Insurance giant stops covering firms that depend on coal

Fossil fuels are quickly becoming a liability.

The elimination of coal power isn't just good for the environment... it's quickly becoming good for the corporate bottom line. Insurance giant Swiss Re has enacted a policy that refuses coverage to any company that either generates 30 percent or more of its revenue from coal power, or uses at least 30 percent coal power to run its operations. Swiss Re touted the move as reflecting its commitment to limiting global warming (it made a pledge in 2015 alongside the Paris climate accord), but it also casts this as a shrewd business move.

The insurer noted that it's trying to "minimize sustainability risks." Lower emissions and renewable energy are simply better for its business -- it's less likely to pay out if it keeps climate change and pollution (not to mention use of finite resources) in check. Likewise, it sees investing in solar and wind power as ways of driving down its risks.

This isn't the first insurance company to back away from coal. Earther pointed out that insurers like Allianz and Dai-ichi Life Insurance have also dropped support for coal-dependent clients. However, this latest move could increase the pressure on companies to ditch fossil fuels even if they don't see the environmental benefit. If they want insurance, they might not have much of a choice.

https://www.engadget.com/2018/07/08/insurance-giant-stops-covering-firms-that-depend-on-coal/

Litt på kanten, men:

CEO i Shell ønsker å fremskynde forbud mot bensin- og dieselbiler i Storbritannia fra 2040 til en tidligere dato.

http://www.businessinsider.com/shell-ceo-calls-for-2040-ban-on-new-petrol-car-sales-to-be-bought-forward-2018-7

Clean energy is catching up to natural gas

The natural gas “bridge” to sustainability may be shorter than expected.

https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/7/13/17551878/natural-gas-markets-renewable-energy

Mexico's Largest Solar Park Will Provide Electricity To 1.3 Million Homes

World Agence France-Presse

The stretch of sand in the state of Coahuila is the spot for Italian energy giant to build the power plant which includes 2.3 million solar panels.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/latin-americas-largest-solar-park-turns-mexican-desert-green-1882582

REC's wafer-kunder omstiller seg nå:

https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20180716PD205.html

*liker ikke*

Europe's first solar panel recycling plant opens in France

French water and waste group Veolia has opened what it says is Europe's first recycling plant for solar panels and aims to build more as thousands of tonnes of ageing solar panels are set to reach the end of their life in coming years.

The new plant in Rousset, southern France, has a contract with solar industry recycling organization PV Cycle France to recycle 1,300 tonnes of solar panels in 2018 - virtually all solar panels that will reach their end of life in France this year - and is set to ramp up to 4,000 tonnes by 2022.

"This is the first dedicated solar panel recycling plant in Europe, possibly in the world," Gilles Carsuzaa, head of electronics recycling at Veolia, told reporters.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-solar-recycling/europes-first-solar-panel-recycling-plant-opens-in-france-idUSKBN1JL28Z

This Untapped Market Could Add 320 Gigawatts Of New U.S. Residential Solar Energy

https://www.forbes.com/sites/energyinnovation/2018/04/23/this-untapped-market-could-add-320-gigawatts-of-new-u-s-residential-solar-energy/

India:

Earlier this week, India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommended a two-year safeguard duty on solar cells and modules imported from China and Malaysia, of between 15-25%.

Reactions to the news have been, on the whole, very negative, with industry observers stating that the proposed move could hinder India’s ambitious solar plans by driving up the cost of solar power in India 15-30%.

A number of analysts and companies in India that spoke to pv magazine following the announcement said that the two-year period of the recommended safeguard duty is very short, discouraging any investment in setting up new solar manufacturing capacity. Moreover, for solar project developers, the duty will impact tariffs to the tune of 12-15%, posing an immediate threat to viability of projects under execution.

EU MIP decision

What is expected to have a bigger impact on the Indian solar market, however, is Europe’s decision on minimum import prices (MIPs) currently applied to Chinese PV importers to the EU, and which are set to expire this September 3.

If they expire, TrendForce forecasts that Vietnamese and Thai suppliers will fill the gap left in the Indian market by Chinese exporters, which will again concentrate on the EU market. Under this scenario, competition would be intensified, it says, thus driving down module prices, and potentially stimulating growth of non-subsidy PV projects. “Taiwanese and Malaysian suppliers,” meanwhile, “will face competition from Chinese counterparts in Europe and from third-party suppliers in India.”

