But not this year. China's economy is taking a hammering from Covid-19, resulting in blue skies as pollution also declines. There are ripple effects worldwide, from shortages of materials to major projects being delayed. The good news is that we are beginning to see a recovery in solar in the few countries that have gotten a handle on their covid-19 outbreaks. The US is far from doing so, and we have no idea yet how bad it will get.
BNEF lowers 2020 global PV outlook due to coronavirus concerns
Many solar factories in China are starting to resume production, suggesting that concerns about supplies of PV components could soon begin to ease. Nevertheless, the temporary standstill will have an impact on the global solar market, as the implementation of some projects will probably be postponed until next year.
PV Magazine Covid-19 category page
Multitudes of articles in English and Spanish.
Cascada de efectos en relación con el Covid-19
La fabricación en China está empezando a volver a la normalidad, y la empresa de investigación con sede en Taiwán PV InfoLink informó en marzo de la utilización del 80% de la capacidad en toda la cadena de suministro. Pero el impacto más amplio que Covid-19 tendrá en la demanda mundial de energía fotovoltaica aún está por verse, y dependerá, según la analista principal de PV InfoLink, Corrine Lin, de hasta qué punto se puede contener el brote.
Ripple effects of Covid-19
Manufacturing operations in China are beginning to return to normal, with Taiwan-based research firm PV InfoLink reporting 80% capacity utilization across the supply chain in March. But the broader impact that Covid-19 will have on global demand for PV remains to be seen, and will depend on the extent to which the outbreak can be contained, says PV InfoLink chief analyst Corrine Lin.
Coronavirus could cause solar panel price spike
The coronavirus outbreak in China could raise solar module prices in the near term as manufacturers have already begun experiencing wafer and solar glass shortages. Production rates are also being affected by an extended new year holiday introduced by the authorities as a measure to deal with the virus, and the requirement workers from infected areas quarantine themselves for two weeks.
Analyst expects recovery for PV and storage supply chains
U.S.-owned analyst Wood Mackenzie expects solar demand to decline but predicts the market will recover, with the prospects for the energy transition remaining intact.
How COVID-19 is halting solar development in Germany
pv magazine has spoken to Germany’s largest solar project developers about how construction has ground to a halt on many PV projects in Europe since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Politicians need to extend implementation deadlines for PV projects that are being built under tender schemes, but deadlines are not the only challenge that companies currently face.
March 20, 2020 Sandra Enkhardt
COVID-19: Dutch developers want 2020 deadlines delayed
Netherlands trade body Holland Solar has asked the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy for an extension of grid-connection deadlines for solar projects being built under the SDE+ incentive program for large scale renewables. The association also urged Dutch municipalities to keep processing permits.
March 19, 2020 Emiliano Bellini
Forget toilet paper, Australians are panic-buying PV
Byron Bay-based solar retailer Smart Energy says it is seeing an unprecedented surge in sales and enquiries for solar and home energy storage as consumers look to shore themselves up in uncertain times.
March 19, 2020 pv magazine
COVID-19 reportedly delays prospect of solar power world record
The meeting planned yesterday to open the final bids by consortia vying to develop the 1.5 GW Al-Dhafra solar field in Abu Dhabi was reportedly postponed because coronavirus-related restrictions on public gatherings in the emirate. The chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy told pv magazine this year the project would bring a new low price for solar power.
March 19, 2020 Max Hall
COVID-19 pushes German solar sector to request delay to grid-connection deadlines
Large solar parks awarded contracts under Germany’s tender scheme could lose funding if not brought online on time. The nation’s solar trade body believes the government should quadruple its annual PV deployment target despite an anticipated coronavirus-related hiatus in roll-out.
March 17, 2020 Sandra Enkhardt
The weekend read: COVID-19 disrupts
A viral outbreak in the city of Wuhan, in China’s Hubei province, has become a nationwide health crisis with global implications. And with PV manufacturing concentrated in China, there are serious implications for all corners of the solar world, reports Vincent Shaw in Shanghai.
March 14, 2020 Vincent Shaw
BNEF lowers 2020 global PV outlook due to coronavirus concerns
Many solar factories in China are starting to resume production, suggesting that concerns about supplies of PV components could soon begin to ease. Nevertheless, the temporary standstill will have an impact on the global solar market, as the implementation of some projects will probably be postponed until next year.
March 13, 2020 Sandra Enkhardt
Daqo shrugs off COVID-19 fears with positive outlook for 2020
The Chinese polysilicon giant’s net income fell nearly 23% year on year to $29.5 million in fiscal 2019, even though it posted a 16% year-on-year jump in revenue to $350 million. It expects its polysilicon output to soar in the year ahead, despite the threat posed by the coronavirus outbreak.
March 12, 2020 Brian Publicover
Short-term symptoms
The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted the global PV supply chain. China, the largest manufacturing hub for solar products, has postponed factory openings in many regions, as it has been hit by logistical hiccups, staff shortages, and delivery delays. Manufacturers in some Chinese provinces are running under capacity, while those overseas are facing the same situation.
March 12, 2020 Corrine Lin, PVInfoLink