| ANZ Solar News Blog |
Friday Feb 17, 2012
To achieve this target, the firm has created a high-efficiency value chain for high-efficiency modules. The modules include AUO SunPower’s solar cell, which is the highest efficiency cell in the world with over 22.5% efficiency and high-efficiency wafer, ingot and polysilicon from Japan-based M.Setek. These features make BenQ Solar's module as the world's premium solar product with more than 20% efficiency and helps meet the demands of customers in utility, commercial and residential markets.
AUO will focus on prompt supply of its high-efficiency and cost-effective solar solutions to global customers by implementing “Global Operation, Local Delivery” strategy. By adopting the strategy, BenQ Solar is able to serve its global customers with solar modules from the U.S., Europe, China and Taiwan. The firm has formed its distribution channels in Asia, Europe and North America and will continue its global channel network expansion.
AC Unison is the world's first alternating current (AC) producing solar solution introduced by BenQ Solar to meet the needs of residential customers in terms of convenience and functionality. The product comprises a monitoring system and a micro-inverter. Installation, maintenance and monitoring of the residential solar solution are quite easy.
AUO will focus on prompt supply of its high-efficiency and cost-effective solar solutions to global customers by implementing “Global Operation, Local Delivery” strategy. By adopting the strategy, BenQ Solar is able to serve its global customers with solar modules from the U.S., Europe, China and Taiwan. The firm has formed its distribution channels in Asia, Europe and North America and will continue its global channel network expansion.
AC Unison is the world's first alternating current (AC) producing solar solution introduced by BenQ Solar to meet the needs of residential customers in terms of convenience and functionality. The product comprises a monitoring system and a micro-inverter. Installation, maintenance and monitoring of the residential solar solution are quite easy.
The facility includes an office and a warehouse that will store about 4-5 MW of solar modules. The Australian subsidiary will support JinkoSolar’s growth in the PV industry.
David Li, Chairman of JinkoSolar, stated that the company is establishing its footprint in developing markets and is excited to expand its technology and services to Australia. He also commented that the Australian market is focusing more on renewable energy after the launch of the 'Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Stationary Energy Plan'.
JinkoSolar Australia is situated close to several other regions, including Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. Thus, the office is suitably located to receive deliveries and to serve its local partners. JinkoSolar has manufacturing operations in Zhejiang Province and Jiangxi Province, China and sales offices in Zug, Switzerland; Montpellier, France; Bologna, Italy; San Francisco, U.S.; Queensland, Australia; Munich, Germany; and Shanghai, China. The company distributes its solar products to a wide range of customers in the global market, including China, France, the U.S., Spain, Belgium, Germany and Italy.
David Li, Chairman of JinkoSolar, stated that the company is establishing its footprint in developing markets and is excited to expand its technology and services to Australia. He also commented that the Australian market is focusing more on renewable energy after the launch of the 'Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Stationary Energy Plan'.
JinkoSolar Australia is situated close to several other regions, including Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. Thus, the office is suitably located to receive deliveries and to serve its local partners. JinkoSolar has manufacturing operations in Zhejiang Province and Jiangxi Province, China and sales offices in Zug, Switzerland; Montpellier, France; Bologna, Italy; San Francisco, U.S.; Queensland, Australia; Munich, Germany; and Shanghai, China. The company distributes its solar products to a wide range of customers in the global market, including China, France, the U.S., Spain, Belgium, Germany and Italy.
by Energy Matters
Solar Roofing Panels Provide Heat And Power
In an effort to bring Australia in line with an international zero-emissions building code, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) are working on a system to better harness the power of solar energy to generate electricity and heating for homes.
A prototype rooftop solar power system developed by UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Engineering (SPREE) that combines photovoltaics with thermal technology has demonstrated the ability to produce warm air throughout winter.
Unlike conventional PV systems with solar cells mounted on top of the roof of a house, the UNSW technology is designed to be integrated into roofing panels, allowing excess heat generated by the panels - which would otherwise be wasted - to warm the home.