If they are extended, on the other hand, third party suppliers would ship to both locations, and “pose strong competition to Chinese suppliers in India.”

Originally, the MIP was set to expire in March 2017. However, it was extended by a further 18 months. In the latest news on the matter, last month, it now appears likely that a new request for a review of the MIP undertaking has been submitted to the EU Commission in Brussels on June 3. If confirmed, the request may prevent the existing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties from expiring on September 3.

The majority of the industry is against the tariffs, having long called for their removal. Most recently, in a letter to European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker at the end of May, more than 250 organizations and companies from EU member states called for the termination of the trade restrictions applied to Chinese PV manufacturers.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2018/07/19/eu-mip-decision-to-have-more-effect-on-indian-pv-market-than-safeguard-tariffs/

The roiled solar power market shows how Trump's tariffs can disrupt an industry

A 30% U.S. tariff on imported solar panels put in place last winter should have caused prices here to jump.

But when tariffs are unleashed, as businesses are learning, things don’t always go as expected.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-tariffs-20180707-story.html

Enligt senaste PV Magazine USA, öppnas 2 fabriker för solpaneler i USA- Vem tror ni köper dem polysilicon av?
Heliene retools its Minnesota module factory

The Canadian PV maker is planning to reopen its factory in Northern Minnesota in August, and another factory in Oregon later this year.

Enligt senaste PV Magazine USA, öppnas 2 fabriker för solpaneler i USA- Vem tror ni köper dem polysilicon av?
Heliene retools its Minnesota module factory

The Canadian PV maker is planning to reopen its factory in Northern Minnesota in August, and another factory in Oregon later this year.

Spennende, men de kjøper ikke polysil direkte, bare halvfabrikata i form av celler/wafers. Så spørs det hvem i USA eller andre steder som leverer dette, og hvor de får deres råstoff polysilicon fra...

De kjøper nok ferdige celler fra Jinko Solar. Heliene er partner med Jinko fra gammelt av, og har produsert Jinko's moduler i Canada nettopp for å tilfredstille Canadas krav om lokalproduksjon.

Kinesiske selskap utnytter slike muligheter for å få størst mulig avsetning. På den måten har de tilnærmet monopol på ingot og waferproduksjon innen PV-bransjen.

India’s investments in renewable energy are growing faster than even China’s

China may be the world’s renewable energy leader, but where the sector’s growth is concerned, India is leaving its neighbour behind.

Investments into clean energy in India rose 22% in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period last year, while investments by China fell 15% during the period, according to a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (NEF). At this rate, India is expected to overtake China and become the largest growth market by the late 2020s.

https://qz.com/1323902/indias-investments-in-renewable-energy-are-growing-faster-than-even-chinas/

"NEW DELHI, July 17

The Commerce Ministry on Monday recommended imposing a 25 per cent duty on imports of solar cells and modules
from China for one year to try to counter what it sees as a threat to domestic solar equipment manufacturing.

India’s solar cell and module manufacturers said cheap Chinese imports were hurting the domestic industry,
while Chinese manufacturers say “imports are helping India accelerate its renewable energy adoption programme":

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/ministry-urges-duty-on-chinese-solar-cells-modules/article24439901.ece

Is The Solar Industry Really In Trouble?

By Irina Slav - Jul 24, 2018, 6:00 PM CDT
solar park

Last week Goldman Sachs ruined the mood of many in the solar industry—at least of those who pay attention to investment bank forecasts—by projecting that the solar panel market will shrink this year by 24 percent. It’s not the only negative forecast either, which is understandable given the latest major developments in the sector. However, the market may be getting carried away with just how much suffering the solar industry will face.

...

The fact is that the solar industry won’t stop growing, despite tariffs and the suspension of new projects in the world’s biggest solar market. These developments could slow down its growth for a while, but with more and more players entering the solar field any negative effects would be temporary. It’s worth noting that BNEF also forecast that China’s role in the global solar market will decline in the medium term and it will account for only 25 percent of new installations in 2020, down from more than half in 2017.

https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Solar-Energy/Is-The-Solar-Industry-Really-In-Trouble.html

Wacker gjør det bedre enn peers!!
Wacker har lenge vært min drømme beiler til Rec bruden:-)
26/07-2018 07:14:01: (E-WCHD.BTSE) DGAP-News: Wacker Chemie AG: WACKER's Sales and Earnings Rise in Q2 2018 Amid Strong Performance in Chemicals








DGAP-News: Wacker Chemie AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results/Interim Report




Wacker Chemie AG: WACKER's Sales and Earnings Rise in Q2 2018 Amid Strong Performance in Chemicals



26.07.2018 / 07:14






The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.




