftop solar projects of more than 100 kW – too big to qualify for the small-scale scheme.

Both Portland and Royalla have been supported by other schemes such as the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) government's solar auction.