The research is part of a series of 'carbon-positive' products that will be tested and further developed by the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Low-Carbon Living at UNSW later this year; aimed at bringing Australia in line with Europe and the UK, which plan to introduce a zero-carbon building code in 2016.
Professor Deo Prasad, head of the CRC, says when it comes to lowering Australia’s carbon footprint, the biggest savings can be made in energy efficient buildings.
"The built environment is responsible for 40 per cent of energy use and Australia’s homes account for 16.5 per cent of our emissions in electricity use alone, without accounting for energy embodied during the production and disposal of building materials."
The CRC’s associate professor Alistair Sproul, developer of a thermal air conditioner, says the idea behind carbon positive products is to begin paying back the greenhouse debt of a product once it is installed in a home.
"Instead of simply putting solar cells on top of regular roofs, they are integrated, so that the minute the metal roofing is installed, it starts to pay back its carbon debt by pumping power into the grid and providing warm air in the winter."
The products will be tested from late 2012 in so-called "living laboratories", one of which is located in the recently constructed Tyree Energy Technologies Building, at UNSW’s Kensington campus.
Solar Roofing Panels Provide Heat And Power
In an effort to bring Australia in line with an international zero-emissions building code, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) are working on a system to better harness the power of solar energy to generate electricity and heating for homes.
A prototype rooftop solar power system developed by UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Engineering (SPREE) that combines photovoltaics with thermal technology has demonstrated the ability to produce warm air throughout winter.
Unlike conventional PV systems with solar cells mounted on top of the roof of a house, the UNSW technology is designed to be integrated into roofing panels, allowing excess heat generated by the panels - which would otherwise be wasted - to warm the home.
The research is part of a series of 'carbon-positive' products that will be tested and further developed by the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Low-Carbon Living at UNSW later this year; aimed at bringing Australia in line with Europe and the UK, which plan to introduce a zero-carbon building code in 2016.
Professor Deo Prasad, head of the CRC, says when it comes to lowering Australia’s carbon footprint, the biggest savings can be made in energy efficient buildings.
"The built environment is responsible for 40 per cent of energy use and Australia’s homes account for 16.5 per cent of our emissions in electricity use alone, without accounting for energy embodied during the production and disposal of building materials."
The CRC’s associate professor Alistair Sproul, developer of a thermal air conditioner, says the idea behind carbon positive products is to begin paying back the greenhouse debt of a product once it is installed in a home.
"Instead of simply putting solar cells on top of regular roofs, they are integrated, so that the minute the metal roofing is installed, it starts to pay back its carbon debt by pumping power into the grid and providing warm air in the winter."
The products will be tested from late 2012 in so-called "living laboratories", one of which is located in the recently constructed Tyree Energy Technologies Building, at UNSW’s Kensington campus.
CBD Energy is considering a name change to go with its newly acquired listing on the Nasdaq after striking a deal to take a controlling stake in the US-based solar PV company Westinghouse Solar.
The merger with Westinghouse, a 10-year-old spin-off of the famous appliance brand, which specialises in designing and manufacturing solar PV panels, was announced in New York overnight, and will see CBD shareholders take 85 per cent of the combined company, with Westinghouse Solar investors holding the rest.
CBD CEO Gerry McGowan said the company was attracted to Westinghouse because of its innovative technology – it was the first to develop AC panels – and also its niche position in the US solar PV market, which is forecast by industry analysts to grow three-fold to more than 6GW a year by 2015.
McGowan said a listing on the Nasdaq would give the company much greater access to capital to support its ambitious international growth, with wind and solar projects planned in Europe, Asia, Australia and now the US.
“The US market is really buoyant,” he told RenewEconomy. “The important thing is that we are moving more and more offshore. We’ve been held back by a lack of access to capital, but this gives us a listing in a much more buoyant energy sector. We’re very excited by the opportunity.”