- GROUP SALES CLIMB TO EUR1.33 BILLION, 9 PERCENT HIGHER BOTH YEAR OVER YEAR AND QUARTER OVER QUARTER





- EBITDA REACHES EUR261 MILLION, UP 3 PERCENT VERSUS LAST YEAR AND 2 PERCENT VERSUS A QUARTER AGO





- NET INCOME FOR Q2 2018 AMOUNTS TO EUR84 MILLION





- FULL-YEAR FORECAST UNCHANGED: GROUP SALES FOR 2018 EXPECTED TO GROW BY A LOW-SINGLE-DIGIT PERCENTAGE, WITH EBITDA LIKELY TO RISE BY A MID-SINGLE-DIGIT PERCENTAGE





Munich, July 26, 2018 - Thanks to the strong performance of its chemical business, Wacker Chemie AG's sales and EBITDA continued to grow in the second quarter of 2018, both year over year and quarter over quarter. The Munich-based chemical company posted sales of EUR1,329.9 million in the reporting quarter (Q2 2017: EUR1,218.3 million). That was an increase of 9 percent. Sales were lifted by better prices, especially for silicone products, by volume growth for chemical products and by positive effects from the chemical-product mix. Exchange-rate headwinds, though, slowed the sales trend, with the euro appreciating strongly year over year. Relative to a quarter ago (EUR1,217.6 million), the sales increase was also 9 percent.





WACKER generated EBITDA of EUR260.5 million in Q2 2018. That was 3 percent more than a year ago (EUR253.4 million) and 2 percent more than a quarter ago (EUR254.5 million). Growth drivers were better prices for chemical products and higher income from the stake in Siltronic. As a result, WACKER more than compensated for raw-material costs, which increased markedly both year over year and quarter over quarter. High plant utilization was another positive factor in earnings performance in the reporting quarter. The Group's EBITDA margin for Q2 2018 was 19.6 percent (Q2 2017: 20.8 percent). In the preceding quarter, it was 20.9 percent. Group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to EUR125.0 million in Q2 2018 (Q2 2017: EUR101.9 million), yielding an EBIT margin of 9.4 percent (Q2 2017: 8.4 percent). Net income for the reporting quarter amounted to EUR83.5 million (Q2 2017: EUR60.5 million) and earnings per share came in at EUR1.59 (Q2 2017: EUR1.17).





The full-year 2018 forecast for sales and earnings as published in the 2017 Annual Report remains unchanged. WACKER continues to expect that Group sales will grow by a low-single-digit percentage relative to last year (EUR4,924.2 million). EBITDA is likely to rise by a mid-single-digit percentage compared with last year (EUR1,014.1 million). WACKER expects Group net income from continuing operations to rise markedly.





"After the first six months of the year, we are firmly on track to achieve our full-year targets," said Group CEO Rudolf Staudigl in Munich on Thursday. "Our chemical portfolio is currently performing very well and customer demand for silicones, in particular, is very high. In this market environment, we are posting volume growth with specialty products and achieving substantial price increases for standard silicones. The intensifying trade dispute between the USA and both China and the EU poses a significant risk to the global economy. In addition, markedly higher raw-material costs reduce our earnings. On the other hand, our chemical business is performing considerably better than anticipated at the start of the year. The first six months have delivered a good basis for WACKER's development in the current year. Provided there is no economic downturn, we could outperform our current full-year earnings forecast."





Regions





In Q2 2018, WACKER continued growing its sales in every region. The biggest increase was in Asia, where sales rose 13 percent to EUR495.7 million (Q2 2017: EUR440.3 million). Sales in Europe reached EUR543.2 million, up 7 percent over last year's figure of EUR506.0 million. In the Americas, sales reached EUR223.7 million (Q2 2017: EUR214.2 million), an increase of 4 percent.





