Global solar PV costs will continue to decline in 2021 as supply chain challenges and rising commodity prices have yet to fully impact project costs. That's the conclusion of a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report shows that the global weighted average levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of new large-scale ground-mounted PV projects commissioned in 2021 fell by 13% year-on-year to US$0.048/kWh. According to the report, the rapid decline in total installed cost, the increase in capacity factor, and the decline in operation and maintenance costs have driven the cost of solar energy power generation to decline significantly, and economic competitiveness has continued to improve. However, solar panel prices climbed in 2021 after a decade of steady declines due to rising material costs and insufficient supply due to supply chain disruptions. According to the report, crystalline silicon PV module prices in Europe will increase by 4-7% in 2021 compared to 2020. A systemic factor for this increase is the rise in polysilicon prices. Polysilicon prices have jumped sharply in recent weeks. Not all material cost increases translate into equipment prices and project costs, IRENA said. Average solar panels prices could be a fifth higher than in 2020, given material prices and other supply chain pressures for the rest of the year. Despite current supply chain issues, solar and wind projects have relatively short lead times, IRENA said. Solar and wind projects are a "critical link" in countries' efforts to rapidly reduce and eventually phase out fossil fuel use, limit the macroeconomic disruption of fossil fuels, and achieve net-zero emissions. Francesco La Camera, Director General of IRENA, said: "2022 is a stark example of the economic viability of new renewable energy generation. Renewable energy frees economies from the price volatility of fossil fuels and imports. , restraining energy costs and increasing market resilience. This is especially true if today's energy crisis continues." High coal and fossil natural gas prices in 2021 and 2022 will also severely reduce the competitiveness of fossil fuels, making solar and wind more attractive, the study found. On average, the fuel and CO2 costs of existing gas-fired power plants in Europe in 2022 are four to six times the life-cycle cost of new solar PV and onshore wind projects commissioned in 2021. A report by energy giant bp earlier this year predicted that the global LCOE of solar energy could fall by 55% by 2030.

The European and Ukrainian solar industry associations have called for Ukraine's post-war recovery to be based on renewable energy. The association also urged Ukrainian leaders to set a target of at least 50% renewable energy generation by 2030. SolarPower Europe, the Ukrainian Solar Energy Association and the wind energy trade group said that to achieve this, EU and Ukrainian policymakers should establish a technology and investment partnership, as well as a vehicle for "Ukrainian renewable energy" as part of Ukraine's reconstruction. "By removing Europe's and Ukraine's dependence on Russian fossil fuels, Ukraine and the European continent can be freed from the influence of energy as a geopolitical lever," they wrote in a joint statement to the assembly, which was attended by EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson , Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko also attended online. The association calls for the 50 per cent renewable energy target to be achieved through a combination of rooftop and ground-based solar panel, onshore and offshore wind. Artem Semenyshyn, CEO of the Ukrainian Solar Energy Association, said: "We see that solar power supports the resiliency of the Ukrainian grid. Flexible solar reduces the vulnerability of the energy supply to attack. In parts of Ukraine, it is solar that lights up the lights. ."

On July 1, PetroChina's first water surface solar system project, the Daqing Oilfield Spark Water Surface solar system Demonstration Project, was connected to the grid for power generation, which marked the overall acceleration of the integration of Daqing Oilfield's new energy business into the main business. Daqing Oilfield vigorously cultivates new energy and new forms of business, and strives to build a green industrial structure and a low-carbon energy supply system. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, it strives to build a green and low-carbon sustainable development demonstration base with a new energy installed capacity of more than 2 million kilowatts. The replacement rate of clean energy is more than 20%. According to Wang Jun, manager of the strategic development department of CNPC, the project uses two water surfaces, with a construction land of 400,000 square meters and an installed capacity of 18.73 megawatts. It only took more than 4 months from the completion of the project to the completion of the project, and the efficient and on-time production was realized. Daqing Oilfield Spark Water Surface Photovoltaic Demonstration Project, as the first water surface solar panel project of PetroChina, has completed the successful exploration of independent design and construction of water surface photovoltaics. The successful commissioning of this project indicates that Daqing Oilfield is implementing the national "dual carbon" goal and the group company's green low In the journey of carbon development, a key step has been taken. This provides a solid technical reserve and beneficial construction experience for the subsequent development of various new solar energy project, and plays a positive role in stimulating and promoting the vigorous development of new energy business in oilfields.

According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar PV will lead Africa in new capacity additions, reaching a total of 125GW by 2030. By 2030, the continent's total installed power generation capacity will almost double, from 260GW at the beginning of the century to 510GW by the end of the decade, 125GW of which will come entirely from solar panel. The Africa Energy Outlook 2022 report estimates that over 40% of total new capacity additions between 2021 and 2030 will come from solar panel. Renewable solar energy system will play an important role in providing new renewable energy capacity, as demand in Africa will increase by 75% by the end of the decade, from 680TWh to 1.180TWh by 2030. In addition, solar PV will surpass hydropower as the number one source of renewable solar energy in terms of total installed capacity, nearly closing the gap with natural gas by 2030, the report said.

