Solar Energy

China’s solar goes from supremacy to oversupply

Published

1 month ago

October 10, 2024

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China’s solar goes from supremacy to oversupply

By Oliver HOTHAM

Beijing (AFP) Oct 10, 2024

Strong state support and huge private investment have made China’s solar industry a global powerhouse, but it faces new headwinds, from punitive tariffs abroad to a brutal price war at home.

Officials meeting in Baku next month for the COP29 summit hope to agree on new finance targets to help developing countries respond to climate change, including ditching fossil fuels.

Last year, countries agreed to triple global installed renewable energy capacity by 2030.

China is installing almost twice as much solar and wind power as every other country combined.

And it dominates the market.

It makes eight out of every 10 solar panels and controls 80 percent of every stage of the manufacturing process.

It is also home to the world’s top 10 suppliers of solar panel manufacturing equipment, and its related exports hit a record $49 billion last year, according to Wood Mackenzie.

That supremacy is not accidental: Chinese state support has been key, analysts say.

Beijing invested over $50 billion in new solar supply capacity from 2011 to 2022, according to the International Energy Agency.

The industry has also benefited from access to cheap raw materials, readily available capital from state-owned banks, and huge engineering manpower.

“Chinese producers were ahead of everyone else on cost,” said Lauri Myllyvirta, co-founder of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a climate think tank.

“That meant new investment takes place in China, because that’s where it’s most competitive,” he told AFP.

The focus has driven a “steep learning curve… both in solar cell technology and manufacturing know-how”, added Johannes Bernreuter, a longtime solar industry analyst.

That in turn has created “an efficient industry ecosystem”, he said.

– ‘Overcapacity’-

As countries around the world race to convert their power systems, China’s solar supremacy has become a growing concern.

The United States and other Western countries have accused Beijing of deliberate “overcapacity” and flooding global markets with cut-price solar exports intended to undercut competition.

Washington has doubled tariffs on Chinese panels to 50 percent, part of a broader package targeting $18 billion worth of Chinese imports in strategic sectors including electric vehicles, batteries, critical minerals and medical products.

The European Union is also probing Chinese-owned solar panel manufacturers for allegedly receiving unfair subsidies.

Most US solar panel imports now come from Southeast Asia, but Washington says Chinese manufacturers have relocated operations there to circumvent barriers.

China also accounts for almost all of Europe’s imports of solar panels from outside the bloc.

That means many markets will struggle to catch up “with two decades of very forceful and very successful industrial policy in China”, said Myllyvirta.

China’s solar industry faces its own struggles though, beyond trade barriers in the West.

The sector’s supersonic expansion has overleveraged the domestic industry, overloaded China’s grid and sparked a brutal price war, experts say.

Industry leaders have reportedly warned of an “ice age” and urged government intervention to stem slumping prices, but there has been little sign of relief.

This year saw a wave of bankruptcies, and new solar projects fell by over 75 percent in the first half of 2024, an industry group said in July.

– ‘Lots of companies will fail’ –

The price wars, which are so fierce that solar export earnings fell last year despite volumes hitting a new high, are like a “snake eating its own tail”, warned analyst David Fishman.

Companies get stuck “in this circle of competition where whoever is able to endure the pain for longest comes out as the victor,” said Fishman, a senior manager at the Lantau Group specialising in China’s power sector.

“Lots of companies will fail along the way.”

And while the manufacturing glut has helped China hit a wind and solar installation target nearly six years ahead of schedule, the country’s grid is struggling to keep up.

Increasingly, renewable supply is being blocked to prevent the grid from becoming overwhelmed, a process known as curtailment.

Solar curtailment rose four percent in the first quarter of 2024 from a year earlier, according to Fitch Ratings.

Authorities will soon be forced to “stop approving new projects or allowing projects to connect to the grid if it means curtailment rates are at risk of going higher”, Fishman said.

“They’ve got to build,” he added. “They have to catch up.”

Blocked in the West and running out of track at home, China’s solar is seeking new markets, and this year, Europe was overtaken by Asia as the biggest export market for solar products, according to an industry body.