McGowan said the company may also take advantage of the iconic Westinghouse brand and rename the company. However, no decision has been made yet, although one may be in the next month.
Westinghouse says its integrated AC panels reduce the number of components by 80 per cent and labour costs by 50 per cent. ”Westinghouse Solar’s integrated AC and DC designs are quite innovative, and could reduce installed costs for many of our customers and business partners in Australia, Europe and elsewhere,” McGowan said in a statement.
CBD bought a 10 per cent stake in Westinghouse for $1 million in stock in early December, and Westinghouse shares were valued at a total of $US10.1 million on the Nasdaq at the close of trade in New York on Thursday. Westinghouse last night announced revenues of $US11 million, an operating profit of $1 million, and a net loss of $US4.5 million for the 2012 calendar year last night.
The announcement came as McGowan confirmed that the AusChina Energy joint venture that he created with Chinese energy giants Datang and Hianwei last year would not go through with the planned $220 million development of the Taralga wind farm in New South Wales as planned.
He said delays in the decision making process within the joint venture were the cause of the problem, although he rejected suggestions that AusChina was unraveling.
CBD had touted the venture as a major player in the Australian wind market, and would use the cheaper Chinese turbines and access to cheaper Chinese finance to seek up to $6 billion of wind energy developments in Australia, or around a third of the new build anticipated to meet the Renewable Energy Target.
“The Auschina joint venture is still in place,” McGowan said. “Auschina is not proceeding with Taralga because the decision making process took too long, and the project has got timing issues.”
Indeed, it is understood that the 100MW Taralga wind farm has a February 23 deadline to begin the project, or it risks losing its planning permit. The windfarm was heavily contested by some members of the local community, and only got approved after a court battle. The NSW government has since proposed tougher planning laws. It is understood the project’s owners RES Australia, is seeking alternative partners. McGowan said CDB may still have a role in the project.
CBD Energy also on Friday flagged a net loss of up to $4 million for the first half, because of a series of “one off expenses.” McGowan said these include the costs associated with it its ill-fated purchase of energy retailer Neighbourhood Energy.
McGowan said that operating profits continued to grow and would be in line with targets. He said the solar business, in particular, had rebounded after a particularly sharp fall after the removal of feed-in-tariffs in NSW. Last year, CBD Energy posted net earnings of $5.1 million as its revenues surged nearly four-fold to $165 million from $45 million earlier, mostly courtesy of its eco-kinetics solar division and the rush to install rooftop PV.
The merger with Westinghouse, a 10-year-old spin-off of the famous appliance brand, which specialises in designing and manufacturing solar PV panels, was announced in New York overnight, and will see CBD shareholders take 85 per cent of the combined company, with Westinghouse Solar investors holding the rest.
CBD CEO Gerry McGowan said the company was attracted to Westinghouse because of its innovative technology – it was the first to develop AC panels – and also its niche position in the US solar PV market, which is forecast by industry analysts to grow three-fold to more than 6GW a year by 2015.
McGowan said a listing on the Nasdaq would give the company much greater access to capital to support its ambitious international growth, with wind and solar projects planned in Europe, Asia, Australia and now the US.
“The US market is really buoyant,” he told RenewEconomy. “The important thing is that we are moving more and more offshore. We’ve been held back by a lack of access to capital, but this gives us a listing in a much more buoyant energy sector. We’re very excited by the opportunity.”
McGowan said the company may also take advantage of the iconic Westinghouse brand and rename the company. However, no decision has been made yet, although one may be in the next month.
Westinghouse says its integrated AC panels reduce the number of components by 80 per cent and labour costs by 50 per cent. ”Westinghouse Solar’s integrated AC and DC designs are quite innovative, and could reduce installed costs for many of our customers and business partners in Australia, Europe and elsewhere,” McGowan said in a statement.
