l'Actualité du Solaire

THIS WEEK'S NEWS HIGHLIGHTS.

The texts to read this week:

FRANCE

The French authorities are increasing the amount of calls for tenders while breaking them down into small tranches. All categories benefit from this: ground-based power plants, innovative projects, installations on greenhouses, on car parks, for self-consumption. Going further, the Prime Minister says he wants to see massive development of renewable energies, announcing a budget of 25 billion euros spread over five years to create 25 GW of new renewable energies

France launches calls for tenders for 1.6 GW of renewable energy

Prime Minister says he wants massive development of renewable energy

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How will we make the energy transition?

There is a lot of talk about renewable energy production systems (panels, wind turbines). The economist Jean Pisani-Ferry broadens the debate to the economy, to the difficulties that will arise in various sectors that will have to shut down factories or professions in favour of new activities. He stresses that major investments will be needed, which means spending, and that consumption will have to be curbed, in order to develop or expand new activities.

Jean Pisani-Ferry analyses the Energy Transition

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A record number of solar installations in the^first half of the year

Is this an indication of a change in the trend in solar installations in France? The number of solar installations in the first half of the year is a pleasant surprise. Was there a shift in installations from 2020 to 2021? We will soon find out. In any case,

1,367 MW of solar power were installed in France in the first half of 2021

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PHOTOVOLTAIC IN THE WORLD:

The world is waiting for the arrival of N-type cells. Only they do not seem ready to replace mono-PERC cells

Mono-PERC cells achieve a conversion rate of 23.5 to 24%. N-type cells achieve 24.5% (with TOPCon technology) and 25% with heterojunction. The difference between P-type and N-type cells is not sufficient because the production of the former is well controlled and rather cheap. The N-type cells still pose production or cost problems

Is the N-type cell becoming competitive?

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What happened to silicon in the first half of the year? We are starting to see it

We are starting to get a better idea of what happened to silicon in the first half of the year. Production increased by 30% according to the Chinese administration, but wafer manufacturers had increased their capacity so much that silicon was in short supply. The increase in wafer production was reflected in the manufacture of cells and then panels

Some figures on silicon supply and demand in the first half of the year

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European authorities raise 2030 targets again

As a result of the IPCC report, climate change or the actions of climate activists, the European Commission has just raised its targets for 2030 again, proposing a 40% share of renewable energy and a reduction in carbon emissions in the Union. The proposed targets are laudable. Will they be met?

The EU will increase the share of renewable energy to 40% by 2030. Another boost!

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Chinese authorities focus on residential installations

The Chinese government is changing. Up until 2020, they favoured large solar power plants. Last year, they abolished state aid for these installations, considering that they could now be profitable on their own and because the plants were far from the places of use. In 2021, they are paying particular attention to residential installations, which they will subsidise. This policy will reduce transmission losses...

Stimulating residential installations in China

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Development of renewable energy industries and facilities must drive US recovery

President Biden has launched a major policy of investment in infrastructure and renewable energy development. He has put in place some measures to accelerate installations and plans to extend support and subsidies for renewable energy. Like many other countries, he wants to achieve a carbon-free economy by 2050. This will involve stimulating industries that manufacture solar panels or wind turbines

Mobilisation to develop RE in the United States

The reasons for solar installation: ITC, standards, grid connection

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Half-yearly accounts of major Chinese manufacturers show strong sales growth or else increased profit margin

For the past year, the world has been held in suspense by the silicon shortage, by price hikes, by the policy of panel manufacturers who wanted to make themselves look good to users by claiming to be holding down prices by restricting cell purchases. These lower purchases were to force wafer or cell manufacturers to exercise restraint. This was the language of the first half of 2021. The publication of the accounts of the few listed companies undermines this soothing language: the three main panel producers have increased their half-yearly shipments by 80% over the comparable period of 2020. Other companies in the industry have increased their profit margins.

In the first half of the year, JA Solar increased its turnover by 48%.

LONGi in^H1 increased its gross margin despite the silicon shortage!

Ranking of panel shippers in the^first half of the year

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MISCELLANEOUS :

Will artificial intelligence be used in photovoltaics? What will it bring?

There is a lot of talk about artificial intelligence (AI). Will it also affect photovoltaics? The author believes so, because AI can process a lot of data. The processing of this data would make it possible to improve knowledge of the installation, to better predict production, and even to know which panels are the most efficient. However, it is necessary to master the quality of the data and know how to use it...

What can artificial intelligence be used for in the photovoltaic field?