BNEF: U.S. module prices seeing “aggressive” reductions
The analytics firm expects the price of mono-PERC modules to fall to $0.37 per watt by the end of the year, despite the 30% Section 201 tariffs.
Module prices have fallen by up to 25% so far this year
According to a Q3 report by EnergyTrend, monocrystalline module prices have fallen almost 20% this year, while those for polycrystalline modules have dropped by more than 25%. Increased consolidation among manufacturers and developers is expected to occur in China, and the global solar market, with more merger deals, plans for capacity reductions, and even factory closures.
EnergySage finds $236 million tax on solar due to Section 201 tariffs
The online solar marketplace describes the tariffs as a tax on solar, and notes that both the finding of injury and the tariffs themselves drove up prices.
The South takes the lead in utility-scale solar as interconnection queues swell to 188 GW (w/charts)
As a further sign that solar is going mainstream across the United States, a new report by Lawrence Berkeley National Labs finds that southeastern states hosted 40% of the utility-scale solar installed nationally in 2017. Interconnection queues have swelled to 188.5 GW of utility solar capacity, eight times more than installed capacity.
Data suggests collapse of PV module imports in the wake of Section 201
Newly released EIA data shows overall module shipments falling by 2/3 in the second quarter of 2018, while pre-tariff prices remained relatively steady.
Tri-State could save $600 million by switching from coal to renewables
A study finds that “just the operating costs of many existing coal assets” now exceed total costs for new solar and wind power in the Mountain West. The Tri-State utility, for example, could save $600 million by 2030 by phasing out five coal units in favor of solar, wind and purchases of wholesale capacity and power.
Solar could replace 2.73 GW of PacifiCorp coal units, at lower cost
A simple comparison of per-MWh costs for solar versus PacifiCorp’s existing coal-fired generation found that new solar would cost less than the going-forward costs of 11 coal units with a combined 2.73 GW of capacity.
First Solar sees manufacturing hiccups, but bookings remain strong
The thin film PV maker reports difficulties in ramping its new Series 6 product, as well as pressure from module price collapses.
NextEra expects storage to add half a cent to solar in mid-2020’s
The power giant has made a number of bold statements about the future of solar, wind and batteries, as the company’s development arm reaches a record backlog of renewable energy.
REC Silicon hit by falling demand in Q2
The polysilicon maker has been a casualty of the trade war between the United States and China. Following layoffs, the company expects its plant in Washington to run at only 25% capacity until the trade war is resolved.