CBD bought a 10 per cent stake in Westinghouse for $1 million in stock in early December, and Westinghouse shares were valued at a total of $US10.1 million on the Nasdaq at the close of trade in New York on Thursday. Westinghouse last night announced revenues of $US11 million, an operating profit of $1 million, and a net loss of $US4.5 million for the 2012 calendar year last night.
The announcement came as McGowan confirmed that the AusChina Energy joint venture that he created with Chinese energy giants Datang and Hianwei last year would not go through with the planned $220 million development of the Taralga wind farm in New South Wales as planned.
He said delays in the decision making process within the joint venture were the cause of the problem, although he rejected suggestions that AusChina was unraveling.
CBD had touted the venture as a major player in the Australian wind market, and would use the cheaper Chinese turbines and access to cheaper Chinese finance to seek up to $6 billion of wind energy developments in Australia, or around a third of the new build anticipated to meet the Renewable Energy Target.
“The Auschina joint venture is still in place,” McGowan said. “Auschina is not proceeding with Taralga because the decision making process took too long, and the project has got timing issues.”
Indeed, it is understood that the 100MW Taralga wind farm has a February 23 deadline to begin the project, or it risks losing its planning permit. The windfarm was heavily contested by some members of the local community, and only got approved after a court battle. The NSW government has since proposed tougher planning laws. It is understood the project’s owners RES Australia, is seeking alternative partners. McGowan said CDB may still have a role in the project.
CBD Energy also on Friday flagged a net loss of up to $4 million for the first half, because of a series of “one off expenses.” McGowan said these include the costs associated with it its ill-fated purchase of energy retailer Neighbourhood Energy.
McGowan said that operating profits continued to grow and would be in line with targets. He said the solar business, in particular, had rebounded after a particularly sharp fall after the removal of feed-in-tariffs in NSW. Last year, CBD Energy posted net earnings of $5.1 million as its revenues surged nearly four-fold to $165 million from $45 million earlier, mostly courtesy of its eco-kinetics solar division and the rush to install rooftop PV.
China-based solar manufacturer JinkoSolar Holding has announced the addition of a Queensland-based Australian subsidiary – JinkoSolar Australia – with the opening of a new office, located halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, that will house around 4-5MW of solar PV modules for sale and delivery to JinkoSolar’s local partners and help boost the company’s Australian market.
Jinko chairman David Li said that “now more than ever is the most strategic time for JinkoSolar to stake its hold in Australia’s market,” which he described as “highly oriented towards renewable energy.” And he may be right, with some forecasts suggesting that Australia could add 10GW of solar PV by the end of the decade, and, as Li suggests, “grid parity for the residential market in states such as New South Wales” coming within reach.
But we were a bit bemused by this added reason for Jinko’s move, Australia’s apparent “adoption” of the ’ Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Stationary Energy Plan’. The development of the aspirational report by Beyond Zero Emissions has been a welcome addition to Australia’s carbon and energy policy debate, but as far as we know BZE chief Matthew Wright is not yet the Minister for Energy.
Infigen’s revenue swings
Australia’s largest listed renewables group, Infigen Energy, has released its first half production and revenue estimates, reporting a 7 per cent rise in revenue from Australian operations for the corresponding period, but a small drop in revenue in the US, and drops in production levels in both the US and Australia. The wind power-driven business said that it expects to report evenue of $125.7 million from its Australian and US businesses, down from $126.4 million for the six months ended 31 December 2010.
Infigen attributes the hits to production – down 7 per cent in the US, and 1 per cent in Australia – to unfavourable wind conditions, adverse foreign exchange movements and, in Australia, network constraints at the Lake Bonney 2&3 wind farms in South Australia. The increase to revenue in Australia – $A63.9 million, up from $A59.9 million in H1 FY11 – is attributed to improved wholesale electricity and large-scale generation certificates (LGC) prices and the initial contribution from the Woodlawn Wind Farm, partially offset by lower production. The company says that at 31 December 2011, it held approximately 204,000 unsold LGCs. Unsold LGCs contributed $A8.5 million to the Australian revenue during the period.
