Recently, the South African Ministry of Water and Sanitation is looking for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to design, build, finance and operate renewable energy projects in 19 locations. It is reported that the construction and operation of floating or ground-mounted photovoltaic projects at selected government waterworks facilities or dams, these projects can be either stand-alone or grid-connected. The tender announcement stated that the department "intends to purchase new generation capacity from IPPs to reduce the continuously rising energy costs and dependence on grid power". Notably, bidders have until April 18 to submit their offers, and the projects are supposed to run for 20 years. In December 2022, South Africa's Eskom launched a 36.5MW/146MWh power generation and energy storage project tender. The country recently introduced a rooftop PV rebate scheme in an attempt to address the severe load shedding challenges it has been facing. (This article is compiled from pv-magazine)

On March 31, 2023, Yidao Xinneng announced the latest N-type product quotation. The double-sided 182 monocrystalline N-type cell has a mass production efficiency of 25.2%, and the domestic price is 1.19 yuan/W; the overseas price is 0.158 USD/W. Double-sided double-glass 182 monocrystalline N-type module, the mainstream power reaches 575W, the domestic price is 1.95 yuan/W; the overseas price is 0.252 US dollars/W. Yidao Xinneng has continued to cultivate the N-type field for many years, and has always integrated scientific and technological innovation into the development genes of the enterprise. Both battery R&D and mass production are at the forefront of industry development. By the end of 2023, the company's N-type battery and module production capacity will reach 30GW respectively. In addition, a new energy will also further develop TOPCon4.0 technology. By the end of 2023, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of TOPCon cells is expected to increase to more than 26%, which will further promote the iteration of crystalline silicon photovoltaic technology.

Common Misconceptions About Residential PV More and more people want to invest in photovoltaic arrays and battery storage systems. However, the German Consumer Association said that many misunderstandings may eventually lead to consumer disappointment. Home demand for rooftop photovoltaic systems and residential batteries continues to grow. In order to meet the expectations of building owners, the German consumer association Verbraucherzentrale NRW is trying to clear up misconceptions about photovoltaic installations that can disappoint professional consumers. Verbraucherzentrale NRW energy digital transformation analyst S?ren Demandt said: "It is very important that people can clearly realize their personal goals for using photovoltaics, and then discover more information about other aspects. In this way, Disappointment can be avoided, and solar energy can be used truly efficiently." The first misconception is that people are promised that they can be self-sufficient with photovoltaics and storage systems. This is not the case, as photovoltaic systems and home energy storage solutions can only meet a certain percentage of a household's annual electricity supply. The degree of self-sufficiency achievable in a home ranges from 25% to 90%, depending on the level of electricity consumption and whether a storage system is installed. Especially in the winter months, demandt said, there is not enough solar power generation, so electricity must be purchased from the grid. Full self-sufficiency can only be achieved with additional seasonal storage, such as hydrogen electricity. "However, this is technically very complex and makes little economic sense for residential units," Demandt said. Another misconception is that photovoltaic systems are only valuable when combined with batteries. Some homeowners seem to think that connecting solar to the grid is not an attractive option from an economic standpoint. "PV systems can still be economically valuable even without storage," Demandt said. "The viability of installing batteries for a PV system depends on a number of factors—primarily household consumption and electricity costs." Therefore, homeowners should check their power consumption levels without the storage system installed. They can compare the higher level of electricity consumption achieved after installing the battery storage system with the actual electricity bills incurred. Verbraucherzentrale NRW disagrees with the opinion that south-facing roofs are always more suitable for installing photovoltaic systems than east-west facing roofs. Photovoltaic power generation not only pursues as much power output as possible, but also needs to be able to meet continuous power demand. Compared with the south-facing roof, the photovoltaic system installed on the east-west facing roof has only about 80% of its annual power generation. However, the power generated by a solar system installed on an east-west facing roof can be spread over the course of the day,...