Capital Expenditures and Net Cash Flow





In Q2 2018, the Group's capital expenditures came in at EUR97.7 million (Q2 2017: EUR74.8 million), up 31 percent year over year. The funds went mainly toward expanding capacity for silicone and polymer products. In addition, WACKER acquired a production site for biologics in Amsterdam (Netherlands) in April.





Net cash flow totaled EUR-101.4 million in Q2 2018 (Q2 2017: EUR93.9 million). This marked decline was mainly attributable to substantially higher cash outflows for capital expenditures and acquisitions, higher variable-compensation payments, repair and ramp-up costs at WACKER's Charleston site, and the increase in working capital due to rising business volumes.





Employees





WACKER's global workforce edged up in the reporting quarter. The Group had 14,270 employees as of June 30, 2018 (March 31, 2018: 13,983). At the end of the reporting quarter, 10,156 employees (March 31, 2018: 10,076) worked at WACKER sites in Germany and 4,114 (March 31, 2018: 3,907) at international locations.





Business Divisions





WACKER SILICONES generated total sales of EUR653.8 million in Q2 2018 (Q2 2017: EUR548.7 million), up 19 percent. Growth was driven by better prices for silicone products, coupled with higher volumes and an enhanced product mix. Relative to a quarter ago (EUR605.8 million), WACKER SILICONES' sales rose 8 percent. The division's reporting-quarter EBITDA of EUR176.6 million was 59 percent above the year-earlier figure (EUR110.8 million). Versus a quarter ago (EUR148.5 million), the increase was 19 percent. Earnings benefited from not only sales growth, but also product-mix effects and generally high production output. The EBITDA margin improved to 27.0 percent in Q2 2018, after 20.2 percent in Q2 2017 and 24.5 percent a quarter ago.





Sales at WACKER POLYMERS totaled EUR343.1 million in the reporting quarter, 2 percent higher than a year ago (EUR335.3 million). This slight increase was due to better prices and to volumes that were somewhat higher on balance. Compared with the preceding quarter (EUR301.9 million), sales were up 14 percent, mainly due to volume growth. The division's EBITDA amounted to EUR32.6 million in Q2 2018, after EUR62.4 million a year ago. This 48 percent decline stemmed mainly from substantially higher raw-material costs. In order to counter this development, the division is raising the prices of its products. Compared with a quarter ago (EUR41.9 million), EBITDA was down 22 percent. Aside from higher prices for the raw materials vinyl acetate monomer and ethylene, a scheduled plant shutdown for maintenance also lowered earnings. The reporting-quarter EBITDA margin was 9.5 percent, after 18.6 percent the year before and 13.9 percent a quarter ago.





WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS posted total sales of EUR57.2 million in Q2 2018, up 11 percent versus a year ago (EUR51.4 million). The increase was mainly driven by volume growth and better prices for some products. Compared with a quarter ago (EUR54.3 million), the division's sales were up 5 percent. WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS' reporting-quarter EBITDA of EUR5.4 million was 41 percent below the year-ago figure (EUR9.1 million) and 47 percent lower than the preceding quarter (EUR10.1 million). Factors in this decline included not only higher raw-material costs, but also integration costs and still-low utilization rates at the newly acquired biologics plant in the Netherlands. The EBITDA margin was 9.4 percent, after 17.7 percent last year and 18.6 percent in Q1 2018.





WACKER POLYSILICON generated total sales of EUR242.1 million in the reporting quarter. That was 2 percent less than a year ago (EUR246.7 million). The main reason for the slight decrease was that volumes and average prices were somewhat lower. Sales were up 10 percent relative to the preceding quarter (EUR219.3 million), driven mainly by substantial volume growth. This enabled the division to more than compensate for average polysilicon prices that were generally lower on balance than a quarter ago. WACKER POLYSILICON's reporting-quarter EBITDA came in at EUR39.1 million, down 45 percent compared with a year ago (EUR71.3 million). The decrease was mainly due to ramp costs at Charleston, where production facilities are gradually coming on stream again. EBITDA contracted relative to a quarter ago (EUR48.2 million) as well, with the 19 percent decrease additionally attributable to lower prices. No insurance compensation for the business interruption loss at Charleston was booked in the entire first half of 2018. From April through June 2018, WACKER POLYSILICON's EBITDA margin amounted to 16.2 percent, after 28.9 percent in Q2 2017 and 22.0 percent in Q1 2018.