Canberra launches $1bn cleantech fund
The Gillard government on Thursday launched its Clean Technology Investment Programs, which will provide $1 billion in funding for manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution. The two competitive grants-based programs – the $800 million Clean Technology Investment Program and the $200 million Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program – are part of the government’s Clean Energy Future package and are aimed at helping manufacturers invest in new plants and equipment to cut their energy costs and/or reduce carbon pollution, such as switching to less carbon intensive energy sources or installing new manufacturing equipment, processes and facilities to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Climate and Industry and Innovation Minister, Greg Combet, also announced that the government would change co-contribution requirements to make the grant programs more attractive for small and medium-sized firms. Manufacturers with turnovers of less than $100 million requesting funding under $500,000 will now only have to match the government grants on a dollar for dollar basis. For all other grants under $10 million, applicants will be required to contribute $2 for every $1 from the government. For grants of $10 million or more, applicants will be expected to make a co-contribution of at least $3 for each $1 of support.
Jinko chairman David Li said that “now more than ever is the most strategic time for JinkoSolar to stake its hold in Australia’s market,” which he described as “highly oriented towards renewable energy.” And he may be right, with some forecasts suggesting that Australia could add 10GW of solar PV by the end of the decade, and, as Li suggests, “grid parity for the residential market in states such as New South Wales” coming within reach.
But we were a bit bemused by this added reason for Jinko’s move, Australia’s apparent “adoption” of the ’ Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Stationary Energy Plan’. The development of the aspirational report by Beyond Zero Emissions has been a welcome addition to Australia’s carbon and energy policy debate, but as far as we know BZE chief Matthew Wright is not yet the Minister for Energy.
Infigen’s revenue swings
Australia’s largest listed renewables group, Infigen Energy, has released its first half production and revenue estimates, reporting a 7 per cent rise in revenue from Australian operations for the corresponding period, but a small drop in revenue in the US, and drops in production levels in both the US and Australia. The wind power-driven business said that it expects to report evenue of $125.7 million from its Australian and US businesses, down from $126.4 million for the six months ended 31 December 2010.
Infigen attributes the hits to production – down 7 per cent in the US, and 1 per cent in Australia – to unfavourable wind conditions, adverse foreign exchange movements and, in Australia, network constraints at the Lake Bonney 2&3 wind farms in South Australia. The increase to revenue in Australia – $A63.9 million, up from $A59.9 million in H1 FY11 – is attributed to improved wholesale electricity and large-scale generation certificates (LGC) prices and the initial contribution from the Woodlawn Wind Farm, partially offset by lower production. The company says that at 31 December 2011, it held approximately 204,000 unsold LGCs. Unsold LGCs contributed $A8.5 million to the Australian revenue during the period.
Canberra launches $1bn cleantech fund
The Gillard government on Thursday launched its Clean Technology Investment Programs, which will provide $1 billion in funding for manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution. The two competitive grants-based programs – the $800 million Clean Technology Investment Program and the $200 million Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program – are part of the government’s Clean Energy Future package and are aimed at helping manufacturers invest in new plants and equipment to cut their energy costs and/or reduce carbon pollution, such as switching to less carbon intensive energy sources or installing new manufacturing equipment, processes and facilities to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Climate and Industry and Innovation Minister, Greg Combet, also announced that the government would change co-contribution requirements to make the grant programs more attractive for small and medium-sized firms. Manufacturers with turnovers of less than $100 million requesting funding under $500,000 will now only have to match the government grants on a dollar for dollar basis. For all other grants under $10 million, applicants will be required to contribute $2 for every $1 from the government. For grants of $10 million or more, applicants will be expected to make a co-contribution of at least $3 for each $1 of support.
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