Europe is still the largest export market for photovoltaic modules. What is the solution to the "hidden worries" of photovoltaic exports in the future? Europe is still the largest export market for Chinese photovoltaic products. However, in the context of the localization of European photovoltaic manufacturing and support for the local photovoltaic industry chain, Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers "going overseas" are not without hidden worries. In the first two months of 2023, China's export of photovoltaic modules showed a phenomenon of "not slow in the off-season". According to the latest customs data, from January to February 2023, China's module exports reached 47.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9%, ending the continuous month-on-month decline since August last year. Europe is still the largest export market for Chinese photovoltaic products, and more than half of photovoltaic modules are shipped to Europe. According to customs data, from January to February 2023, the export value of photovoltaic modules in Europe will be 27 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 58%. Among them, the export data of Spain, France, Poland, Greece, Belgium, Denmark and other countries all achieved positive month-on-month growth from January to February. In contrast, the Asian region decreased by 36% year-on-year, and the Latin American region decreased by 6% year-on-year. For a long time, the European market has been highly dependent on photovoltaic products imported from China. In 2022, the European market's high dependence on Chinese photovoltaic products will rise instead of falling. According to data from market information company Infolink Consulting, Chinese photovoltaic companies will export a total of 154.8GW of photovoltaic modules in 2022, an increase of 74% over 2021. Among them, more than half of the photovoltaic modules are exported to the European market. In 2022, China will export 86.6GW of photovoltaic modules to Europe, an increase of 112% compared to the export volume in 2021 (40.9 GW). China International Finance Securities believes that in the context of a high base, the export value of photovoltaics will still exceed expectations to achieve a year-on-year growth of 15% from January to February 2023, and the average monthly amount in the first two months will achieve the first month-on-month growth since August last year. (Monthly average increase of 22%), showing that overseas demand remains strong in the context of a significant drop in natural gas prices, and inventory is well digested. However, under the background of the localization of photovoltaic manufacturing in Europe and the support of the local photovoltaic industry chain, Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers "going overseas" are not without hidden worries. On March 16, as part of the Green Agreement industrial plan, the official website of the European Commission officially announced the two cornerstones of the green industrial plan, the "Net Zero Industry Act" and t...

Canadian Solar: 21.1GW of module shipments in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 45% On March 21, 2023, Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ, hereinafter referred to as "Canadian Solar" or the "Group") announced that it will end the fourth quarter of 2022 as of December 31, 2022. and annual financial reports. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Group has sold a total of 6.4 GW of solar modules to more than 70 countries, an increase of 68% year-on-year; the top five markets for shipments are China, the United States, Brazil, Spain and Germany. In 2022, the group's sales will be US$7.47 billion (approximately RMB 50.273 billion), a year-on-year increase of 42%; net profit will be US$240 million (approximately RMB 1.615 billion), and diluted earnings per share will be US$3.44 (approximately RMB 23.15) ; Module shipments were 21.1 GW, a year-on-year increase of 45%; total annual shipments of energy storage systems were 1.79 GWh, doubling year-on-year; Solar power plant project layout and planning As of January 31, 2023, Canadian Solar Group (CSIQ) has a total global solar power plant project reserve of about 25 GW. Among them, the total amount of solar power station projects under construction is about 1.8 GW, the total amount of solar power station projects in the late stage of project development is about 4.9 GW, and the total amount of solar power station projects in the early/middle stage of project development is about 18 GW. About 1.77 GW of global solar power plant projects under construction, respectively located in: 1,400 MW in Latin America (including 645 MW of power plant projects held by third parties or sold to third parties), 89 MW in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) , Japan 36 megawatts, China 250 megawatts. About 4.87 GW of solar power plant projects in the late stage of project development are located in: 422 MW in North America, 2,397 MW in Latin America and 971 MW in China (including 282 MW of power plant projects owned by third parties or sold to third parties) , EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) 936 MW, Japan 149 MW, Asia Pacific (excluding Japan and China) 3 MW. (*The power station project in the late stage of project development refers to a solar power station that has signed a PPA power sale agreement or has obtained FIT, the project is safe and reliable, and will be completed in the next one to four years.) About 6.86 GW of solar power plant project reserves in the middle of project development are located in: North America 2,310 MW, Latin America 908 MW, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) 3,509 MW, Japan 3 MW, Asia Pacific (excluding Japan and China) 135 MW. (*The power station project in the middle stage of project development refers to the project that has more than 90% certainty and can sign the PPA power sales agreement.) About 11.22 GW of solar power plant project reserves in the early stage of project development are located in: North America 4,324 MW, Latin America 510 MW, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) 2,803 M...