Outlook





WACKER described in detail its projections for the Group's performance this year in the Outlook section of its 2017 Annual Report. These projections have changed as follows:





Net financial debt is now expected to amount to around EUR500 million by year-end 2018, partly due to exchange-rate effects. WACKER had previously assumed that its net financial debt would be on par with last year (EUR454.4 million). According to current estimates, the Group's full-year capital expenditures will come in at around EUR450 million (2017 Annual Report: around EUR470 million).





Due to strong customer demand, WACKER SILICONES is likely to achieve an even more substantial increase in sales and EBITDA for full-year 2018 than was projected on publication of the 2017 Annual Report. The division now expects to post s

Forskjellen på REC og WACKER
WACKER har kunder og en driftig ledelse.

To vesentlige forskjeller mellom REC og Wacker er at Wacker lever godt på høy renhet i sin polysilisium som passer monowaferprodusenter akkurat nå. I tillegg har de fått særbehandling av kinesiske myndigheter knyttet til prising av sin poly.

Akkurat det motsatte er REC i Moses Lakes sin ulempe: ikke mono-poly samt 57 % toll ved eksport til Kina.

MEN Wacker polysilisiumsdivisjon sliter også med stigende negativ EBIT, og bidrar negativt til et ellers glitrende konsernresultat. Riktignok før vi får se noe til forsikringsutbetaling sfa gassulykken i Tennessee i fjor.

Les denne!! https://www.hegnar.no/Nyheter/Politikk/2018/07/Stemte-for-aa-redusere-toll-paa-kinesiske-varer
Ligger i kortene at det blir en avtale mellom Kina og USA slik det gjorde med USA og EU....!

Meget int. denne også : http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/local_news/20180724/legislators_urge_trump_to_aid_rec_silicon

Kan bli "the mother of all short squeezes" i REC nå...:-)

Australia:

“This is huge” – rule changes to boost solar PV and batteries

https://reneweconomy.com.au/this-is-huge-rule-changes-to-boost-solar-pv-and-batteries-99826/

Taiwanesiske wafer-produsenter kjørt på felgen har nå skjønt at de må ta opp kampen med de kinesiske:

https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20180726PD200.html

REC's storkunde GET i Taiwan øker takten igjen:
https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20180725PD214.html

JBG,
Jeg mente ikke Wacker og Rec er like men har i lang tid ment at de passer som hånd i hanske sammen. Synergi effekten kunne blitt mega. Med finans musklene til Wacker og tysk kvalitet sammen med REC
Sin teknologi er bare gull. Det er der Rec ledelsen skulle gått på frierferd:-)

MUCH OF THE US ELECTRIC GRID COULD GO THE WAY OF THE LANDLINE PHONE

https://www.wired.com/story/electric-grid-rising-costs-renewables

UK:
Subsidies for new household solar panels to end next year

Renewable energy installations will no longer benefit from feed-in tariff, ministers confirm

The renewables industry and green groups have accused ministers of striking a major blow against household solar power after the government said a green energy subsidy scheme would end next year without a replacement.

The closure of the feed-in tariff (FIT) to new applicants from next April marks the final chapter for the scheme, which has encouraged more than 800,000 households to install solar panels since it was launched in 2010.

Solar installations had already largely dried up after the incentives were cut drastically in 2016, but renewables advocates had hoped a replacement would take its place. On Thursday, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy made clear there would be no extension or new alternative.

.....

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/19/subsidies-for-new-household-solar-panels-to-end-next-year

Taiwan solar-grade poly-Si makers request government to mark up feed-in tariff rate

Taiwan-based solar-grade polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) wafer makers recommend that Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) mark up feed-in tariff rate by 9% as an incentive to motivate undertakers of PV power generation projects to adopt high-efficiency PV modules made of poly-Si solar cells and consequently increase sales of their products, according to president Swean Lin for solar-grade poly-Si wafer maker Green Energy Technology.

The other Taiwan-based solar-grade poly-Si wafer makers are Sino-American Silicon Products, Gigastorage and Danen Technology. These makers are in talks with MOEA about this, Lin said.

