Trump’s trade wars
Trade has become a major issue for the U.S. solar industry under the Trump Administration. But while the market navigates tariffs and higher prices, the U.S. economy may be a greater casualty.
Panasonic, Tesla reveal plan to produce lithium batteries in China
Tesla’s batteries may soon be Made in China. The announcement was made by Panasonic CEO Kazuhiro Tsuga during a conference accompanying the company’s 2018 fiscal-year results.
GTM Research: Global solar market to top 104 GW this year
The company’s latest Global Solar Demand Monitor forecasts 6% annual increase in PV installation growth, with the United States seeing relatively flat growth at 10.6 GW.
Storage pipeline grows to 10.4 GW
Analyst data records 53% annual growth in storage in 2017, rising to 1.9 GW as South Korea rose to top of the tree in terms of cumulative capacity. The global project pipeline has soared to 10.4 GW.
U.S. large-scale batteries lead global energy storage deployment
And inaugural global energy storage report by GTM Research finds that while the United States remains the world’s leading market with newly installed capacity of 431 MWh, China is poised to rise to second place globally in 2019.
Apple claims to be 100% renewable-powered
Technology multinational Apple Inc. has announced that its global operations are now 100% powered by clean energy. Additionally, another nine of Apple’s manufacturing partners have committed to powering their production with 100% clean energy, meaning a total of 23 suppliers have now made this commitment.
Korea, Japan to retaliate over U.S. solar tariffs
Korea is making good on an earlier promise, and now Japan has joined in. Both nations demand that the Trump Administration reverse the tariffs, or suffer an equivalent volume of retaliatory tariffs.
Batteries, inverters, solar cells safe from Section 301 tariffs
The list of Chinese products that the Trump Administration is considering for duties under Section 301 spares inverters, solar cells and modules, as well as the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs and battery storage to accompany PV.
JA Solar issues strong response to IP theft allegations
Chinese module manufacturer JA Solar has issued a statement refuting assertions made by SolarWorld in hearings conducted last year, which were reported last week in the findings of United States Trade Representative (USTR) report into Chinese practices related to intellectual property.
Panasonic’s Oregon ingot and wafer facility goes up for auction
GA Global Partners is auctioning off the 130,000 square foot facility.