Tongwei intends to win the bid for the first batch of photovoltaic module procurement projects of Guohua Investment in 2023 (projects in Hebei, Ningxia, and Shandong) On March 16, Guohua Investment's 2023 first batch (Hebei, Ningxia, Shandong projects) photovoltaic module procurement public bidding candidate announcement, the first winning candidate Tongwei Solar (Hefei) Co., Ltd., bidding price 1437.0947 million yuan ; JinkoSolar, the second winning candidate, bid 1,498,350,207.62 million yuan. The bidding announcement shows that the 620,000-kilowatt photovoltaic project photovoltaic modules of the National Energy Ningdong Renewable Hydrogen Carbon Emission Reduction Demonstration Area Demonstration Area is 361.3MW, and the delivery location is near the Ningdong Energy and Chemical Base of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Among them, the 218MWp photovoltaic module field is located in The photovoltaic project site in the Meihuajing mining area on the south side of Yongli New Village in Ningdong Base, the 143.3MWp photovoltaic module field is located in the photovoltaic project site of Qingshuiying Coal Mine in Ningdong Base. The photovoltaic project of Guohua Hebei Company is 420MW, and the delivery location is the project site; the first phase of the 50MW distributed photovoltaic power generation of Huimin County, Guohua Energy Investment Shandong Company is 50MW, and the delivery location is the project site. The planned bidding capacity is about 831.3MW, and the detailed project capacity is as follows: Guoneng Ningdong Renewable Hydrogen Carbon Emission Reduction Demonstration Zone Demonstration Zone 620,000-kilowatt photovoltaic project: battery type 182, specification model "545Wp and above P-type double-sided double-glass/560Wp and above N-type double-sided double-glass", supply Capacity 361.3MW; Photovoltaic project of Guohua Hebei Company: battery type 182, specification model "545Wp and above P-type double-sided double-glass / 560Wp and above N-type double-sided double-glass", supply capacity 420MW; Guohua Energy Investment Shandong Company Huimin County 50MW Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Phase I Project: battery type 182, specification model "540Wp and above P-type single-sided glass/560Wp and above N-type single-sided single-glass", supply capacity 50MW. Delivery date: The bidder shall promise that the delivery of equipment meets the requirements of the project schedule, and the specific delivery schedule is as follows: Guoneng Ningdong Renewable Hydrogen Carbon Emission Reduction Demonstration Zone Demonstration Zone 620,000-kilowatt photovoltaic project: completed delivery of 61.3MW in March and 300MW in April; Photovoltaic project of Guohua Hebei Company: completed delivery of 100MW in March and 320MW in April; Guohua Energy Investment Shandong Company Huimin County 50MW Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Phase I Project: Completed delivery of 10MW in March and 40MW in April; Monthly total: 171.3MW in March and 660M...

Greece to add 1.36GW of solar in 2022 According to data released by the Greek Photovoltaic Companies Association, the installed capacity of the Greek solar market in 2022 will be three times that of 2021. According to the preliminary data disclosed to pv magazine by the Association of Hellenic Photovoltaic Companies (Helapco), Greece will add 1.36GW of grid-connected photovoltaic capacity in 2022. Among them, 341.5MW is connected to the Greek transmission grid, and about 1020MW is connected to the Greek distribution grid. These figures are preliminary as Greece has not officially announced the number of new PV deployments for 2022. Greek renewable energy operator Dapeep has only published figures up to the end of September 2022. Data from Dapeep shows Greece installed a total of 932MW of new PV capacity in the first three quarters of 2022, excluding installations under net metering, which will be announced separately by Greek distribution network operator Hedno. Helapco's more complete PV market statistics show that net metering systems accounted for only a fraction of the 1.36GW of new installed solar capacity. In fact, according to Halapco, 109.4MW of net-metered PV was connected to the local grid in Greece, while small independent operators operating independent grids in Greece added another 1.4MW of net-metered PV capacity. Interestingly, the virtual net metering system is included in the 5.4MW of net metering capacity installed on the Greek domestic grid in 2022. Given that commercial net metering systems have more than double the installed capacity of residential systems, the Greek government hopes to boost the residential solar industry with a new rebate program for residential PV and storage. The government said the new plan would be released soon, possibly before the end of March 2023. Fixed rates continue to drive growth The newly installed photovoltaic capacity in 2022 is at least three times the 422MW newly installed photovoltaic capacity in 2021. This includes systems that receive subsidized rates through competitive bidding, small solar plants up to 500kW and net metering systems that receive feed-in tariff subsidies. Of the new systems connected to the grid, 200 systems or about 20MW of capacity are connected to the low-voltage grid, 1,602 systems or 890MW of capacity are connected to the medium-voltage grid, and about 341.5MW of capacity is connected to the high-voltage grid, Helapco said. Source: pv magazine