Exports to Africa also soared 187 percent year-on-year in 2023, though the continent still buys a small fraction compared to Europe, according to energy think tank Ember.

The industry is now in a “restructuring and shakeout phase”, said Bernreuter.

After that, “the Chinese solar industry will march on with unperturbed pace and a more global manufacturing footprint”.

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Solar Energy

More energy and oil possible through combining photovoltaic plants with hedgerow olive groves

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

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More energy and oil possible through combining photovoltaic plants with hedgerow olive groves

by Hugo Ritmico

Madrid, Spain (SPX) Nov 20, 2024

The integration of photovoltaic plants on agricultural land has long sparked debate over balancing energy production with crop cultivation. Now, the innovative approach of combining both has gained momentum with promising results. This “agrivoltaic” system, which involves placing solar panels within agricultural setups, has been examined by a University of Cordoba research team to see if solar energy and agricultural production could mutually enhance each other.

The research group, including Marta Varo Martinez, Luis Manuel Fernandez de Ahumada, and Rafael Lopez Luque from the Physics for Renewable Energies and Resources group, along with Alvaro Lopez Bernal and Francisco Villalobos from the Soil-Water-Plant Relations group, developed a model that simulates an agrivoltaic system in hedgerow olive plantations. This simulation model combined predictions for oil yield from olive hedgerows and energy generation from solar collectors to assess combined productivity. The study concluded that using both in tandem increased overall productivity, marking a potential shift in land-use strategy that could cater to the needs for both clean energy and food.

The key findings show that mutual benefits arise when solar panels provide shade, acting as windbreaks that don’t compete for water, enhancing agricultural production. Meanwhile, the cooling effect from plant evapotranspiration can improve the efficiency of solar collectors by reducing their temperature, boosting energy output.

This model allows researchers to experiment with various collector configurations, adjusting heights, widths, and spacing, to pinpoint the most effective designs. Despite generally positive outcomes, the team noted that overly dense arrangements might limit space for machinery or complicate maintenance of the olive grove. The approach underscores the importance of balancing land-use density and operational accessibility.

Research Report:Simulation model for electrical and agricultural productivity of an olive hedgerow Agrivoltaic system

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Solar Energy

New initiative empowers Native American women with solar training

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

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New initiative empowers Native American women with solar training

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 20, 2024

Native American women across the country are gaining access to hands-on training in photovoltaic panel installation aimed at empowering them to establish solar systems in their communities and homes on tribal land.

Sandra Begay, an engineer at Sandia National Laboratories and a Navajo Nation member, is one of four mentors guiding this effort.

This training initiative is part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between Sandia and Red Cloud Renewable, a nonprofit organization in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, that focuses on advancing energy independence for tribal members and communities.

Known as the Bridging Renewable Industry Divides in Gender Equality, or BRIDGE, Program, the initiative provides a five-week immersive training experience that emphasizes practical skills in photovoltaic installation.

In August, Begay joined the first group of participants in South Dakota.

“Five weeks is a long time to be away from home,” Begay said. “I provided encouragement and reminded the women that they made the right choice to participate in this program. We also used the time to reflect on what they learned.”

Participants are taught the components of photovoltaic systems and how to install them safely and effectively.

Begay also provided insight into the energy challenges faced by tribal communities.

“There are more than 20,000 homes on the Navajo Nation and some rural homes on the Hopi reservation that don’t have electricity. These are off-grid homes,” Begay said, noting that many of these homes depend on diesel generators. “We’re looking at a clean energy future. We want to move away from those types of fuels and look at clean energy sources such as solar.”

She highlighted that large-scale solar projects are being developed by the Navajo Nation and the Mountain Ute Tribe in Colorado.

“This program will provide participants with new employment opportunities and a better understanding of where we’re headed with clean energy,” Begay said.

Red Cloud Renewable also supports the women with resume building, interview training, networking, and job placement services.

With over 30 years of experience championing renewable energy in Native American communities, Begay is committed to maintaining relationships with participants.