MOEA has offered a markup of 6% in feed-in tariff rate for PV power-generating stations and rooftop PV systems in which high-efficiency PV modules meeting MOEA's VPC (voluntary product certification) requirements are used, Lin noted. So far, most of VPC high-efficiency PV modules are made of PERC (passivated emitter and rear cell) monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si) solar cells and over 80% of solar-grade mono-Si wafers used to make such solar cells are imported from China, Lin indicated. As a result, Taiwan-based solar-grade poly-Si wafer makers have not benefited from the markup, the reason for them to hope that MOEA can offer a markup of 9% for adoption of VPC high-efficiency PV modules made of PERC poly-Si solar cells, Lin explained.

In addition, since VPC requirements are specific to PV modules, many local PV module makers adopt imported solar cells to minimize production cost, Lin said. In order to boost development of local PV supply chains, Taiwan-based solar-grade poly-Si wafer makers also recommend that MOEA extend applicability of VPC requirements upstream to solar cells and solar-grade poly-Si wafers, Lin noted.

Viewing that China-based solar-grade poly-Si wafer makers generally have replaced or are replacing slurry slicing of ingots into wafers with diamond wire slicing, Green Energy Technology is promoting development of thinner diamond wire with diameter reduced from 65µm (0.065mm) currently to 50µm, Lin indicated. While 65µm diamond wire is used to slice an ingot into 58 wafers, 50µm diamond wire can be used to slice the same ingot into 66 ones, equivalent to reduction in cost per wafer by 12.12%, Lin explained. With the development financially supported by MOEA, 50µm diamond wire may come into small-volume trial production in September 2018, Lin said.

Specifically for collaboration to push for the markup of 9% in feed-in tariff rate as well as boost development of 50µm diamond wire for shared use, Green Energy Technology plans to invite the three fellow makers to form an ingot-slicing alliance at the end of 2018, Lin indicated.

https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20180726PD200.html

India:

Solar industry seeks urgent clarity on rate of GST on projects

Country’s solar industry has sent out an SoS to policy makers, including key officials in the finance ministry, seeking urgent clarification on the rate of goods and services tax (GST) on solar projects after controversial Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) held these would face 18% and not 5%.
This, the industry fears, could not only derail its whole arithmetic on tariffs and render projects unviable but also dent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan for 100 gigawatts by 2022.
The problem has genesis in the fact that concessional GST rate of 5% applies to solar power generating system, but solar power generating systems (SPGS) are is not defined in the law.

Absence of a definition has led to ambiguity and different interpretations with regard to meaning and taxability of SPGS. The Solar Power Developers Association (SPDA) in a representation to the finance secretary Hasmukh Adhia has petitioned that the ambiguity in interpretation and diverse advance rulings on the issue should be examined by the Law Committee and taken up in the GST Council meeting scheduled for August 4, 2018.

The association has also represented to finance minister Piyush Goyal. “Complete clarity on the quantum of tax applicable is very essential to arrive at fair cost and tariffs,” said Shekhar Dutt, director general, SPDA. “Continuity of ambiguous tax structure is affecting the solar tariffs and recent advance rulings by various states authorities has been very alarming towards additional tax burdening on the projects as their interpretations aren’t aligned with 5 % GST guided by the law. It raises serious concerns on economics/viability of the projects,” Dutt said.
Different views have been expressed by different state Authorities for Advance Ruling regarding taxability of SPGS. This has further accentuated confusion amongst the industry players and leading to varied practices.

Two rulings from the Maharashtra authority favoured a GST rate of 18%, treating installation as a whole works contract. A Karnataka authority ruling held installation be taxed at the concessional rate of 5%, applicable on equipment. The solar power sector enjoyed concessions under excise, customs as well as value added tax under the previous tax regime.
“The issue needs an urgent resolution by way of an amendment or a clarification that solar equipment and parts are taxable at 5%, which appears to be the intention of the government as well,” said Pratik Jain, lead-indirect taxes, PwC.
“Generally, over 90% of the contract value pertains to equipment only. GST Council has recently clarified many complex issues and one would hope they take up this one in the next meeting scheduled on August 4.”
The current situation is impacting solar industry and hence, there is an urgent need to address the same, the solar power developers said in their representation.

https://m.economictimes.com/industry/energy/power/solar-industry-seeks-urgent-clarity-on-rate-of-gst-on-projects/articleshow/65190072.cms