Official answer: Can photovoltaic power stations be built on coastal tidal flats and ponds? A few days ago, a netizen from the Department of Natural Resources of Guangdong Province asked whether it is possible to build agricultural photovoltaic and fishing photovoltaic photovoltaic power station projects on land that is in the nature of coastal beaches and ponds. Answer: According to the analysis of the problem, the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Farmland Occupation Tax" shall apply to the occupation of coastal tidal flats and pond water surfaces for non-agricultural construction, and the occupation of garden land, forest land, grassland, farmland, water use land, aquaculture water surface, fishery waters tidal flats, and other agricultural uses Those who construct buildings or structures on land or engage in non-agricultural construction shall pay arable land occupation tax in accordance with the provisions of this Law. Therefore, in theory, non-agricultural construction can be carried out. As for whether the above-mentioned photovoltaic power station project construction can be carried out, the competent department of the industry should be consulted.

Italy's cumulative photovoltaic installed capacity reaches 25GW According to the latest statistics released by the Italian Photovoltaic Association (Italia Solare), by the end of December 2022, Italy's cumulative photovoltaic installed capacity reached 25.048GW, distributed in 1,221,045 projects. The largest segment was PV systems ranging in size from 200kW to 1MW at 8,270MW, accounting for 33% of the total. The second largest is the project with output power ranging from 20kW to 200kW, which is 5057MW, accounting for 20% of the total. Solar arrays with a capacity of less than 12kW accounted for 4,949MW, accounting for 20% of the total, followed by systems with a capacity of 1MW-10MW, accounting for 16%, or 3,942MW. According to the Italian Photovoltaic Industry Association, the number of photovoltaic power plants above 10MW is 1479MW, accounting for 6% of the total. At the end of December, 12kW-20kW photovoltaic systems reached 1351MW, accounting for about 5% of the total. The region with the highest proportion of new additions is Lombardia, with an installed capacity of 3,149MW; followed by Apulia, with an installed capacity of 3,063MW; and Emilia Romagna, with an installed capacity of 2,512MW. In the field of household use, that is, photovoltaic systems below 12kW were still the biggest market driver last year, with approximately 1,103MW of newly installed capacity. Followed by large power plants above 10MW, 289MW. Source: PV-Tech

The German Solar Industry Association and the Indian Skill Council for Green Jobs also signed an agreement in Delhi, India recently, following German Chancellor Olaf Schulz's visit to India. It is understood that if Germany wants to achieve the solar energy target set ten years later, the country needs to add three new photovoltaic installed capacity of 7.19GW in 2022 every year. However, like the rest of Europe, the country currently lacks skilled workers to work on photovoltaic systems. The German Photovoltaic Industry Association stated that Germany alone cannot make up for the shortage and therefore plans to bring in skilled workers from India. Under a training program launched by India's Ministry of Renewable Energy, young electricians can become "suryamitra" (solar workers) after three months of training. So far, 51,000 "suryamitra" have completed the training course. If the German Federal Government and the German Solar Industry Association make reasonable arrangements, these Indian technicians will also contribute to Germany's photovoltaic expansion plan. "Having trained specialists for the solar industry in Germany is very important for our energy transition," said German State Secretary Udo Philipp. The German Solar Industry Association, in cooperation with "Hand-in-Hand for International Talent", integrates technologists, with funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Federal Employment Agency and the Indian Chamber of Commerce to further facilitate the integration of skilled foreign workers German solar industry. Relying on new immigration laws, skilled workers are expected to arrive in Germany in the summer.