“I am making a long-term commitment to the women in the BRIDGE Program,” Begay said. “I will share any job openings I see with them and support them in their job searches.”

Teamwork for success

Begay emphasized the critical role teamwork plays in photovoltaic installations.

“Photovoltaic installation happens with a team of people. How do you work through that group dynamic? How do you work with each other as a team? Those questions are underemphasized in the work we do. They’re going to rely on each other when installing photovoltaic systems,” she said.

Alicia Hayden, Red Cloud Renewable’s communications manager, noted the strong bond formed among the participants.

“What stood out to me was the incredible camaraderie among the women,” Hayden said. “They were genuinely supportive of each other and grateful to be participating in this program alongside women who share similar backgrounds.”

Funded by the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technology Office, the project is set to continue over the next few years and aims to train two additional groups, eventually involving around 45 women.

“These women will be equipped to take on installer jobs within their own reservations, bringing valuable skills and opportunities for sustainable development to their people,” Hayden said.

Despite being highly underrepresented in the solar industry – comprising just 0.05% of the sector, according to Red Cloud Renewable – Native American women stand to gain from this initiative.

Begay expressed optimism about the impact of the BRIDGE Program.

“It’s very gratifying both professionally and personally to see where we can help women who are underrepresented in the workforce, let alone in a unique technology like photovoltaic installation,” Begay said. “We’re seeding ideas for the women that they would never have thought of doing. I think that’s what’s unique.”

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Solar Energy

Perovskite advancements improve solar cell efficiency and longevity

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

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Perovskite advancements improve solar cell efficiency and longevity

by Sophie Jenkins

London, UK (SPX) Nov 20, 2024

A global team led by the University of Surrey, in collaboration with Imperial College London, has pioneered a method to enhance the efficiency and durability of solar cells constructed from perovskite by addressing an unseen degradation pathway.

The University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) detailed their findings in ‘Energy and Environmental Science’, showing that by employing specific design strategies, they successfully created lead-tin perovskite solar cells achieving over 23% power conversion efficiency (PCE) – a significant result for this material type. Notably, these improvements also boosted the operational lifespan of these cells by 66%. PCE measures the proportion of sunlight converted to usable energy by a solar cell.

While traditional silicon solar panels are already widely used, advancements are steering towards perovskite/silicon hybrid panels, and fully perovskite-based panels promise even higher efficiencies. However, improving the stability and efficiency of lead-tin perovskite cells remains a significant hurdle. This research by the University of Surrey sheds light on mechanisms contributing to these limitations and offers a pathway to overcoming them, aiding in the broader advancement of solar technology.

Hashini Perera, Ph.D. student and lead author at ATI, stated: “The understanding we have developed from this work has allowed us to identify a strategy that improves the efficiency and extends the operational lifetime of these devices when exposed to ambient conditions. This advancement is a major step towards high efficiency, long-lasting solar panels which will give more people access to affordable clean energy while reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and global carbon emissions.”

The team focused on minimizing losses caused by the hole transport layer, crucial for solar cell functionality. By introducing an iodine-reducing agent, they mitigated the degradation effects, enhancing both the cell’s efficiency and its lifespan. This innovation paves the way for more sustainable and economically feasible solar technology.

Dr. Imalka Jayawardena from the University of Surrey’s ATI, co-author of the study, said: “By significantly enhancing the efficiency of our perovskite-based solar cells, we are moving closer to producing cheaper and more sustainable solar panels. We are already working on refining these materials, processes and the device architecture to tackle the remaining challenges.”

Professor Ravi Silva, Director of the ATI, added: “This research brings us closer to panels that not only generate more power over their lifetime but are also longer lasting. Greater efficiency and fewer replacements mean more green energy with less waste. The University of Surrey are in the process of building a 12.5MW solar farm, where we can test some of these modules. We’re confident that our innovative perovskite research will accelerate the widespread commercial adoption of perovskite-based solar panels.”

This progress aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goals 7 (affordable and clean energy), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), and 13 (climate action).

Research Report:23.2% efficient low band gap perovskite solar cells with cyanogen management