Fra kinesisk nyhetsside:

25. til 26. juni 2018 ble lederplanen og subsidiebaneseminaret i Beijing holdt. På møtet gjorde Wang Bohua, generalsekretær i Kina Photovoltaic Industry Association , en analyserapport om første halvdel av PV-industrien og utsiktene for andre halvår. Han påpekte at i første halvdel av 2018 nådde selvforsyningsgraden av polysilikon en rekordhøy høyde.
Produksjonen av polysilikon oversteg 140.000 tonn, en økning på 24% fra året før.
Produksjonen av silisiumplater oversteg 50GW, en økning på om lag 39% fra året før. Produksjonen av solceller var rundt 39GW, en økning på om lag 22%. Utgangen av modulen er ca 42GW, som er ca 24% fra år til år. Eksportvolumet på komponenten er ca. 19GW. Eksportvolumet har økt vesentlig fra år til år, og PV-markedet fortsetter å opprettholde en kraftig utviklings trend.

Kilde:
https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=no&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.no&sl=zh-CN&u=http://guangfu.bjx.com.cn/news/20180726/915995.shtml&usg=ALkJrhhBqGEG1FmC3x_yBDTmpgYB7wVn_g

Nå høres 140.000 tonn mye ut, og man kan lett tenke at selv om Rec får tilgang til Kina, så er markedet mettet.

Men det holder ikke til mer enn 25 GW, så behovet i forhold til Rec sin årlige produksjon er fortsatt enormt.

Ser man litt nærmere på tallene, ser man at wafer-produksjon i Kina økte mye, og dette har nok vært en hovedgrunn til at vi nå ser tørke i polymarkedet.

Så på andre kinesiske nyheter at de har vedlikeholdsstopp tilsvarende 96.000 tonn produksjonskapasitet. Og det må bety at det har vært levert fra lager, enten polysilikon eller wafere, for produksjon av solceller har vært stor nok til å ta unna mer enn gjenstående produksjon av poly.

Dette stemmer også bra med at det ble produsert 50GW i wafere, men bare 42 GW i solceller.
Dvs. 8 GW overproduksjon i wafere, som tilsvarer ca 40.000 tonn polysilikon.
Dette betyr rett og slett at man la opp til en større produksjon av solcellepanel i blant annet juli, enn det som ble realiteten. Dermed stoppet det opp på etterspørselen etter polysilikon.
Samtidig som Kina måtte kjøpe wafere fra Taiwan, og dermed polysilikon fra Rec, for å klare å produsere 42 GW i første halvår.


Kilde:
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/polysilicon-capacity-growth-to-accelerate-enabling-85-gw-of-solar-panel-pr#gs.U7drxtI

A total of 130 thousand metric tons (kilometric tons or KMT) of polysilicon manufacturing capacity, equivalent to roughly 25 gigawatts of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar PV panels, is estimated to come on-line in 2015 and 2016, according to GTM Research’s newest report,

To ting må klaffe for REC nå: etterspørselen etter polysilicon blant Taiwankundene må ta seg raskt opp i august, og dessuten må prisen også opp igjen. Det holder ikke å selge fra lager i månedsvis når de produserer for USD15/kg (pga kun 25% utnyttelse i Moses Lake) og dagens markedspris ligger på USD 11.

Tror du ikke bør ha store forventninger om vesentlig prisøkning. TT har vært og snakket med kundene, og spurt dem hvor lav polypris de trenger for å kunne selge sine produkter. Husk at fastlands-Kina er hovedmarkedet til Taiwan, men der er det for det meste mono som er i vinden.

The world's largest solar farm rises in the remote Egyptian desert

http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-egypt-green-power-20180730-story.html

Thin-film solar: Stuck in second place, even with c-Si tariffs

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2018/07/thin-film-solar-stuck-in-second-place-even-with-c-si-tariffs/

Government imposes safeguard duty on solar cells import for 2 years

Bengaluru: The Ministry of Finance has notified the Directorate General of Trade Remedies decision to impose safeguard duty on solar panels imported from China and Malaysia, which is certain to raise tariffs of future solar projects. More than 90% of solar panels and modules used in Indian solar projects come from these two countries.
The DGTR had recommended the imposition of 25% safeguard duty on solar panels from these two countries about a fortnight ago for one year, followed by 20% for the next six months and 15% for another six. It did so on the grounds that such imports were causing “serious injury” to domestic solar manufacturers. The duty comes into effect from July 30.
The DGTR had responded to a complaint from the Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) last December by conducting its own investigation. The probe concluded that indigenously made solar cells and panels, which constituted just 10% of Indian solar projects in 2014-15, had fallen even further in subsequent years. Solar developers preferred Chinese and Malaysian solar equipment, as it was cheaper than that manufactured in India.