By 2030, the global renewable energy capacity will more than double, but almost all top markets will fail to achieve the development and installation target, except China. That's the latest conclusion from consulting firm Fitch Solutions. Unless leading countries expand stockpiles and strengthen policy support, the company warned. Fitch expects non-hydro renewable solar energy generation to more than double from 3,686TWh in 2021 to 7,661TWh in 2031, with installed capacity more than doubling to 2.1TW over the same period. Among them, national government policies and commitments play an important role and are regarded as the core driving force of growth, in addition, the expansion of the international green hydrogen market will also play a supporting role. However, these growth expectations are insufficient to meet the global economy's net-zero target, nor achieve the necessary decarbonization goals. Fitch expects that only mainland China can achieve the target of 1.2TW installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, while other top markets such as the United States, the European Union and India cannot achieve such goals. Fitch pointed to headwinds from a "volatile political environment" in the U.S., arguing that the U.S. will be "far short" of its 2035 goal of a fully clean electricity mix. Renewable energy tenders across Europe are also facing challenges, especially when it comes to permitting renewable energy projects. Meanwhile, India will struggle with "displaced" policies, with Fitch noting that tariffs on solar panels would make imports more expensive.

A Japanese startup has started using solar energy to power agricultural farms to grow crops. Takeshi Magami's farm in Tokyo consists of 2,826 solar panels above the produce. The solar panels that cover most of a hectare are reportedly dual-use. First, it provides all the electricity the farm needs to run, and second, it generates additional revenue by selling excess renewable energy to the grid. The farm generates additional income of 24 million yen ($187,000) per year. "Our aim is to electrify and automate all steps of farming" and to create a model for the development of sustainable agriculture," Mr Magami was quoted in a report. He has been running the farm as his start-up Chiba Ecological part of Energy. It is reported that "the farm is part of the global solar energy sharing and agricultural photovoltaic movement, which can not only ensure the normal production of crops, but also can be used for photovoltaic power generation." It is important to note that in Japan, where space is limited and is heavily reliant on energy imports, solar sharing has been seen as the perfect alternative. Japan aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. Japan aims to source 36 to 38 percent of its energy mix from renewables by 2030, with solar accounting for 14 to 16 percent.

The European Commission wants half of the bloc's energy to come from renewables by 2030, more than double the current level, according to a copy of the plan called "RepowerEU" cited by the Financial Times. One of the proposals in the proposal is to "introduce an obligation to install rooftop solar panel installations on all new buildings and all existing buildings with solar performance class D and above (the most energy consuming)". The CEO of SolarPowerEurope said: “The EU needs to wean itself off Russian gas and oil as quickly as possible. By the end of 2022, more than 30GW of solar energy will be deployed, including 1.5 million new solar panel roofs, and by 2030, Europe will be able to achieve 1,000GW of solar energy. Install". European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference on the REPowerEU program that the European Commission is taking its "mission to rid Russia of fossil fuels as quickly as possible" to "another level". Solar roof requirements are proposed for commercial and public buildings from 2027 and new residential buildings from 2029. "I know it's ambitious, but it's realistic and we can do it," von der Leyen said, saying renewable energy was the EU's "biggest task". The commission also said it would increase its 2030 renewable energy target from 40% to 45%. She said faster renewable energy permits would play a key role in achieving the higher targets. It also wants member states to set up "renewable energy entry zones" to get permits quickly. "The permitting process there is shortened to one year," says von der Leyen, which is a big improvement from the current average of six to nine years. The strategy also sets a target of 592 GWac (740 GWdc) for solar in the EU by 2030. "This target is higher than the SolarPower Europe Global Market Outlook's business-as-usual forecast of 672 GWdc by the end of the decade," trade body SolarPower Europe said in a statement released. "Today, the European Commission recognizes the enormous potential of rooftop solar and the need for a solar workforce to roll out rooftop and utility solar across Europe," said Dries Acke, policy director at SolarPower Europe. "We expect that by 2030, there will be as many as 110 10,000 solar jobs, the EU Solar Skills Partnership will help provide local workers.”

Puerto Rico’s energy regulator PREB has released a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for a minimum of 500MW of renewable power capacity and 250MW of storage in the Caribbean Island. Issued on behalf of Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), the document pertains to the second of six planned tranches. PREPA is planning to present six tranches of procurement in total over three years as part of its integrated resource plan (IRP), with a cumulative total capacity of 3,750MW of renewables and 1,500MW of energy storage sought.  Contract terms for bidders in Tranche 2 will run between 20-25 years, except for virtual solar panel (VPP), which will have terms of 10-25 years. “PREPA seeks energy resources that can achieve commercial operation in no more than 24 months from the date on which a selected proponent executes a contract, with preference given to those proposals that can achieve commercial operation within a shorter timeframe,” the RFP said.   In February, PREB approved 18 solar projects totalling 845MW in its first tranche of RFPs, launched early last year. It originally sought up to 1GW of renewable capacity and 500MW of storage. Coverage on the storage aspect of Tranche 1 can be found on our sister site Energy-storage.news. PREB will hold a webinar on April 22 to provide an overview of the process. Vendor contact and services information can be found here, with the list update as and when new vendors are available. Puerto Rico has pledged for renewables to meet 20% of its power generation this year, rising to 40% by 2025, 60% by 2040 and 100% by 2050.   The territory has been forced to rebuild its solar energy system over the past few years after a major hurricane in 2017. Consultants from industrial group Siemens urged Puerto Rico’s utility and power regulator to scale up its solar and storage ambitions in 2019 to fortify the island’s battered power grid, suggesting a rollout of 920MW of battery storage by 2023.