Solar developers had been opposing strongly on the grounds that it would raise tariffs, as they would have no option but to pass on the extra charge to discoms and ultimately consumers. This in turn might slow down India's ambitious solar programme which aims to have 100,000 MW of solar capacity by 2022. They noted that local manufacturers do not have sufficient capacity to meet their needs.
Solar tariffs are currently at around Rs 2.75 per unit, on par with that of thermal power, but safeguard duty is expected to raise it by at least 50 paise, according to developers.

https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/policy/government-imposes-safeguard-duty-on-solar-cells-import-for-2-years/articleshow/65203361.cms

Det verste som kan skje nå , er at Kina produserer nok wafere selv.
Da trenger de bare å kjøpe polysilikon fra utlandet, som Rec ikke kan levere pga. tollen.
Ifølge den kinesiske nyhetssiden, så kan kineserne allerede klare å produsere nok wafere.
Ihvertfall mer enn forbruket i første halvdel av 2018..
Men hvor fikk de polysilikon fra, til å produsere tilsvarende 50GW i wafere?
Det blir 250.000 tonn i løpet av et halvt år.

China’s Solar Industry in Deep Trouble Following US Tariffs, With Predicted Billions in Losses

The solar-panel industry in China is facing operational difficulties because of anti-dumping tariffs of as much as 50 percent imposed by the United States.

Japanese newspaper Nikkei Shimbun reported on July 26 that the solar-panel industry centered in Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province—also known as the “Eastern Silicon Valley”—has been severely affected since the United States imposed the tariffs in January, especially in combination with Beijing reducing government subsidies, and falling electricity prices.

Domestic factories’ operating rates have dropped sharply, while some factories have closed, employees have been laid off, and salaries have been reduced, according to the Nikkei Shimbun. Former employees of solar-panel factories told the newspaper that workers’ wages dropped in June to about 2,000 yuan (about $290)—about half of last year’s typical monthly salary.

In early July, 800 former employees of GCL-Poly, a solar-product manufacturer based in Changzhou, staged a protest. Some employees were let go beginning in June, while others left the firm after the company requested they take pay cuts, according to local media reports.

China surpassed Germany in 2015 as the country with the most installed solar capacity. In 2017, China’s photovoltaic market topped the 100-gigawatt milestone—enough energy to power 70 million homes.

And in 2017 alone, the country’s solar output increased by 40 percent, reaching 75 billion watts. That amount is three times as much as five years ago.

China’s solar-panel products occupy 70 percent of the global market, a result of years of dumping government-subsidized panels in other countries’ markets.

In June, Chinese-imported solar cells and modules were the target of the United States’ 25 percent tariffs, part of the $50 billion worth of Chinese products to be targeted, amid the trade war between China and the United States.

In addition to such tariffs, China’s National Energy Administration at the end of May announced reforms to pricing structures, including lowering the price of renewable energy by an average of 10 percent. Then, Beijing cut subsidies for solar-panel manufacturers in June.

China is attempting to cool an oversaturated solar industry that is already supplying more than the demand, and likely announced those changes to curb unsustainable growth.

State funds for subsidizing domestic renewable energy companies were also running low, resulting in a deficit of 12.7 billion yuan (about $16.6 billion) as of the end of 2017, according to data from the National Energy Administration.

In addition, several Chinese media have cited recent comments by Wang Sicheng, a researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission, a state agency in charge of monitoring and planning the Chinese economy. He said China’s solar industry is expected to lose 1 trillion yuan ($146.8 billion) and 2.5 million jobs as a result of the latest decline.

https://m.theepochtimes.com/chinas-solar-industry-in-deep-trouble-following-us-tariffs-with-predicted-billions-in-losses_2608805.html